The Research Corner

Dear fellow collectors!

Who can help and send information about U.S. stamps with secret microprinting and pictures of it?  Hidden 3-D designs are mentioned in the Scott catalogue, but there are no pictures.  Is it possible to download this information?

Thank you!

I recently purchased 20 sheets of the American Advances in Aviation issue for a mailing I was doing.  As the clerks didn't have sufficient numbers in their drawers, the 20 sheets were taken from the vault and in all probability were taken in sequence from the stock.  All sheets are the same plate position, 3rd sheet in the 2nd row.  In putting the stamps on the mailing I noticed that there were some black spots in the margins between the P-47 and B-24 stamps in the second row of the sheet.  Upon examining all 20 sheets I found the same black spots (see below).

The question is: are the spots constant over the printing and therefore a plate flaw or are they the result of some dirt that got caught on the black cylinder that disappeared later? Examine your copies from the same plate position and let me know if your copies have the same spots.

Sincerely,
        Richard T. Hall

I am currently working on a survey of the U.S. Revenue Proprietary stamps overprinted Dr. Kilmer & Co., Scott RS307-RS315.  I recently completed a survey of the original Morton Dean Joyce collection of these stamps plus input from several collectors and dealers.  I would like to augment the data from these collections by obtaining additional reports from other collectors who might have copies of any of these stamps in their holdings.

The result of the original survey has resulted in the listing of six new varieties in the Scott 2003 U. S. Specialized Catalogue, three trial color overprintings and three inverted overprints plus numerous price changes.

I will supply any member interested in helping in this survey with a form to report their stamps, even if only a single copy.  I will return their postage and supply them with a stamped addressed envelope for return of the survey form so there will be no cost to the collector.  All survey information will be kept confidential and will not be divulged to anyone except as part of the total overall results of the survey.

A survey form may be obtained from Kenneth E. Diehl, P.O. Box 4275, Scottsdale, AZ 85261-4275.

Sincerely,
        Kenneth E. Diehl

Solo usages of the 50 cent and dollar values of this issue (Scott #310-313) seem to be rare.  I would like to conduct a census to determine exactly how scarce they are and to see the number of non-philatelic vs. philatelic covers.  I would greatly appreciate photocopies of any such covers along with any information concerning the item.  All responses will be acknowledged and credit will be given to all if this study results in a future publication.

A privately printed aerogramme with a 10¢ Presidential Series stamp paying the uniform aerogramme rate appeared for sale in an eBay on-line auction which ended September 13, 2000.  The item number was 431209636, and the successful bid was $400.13 [see figure].

This air letter sheet was from Life International (the international edition of Life Magazine), and it was sent to newly independent Israel in 1948.  The eBay seller gave his/her location as Israel, so I presume the item has been in that country for the past 52 years.

The new Durland has arrived and has attributed plate #10033 to Scott #536 (1¢ gray green offset printing, perf. 12 ½).  No one has ever seen this number used on #536.  The original mimeographed plate number checklist published by BIA shows plate #10033 on #536 and must have been based on a report prior to that time.  If anyone has a copy of #536 with plate #10033, please contact:

The following information appeared (with illustrations) on page 149 of the July-August, 1998 issue of  The American Revenuer.  I received but one response.  I am hoping that the members of the BIA/USSS may have additional data.

I have in my possession a stamp that does not correlate to the listings found in the  2000 Specialized Catalogue of U.S. Stamps produced by Scott Publishing Co.  I would like to ask readers to check their holdings so that the catalog can be corrected.

The stamp in question relates to the Firearms Transfer Tax stamps RY2 and RY4 and their descriptions.

First, let's look at the type definitions made in the catalog:

1. Serial number with serifs, not preceded by zeros.  Tips of 6 lines project into left margin.
2. Gothic serial number preceded by zeros.  Five line tips in left margin.

Next, let's look at the catalog listings for these stamps:

• RY2    $200 dark blue & red, type I, #1-1500
• RY4    $200 dull blue & red, type II, #1501-3000
• RY6    $200 dull blue & red, type II, #3001-up

A note below Scott RY4 states, "No. RY4 has a clear impression and is printed on white paper.  No. RY2 has a 'muddy' impression in much darker blue ink and is printed on off-white paper."

Now, I also have an example that does not quite fit.  The stamp's serial number has serifs and is not preceded by zeros.  There are six lines projecting into the left margin.  The stamp has the characteristic "muddy" impression.  It is a type I.  Yet, the serial number is 1567.  It is obvious to me that the serial numbers listed in the descriptions for RY2 and RY4 are in error.

I would like to ask the readers to help me correct the catalog.  To accomplish this task, I need photocopies of the $200 Firearms Transfer Tax stamps with serial numbers in the range of 1500 to 2000.  Please check your holdings for such items.  I would also appreciate photocopies of any auction listings with stamps having this range of serial numbers.  As a matter of fact, any help is appreciated.

With these examples, I can submit (with proof) that the listings should be corrected and, possibly, what the correct serial numbers should be.

    Photocopies can be mailed to:
    Gregg Greenwald
    2401 Bluebird Ct.
    Marshfield, WI 54449-3128

Ken Lawrence, Scott Trepel, and William R. Weiss Jr. are conducting a study of Continental Bank Note Company stamps printed on so-called "ribbed paper".  They would appreciate an opportunity to examine examples on or off cover.  Mailing expenses will be reimbursed, and everyone who assists will be credited.  Please send material to:

In the August, 1947 issue of The Bureau Specialist, Walter McIntire comments on the exhibit of Ethel McCoy as follows:  "In her 24¢ 1918 Air Mail showing, she had ....full sheets of each of the three printings of this...stamp.  The first printing contained only the two plate numbers in the top margin, the second printing had [a blue] TOP added..., while the third printing had the word TOP both in blue and red." We have believed that all sheets of the first printing had the top margins removed during perforating and that the only plate blocks were ones with the blue TOP only and ones with both TOP's.  Has anyone ever seen the sheet with no TOP markings, or a plate block of 12 coming from this printing? We are reluctant to list such an item without seeing more evidence than McIntire's report.  Please send any information to:

As some of you may be aware, after my two series of articles in this magazine, I have a strong current interest in the eleven U. S. half-cent postage stamps and do exhibit same.

I have recently come up with something I was not aware of: thick and thin papers used in the production of Scott #551, the half-cent of the 4th Bureau Issue, the flat plate of the 1922-25 issue.  I am also unaware of any studies done on the papers of that issue.

The thin paper measures .00025, and the thick .00036". These are the extremes I have found, a pretty substantial difference as far as paper measurements go, and it appears the thin paper is seen far less frequently than the thick.

If anyone out there has any further information on this matter, I would be most pleased and appreciative hearing from you.  Thanks.