United States Stamps continued...

EXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. APPROXIMATELY 20 EXAMPLES ARE KNOWN OF THIS COMPOUND-PERF VARIETY.

Ex Puliafito. With 1981 and 1999 P.F. certificates (Image)

FINE AND RARE. ONE OF ONLY TWO REPORTED BLOCKS OF FOUR OF THIS COMPOUND-PERFORATION VARIETY.

Looking at this remarkable block reminds us that for nearly a decade, we have argued for full Scott-number status for the compound-perf stamps (12 x 10 and 10 x 12) issued during the transition from 12-gauge to 10-gauge perforations. We consider them no less worthy of major Scott numbers than any of the Bureau Rotary Press perforated-waste varieties (for example, Scott 544, 594-596 and 613). They were perforated at the Bureau on the old 12-gauge machine in one direction and the new 10-gauge machine in the other direction. Although technically not a separate post office issue, they fall into the same category as the Rotary Press sheet and coil waste stamps: that is, significant philatelic varieties created by changes in the production process. They are not errors, in the sense that they were created unintentionally and escaped notice during quality control measures. To the Bureau employees responsible for maintaining standards, the use of two different perforation gauges on a sheet was a minor inconsistency. Of course, to stamp collectors, it is of extreme significance. The Scott Catalogue editors must appreciate this significance, because they elevated the John Paul Jones Perf 12 variety to a major listing (No. 1789B). We can only hope that they apply such treatment consistently by creating numbers for the Washington-Franklin compound-perf varieties.

With 1974 P.F. certificate. (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM USED PAIR OF THE ONE-CENT SCOTT 424 IMPERFORATE HORIZONTALLY.

With 1986 P.F. certificate (Image)

VERY FINE AND CHOICE. APPROXIMATELY TWENTY USED EXAMPLES OF THIS PERFORATION VARIETY HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION.

Of the twenty or so copies certified as genuine by the Philatelic Foundation, most have precancels. The example offered here, with a postal cancel and in sound condition, is an even more desirable example of this rarity.

With 1977 P.F. certificate (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THIS RARE COMPOUND-PERFORATION VARIETY.

With 1980 P.F. certificate for two singles on piece (Image)