| Virgin Islands |  Top |
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Postally Used  US$ |
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400437 "View EXACT ACTUAL Image"){kind=small} |
U.S. Scott #499 [1920 2c Washington Flat Plate Type I. (Assumed to be the much lower cost Unwatermarked #499 instead of the very scarcer Watermarked #461).] Used with VF centering and Superb, complete, December 1919 U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS "CHRISTIANSTED / SAINT CROIX / 2" duplex cancellation, on ample-sized piece. This use is after the 1917 sale of the Danish West Indies to the U.S. Straight edge at right and bottom. This is MOST LIKELY FROM A BOOKLET PANE, though it could also be the lower right position in the 400-stamp printer sheet (but that would be much scarcer). If this booklet pane or sheet had guidelines, they are not visible on this stamp. Many Mint straight edge single stamps were used for postage instead of being saved in collections; furthermore Used single examples with straight edges were often discarded instead of going into collections. In some cases, for stamps "with value", the straight edges may have been removed by reperforating. As a result, today straight edge examples can be hard to find.) I think that collecting the different straight edge and guideline positions and multiples is quite challenging and rewarding. USVI canceled stamps are seldom offered. This is a wonderful example in seldom-seen quality. ACTUAL item. |
SOLD |
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400436 "View EXACT ACTUAL Image"){kind=small} |
U.S. Scott #528 [1920 2c Washington Offset Type Va] Used with F-VF centering and partial ca.1920 U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS Charlotte Amalie town cancellation. This stamp was issued in 1920, thus there is no doubt that the use is after the 1917 sale of the Danish West Indies to the U.S. Straight edge at right. Stamp from the right column of left pane of the printer 400-sheet. If this sheet had guidelines, it is not visible on this stamp. Originally only 18 of every 400 stamps could have had this feature. #528 (Plate Type Va) was printed in sheet sizes of 400 and 1600. Scott #525-536, the 1918-1920 Offset Printings, were printed in sheets of 400 and/or 800 and/or 1600, depending upon the Scott number and the plate number. (The Scott U.S. Specialized lists which sheet sizes were printed for each Scott number, located above #525.) I believe (but I have not seen examples or pictures) that the 800- and 1600-sheets contained replications of the 400-sheet layout, repeating the marginal characteristics of the 400-sheets. The 400-sheets were divided by cutting (thus natural straight edges) into panes of 100. On at least some of the issues, the cutting was along vertical and horizontal center guidelines which were terminated by arrows in the margins, however the arrows were normally too far from the edge of the stamp designs for an arrow tip to show in a stamp margin of a normally perforated stamp. Based on my limited observations, the marginal arrows are always present in the sheet layouts, but the guidelines may not be present on all issues or plates. Examples with straight edges on one of the four sides (left or right or top or bottom) each originally represented 18 out 400 stamps printed or each 4.5% of the issue quantity, but far fewer remain extant today. The positions in the printer sheet with corner straight edges each originally represented 1 out of 400 stamps printed or each 0.25% of the issue quantity; today examples are very scarce. (Many straight edge single stamps were used for postage instead of being saved in collections; furthermore Used single examples with straight edges were often discarded instead of going into collections. In some cases, for stamps "with value", the straight edges may have been removed by reperforating. As a result, today straight edge examples can be hard to find.) I think that collecting the different straight edge and guideline positions and multiples is quite challenging and rewarding. Attractive example; such canceled stamps are seldom offered. ACTUAL item. |
SOLD |