Scotts #656 US stamps

#656 2¢ Coil Edison Issue 1929

2¢ Carmine rose, deep carmine rose

Printing Method: Rotary Press
Subject: Edison's First Lamp
Number issued: 133,530,000
Perforations: 10 vertically
Watermark: Unwatermarked
Scott #: 656
Issued: June 11th, 1929

Value for pairs

Used
$4 - $12
No postmark with gum (MH)
$1 - $4
Full perfect gum, no postmark
no trace of stamp hinge mark (MNH)
$5 - $14

Plate #'s

#656 was issued with the following plate #'s

Number only
19781-82, 94-95
19802-04

Plate numbers are normally sliced off when plates are cut into coil strips. However a bad alignment during the cutting process can cause part of the plate number to become visible. These instances have a value of approximately $30 for a pair.

First Day Cover

A first day cover of #656, dated June 11th, 1929

The Story Behind the Stamp

The source photograph for the design is shown above

The 'Light's Golden Jubilee' was a big deal at the time, with the leaders of several countries, including President Herbert Hoover, and many other famous dignitaries taking part. Celebrating fifty years since the invention of the electric light.

Thomas Edison could not be featured on the stamp as he was still living, and no living person is shown on a US stamp. Instead it was proposed showing either Edison's birthplace (a mock-up by myself is shown above) or a light bulb. The latter was approved.

Joint Lines

An example of a joint line of #656. The word 'line' in 'joint line' refers to the line down the middle of the perforations in the middle of a pair stamps. This only occurs when two strips of 17 stamps join. They sell for double the value of pairs without this line.

Which 2¢ Edison stamp?

Click your selected stamp

#654

Perforated 11
FLAT PLATE PRINTING
See below to identify flat plate printing

#655

Perforated 11 x 10½
ROTARY PRESS PRINTING
See below to identify rotary press printing

#656

No perforations at top and bottom

A quick heads up if you are attempting to discern the VALUE difference between #654 and #655. Both stamps are worth less than 50¢ used and unused no more than a couple of dollars. Therefore you might not consider the identification process below useful to you.

STEP 1 - LOCATE A USED ROTARY PRESS STAMP OF THE SAME SIZE

A great choice would be any of the lower stamp denominations from the 1938 president series shown above . The used stamps have negligible value, less that an nickel, so not much harm done by cutting them up. However I would not use the dollar values of this series as they do have some value.

STEP 2 - CUT THE CORNERS OF YOUR CHOSEN STAMP

Cut a square out of each corner as shown above, make sure you cut into the design. I chose a used one cent stamp, but any used lower denomination from the 1938 series would do.