Scotts #642 US stamps

#642 -1927 P11 x 10 ½ - 10¢

10¢ - Yellow orange, deep yellow orange, orange, red orange

Printing Method: Rotary Press
Subject: James Monroe
Number issued: Not known
Perforations: 11 x 10 ½
Watermark: Unwatermarked
Scott #: 642
Issued: February 3rd, 1927

Value

Used
5¢ - 10¢
No postmark with gum (MH)
50¢ - 75¢
Full perfect gum, no postmark
no trace of stamp hinge mark (MNH)
$1.50 - $3

Plate #'s

#642 was issued with the following plate #'s

Number only
16107-08
17440-41
17510-91
17614-15, 49-50, 93-94
18135-38
18387-88
18414-15
18532-33, 38-39
18614-15, 22-23, 26-27

The Design Inspiration

The vignette came from a painting of President James Monroe by J. Van der Lin

Monroe was chosen because of the foreign policy that bears his name, the Monroe Doctrine

A Change of Perforation

In 1915 the complaint that the "perforated ten" stamps were difficult to separate caused an experimental issue of two cents stamps with a new type 11 gauge perforation. This having proven satisfactory was soon thereafter used for all flat plate stamps. The use of ten gauge perforation on the rotary press printing, however, was necessary because the method used needed sufficient uncut space to prevent the sheets from tearing apart in the perforating process.

The introduction of rotary press sheet stamps for general use again caused this complaint and it necessitated the development of the bar and wheel type of perforator which made it possible to decrease the amount of uncut space between the stamps and increase the ease with which they could be separated.

In December 1926 the two cent stamps were issued with this new form of perforation as an experiment. Having proved successful other values were issued from the new perforators as soon as the supply at the Bureau became exhausted This value was not in great demand at this time and not issued in the new type of perforation until June 10, 1927.