What is a imperforate pair of stamps?
Imperforate errors: Sometimes referred to as a perforation error, this occurs when perforations are missing from one or several sides of a stamp. Perforations are a series of small holes or apertures which are designed to enable easier separation of the stamps in a sheet.
What are the 10 most valuable US stamps?
The 10 Most Valuable U.S. Stamps
- The Inverted Jenny. (Courtesy of Siegel Auction Gallery)
- 1847 Issue Block of 16 of Ben Franklin.
- Almanac Stamp of 1765 or 1766.
- ‘Blue Boy’ Alexandria Postmaster’s Provisional.
- 1869 Pictorials—Inverted Center Errors.
- Two-Cent Blue Hawaiian Missionary.
- 1860 Stolen Pony Cover.
- Pan American Inverts.
How do I identify my stamp?
The only way to tell these two stamps apart is to measure their perforations and watermark them. Some stamp designs look the same, but have been issued for different purposes. The only difference when you look at them may be the number of sides with perforations. A sheet stamp has perforations on all four sides.
Are imperforate stamps worth anything?
As imperforate stamps are very old and rare, they are often highly priced in the world of philately. The most expensive are the imperforate stamps that were neatly and evenly cut on all four sides. As you see, the perforations are one of the key aspects in defining the value of a stamp.
How do you tell if a stamp has been perforated?
So if a vertical row of perforations is located close to the left side of a stamp, it will be farther away from the right side of the same stamp, and the other stamps adjoining this stamp will have more or less the same centering across the horizontal row.
What is the rarest George Washington stamp?
The 30¢ unwatermarked perforated 10 stamp from 1916–17—if it exists at all—remains the rarest of any Washington–Franklin issue belonging to a full series: fewer than 300 copies have been certified by various expertizing services.
How do you count a perforation stamp?
We use a perforation gauge to measure the number of holes or teeth within two centimeters….How to measure perforations
- To measure your stamp, lay it on the center of your gauge.
- Slide the stamp up or down until the perforations on the stamp line up with the pattern on the gauge all the way down the length of the stamp.
Why do some old stamps have holes in them?
In most cases, the perforations within the stamp design are created by the business or organization that purchased the stamps from the post office. Perfins identify the proper owner of the stamps and act as a security device to discourage theft or improper use. Perfins are known on stamps from more than 200 countries.
Are misprinted stamps valuable?
Stamps with printing errors are strongly coveted by collectors, some being valued thousands of times higher than their nominal price. The philatelic value of an error stamp is defined by its visual appeal and relative scarcity. The more visible the printing mistake is the more chances are for the stamp to sell big.
What number is my 1851 3¢ Washington stamp?
Former Minor Variety Now Has Its Own Major Number! Get U.S. #10A, the 3¢ Washington stamp of the Series of 1851-57 that recently received a major Scott number. For decades, collectors have studied the 1851 3¢ Washington and all its minor varieties and types.
What is the history of the stamps?
On July 1, 1851, several stamps from America’s second series of postage stamps were issued. These new stamps were issued to meet reduced postal rates that practically eliminated distance as a factor.
What is a 3¢ stamp used for?
The 3¢ definitive stamp served as the “workhorse” of the time, mailing the majority of America’s letters. So it’s only fitting that the stamp pictured America’s greatest patriot, George Washington.
What is the Major Scott number for a recut stamp?
But recently, Scott publishers have recognized that this recutting makes the stamp a different type – Type II – and have assigned it the major Scott number of #10A. Since the recut stamp was never recognized with a major number until 2008, no one knows the exact quantity issued.