Lot#

Scott#

Description

Price

951	509	FINE	1.25
952	510	FINE	.15
953	510	F/VF	.30
954	511	AVE	1.45
955	511	FINE	1.95
957	512	FINE	.25
958	512a	FINE	.30
959	513	FINE	4.75
960	514	FINE	.85
961	515	FINE	.15
962	516	AVE	.35
963	516	FINE	.90
964	517	FINE	.40
965	518	AV/F	.90
966	518	FINE	1.25

 

1918 Franklin High Values

 

967	523	FINE..Orange/Black..	129.00
968	523	FINE	129.00
969	523	FINE	129.00
971	524	FINE.	19.95
972	524	F/VF	28.00
974	524	FINE+..Block of four	99.00

 

Phone/Fax/Voice Mail: 515-964-1202

Email: iowasc@netins.net

 

Armstrong states that Scott's #523 had 47,700 copies issued, #524 had 296,653, and #547 had 743,680.  Catalog prices reveal that the number issued and the number that collectors and investors put away can be quite different

In 1918 the U.S. Postal Dept. issued its first bicolor definitive since the 1869 series.  The two dollar value was to have been dark red and black.  From 1918 to 1920 it was issued in orange and black.  From 1920 to nearly 1924 it was red and black.  Collectors thought the red and black, ScottÕs #547, was an error and put away a considerable number.  You know the rest of the story.

 

1918-20 Offset Printings

 

After World War I demand for lower value stamps brought about a method called photo-offset.  The method was less expensive and once set up new plates could be quickly made in one hour.  Offset stamps have the appearance of a comic book printing.

 

975	525	FINE...Gray Green	.45
976	525	FINE...Emerald Green	.70
977	526	AVE	1.75
978	526	FINE	2.50
980	527	FINE	1.00
982	528	FINE	.20
983	528A	AVE	.80
984	528A	FINE	1.20
985	528B	FINE	.50
986	529	AVE	.15
987	529	FINE	.25
989	530	F/VF	.25

 

Imperforates

 

995

535

XF

6.50

 

Lay-a-way plan is available.

 

 

996

537

FINE

1.95

 

1919-1921 Rotary Printing

 

997	538	AV/F	4.95
998	538	FINE	5.75
999	540	AV/F	4.95
1000	540	FINE	7.75
1001	540	AV/F....MINT,Never Hinged	10.95
1002	540A	FINE..MINT..Lite Hinged	29.00

 

The Washington/Franklin head period was a time when the United States postal system was experimenting with a wide variety of perforations (8 1/2 to 12) and watermarks (single, double, & none).  There was also offset, rotary, and flat press printing presses in use.  Even papers were experimented with (bluish paper).  Many collectors unfortunately overlook the W/F heads because of the sameness of design and difficulty in proper identification.  As future collectors become more knowledgeable about the W/F heads, interest and popularity will grow.  Many collectors consider them an affordable challenge.

 

MINT Does Not Mean Mint Never Hinged

 

1005	542	AVE	.50
1006	542	FINE	1.00
1007	543	FINE	.35
1008	545	AVE...MINT	79.00
1009	546	AV/F	69.00
1010	546	FINE	89.00
1012	546	F/VF......(P)	139.00