Less than five months after this new value had appeared it was issued in a second variety. To increase the strength of the sheets of all denominations the perforations were reduced to 10 gauge. Though current for more than two years and issued in large quantities is far from common.

The discontinuance of distinctive Parcel Post stamps made it necessary to issue five new denominations to take their place, this being one of them. It was primarily used for light parcels.

The earliest known use of #430, April 14th 1915

As the curved plates of the Rotary press made the stamps slightly larger it is relatively easy to discern which stamp is flat plate and which is a rotary press stamp. First select any perf Washington Franklin stamp or the first issue Washington Franklin 1 cent or 2 cent. These are the stamps with the numbers one and two spelt out, instead of numbers being displayed. I chose the latter alternative as shown in the first image above.

Then cut out squares at each corner. As shown in the second image above. Placing the stamp you wish to test under your cut out stamp you can see if the frame lines match. If, as in the last image shown above the frame lines are outside the top stamp in either the top, bottom or sides then you have a rotary stamp. If the lines are in the same place, as shown in the third image, you have a flat plate stamp.

This test works with any value stamp.

The flat plate press

Mail man 1914

Mail trucks in NY, NY 1914