#699 1931 25¢ 10½ x 11 Issue
See below for details
Basic Info
25¢
Bright green, deep bright green
Printing Method: Rotary Press
Subject: Niagara Falls
Perforations: 10½ x 11
Number issued: 30,799,800
Scott #: 699
Issued: July 25th, 1931
Value
Used
20¢ - 25¢
No postmark with gum (MH)
$1 - $3
Full perfect gum, no postmark
no trace of stamp hinge mark (MNH)
$2 - $5
First Day Covers
Two first day covers of #699. The top cover is one of only twenty six covers of #699 were mailed from Brooklyn, NY, on July 25th, 1931. Brooklyn was the only post office to receive this issue prior to July 27th. Therefore July 25th is regarded as the unofficial first day of issue. Two days later, on the 27th, the stamps were placed on sale at the Philatelic Bureau in Washington DC, the bottom cover is from this agency on that date.
Plate #'s
#699 was issued with the following plate #'s
Number only
20539-40
20730
The Story Behind the Stamp
A perforator used on rotary press stamps
Previous stamps of this denomination had been printed with the flat plate and perforated 11. For some time the lower values had been printed on the rotary press with a 11 x 10½. It was now time to bring the values above 10¢ to have the same.
The design inspiration
Source photo used for the vignette design. It was originally envisaged that the Arlington ampitheatre should be the subject of the vignette, as the release date was Armistice day.
1931 Issues
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