#347 - 1909 5ยข Double line USPS watermark, Imperf
See below for details
Basic Info
5¢ blue, dark blue
Subject: George Washington
Printing Method: Flat Plate
Perforations: Imperforate
Watermark: double line USPS (see below)
Scott #: 347
Quantity Issued: 123,700
Issued: February 25th, 1909
Value
Used
$15 - $30
No postmark with gum (MH)
$15 - $25
Full perfect gum, no postmark
no trace of stamp hinge mark (MNH)
$50 - $75
Plate Numbers
#347 had the following plate #'s
Imprint and number
4928-31, 58-59, 61, 73
Paste up pairs
The makers of private coils pasted fifteen of these sheets together, end to end or side to side. These were then perforated, cut into strips and rolled into coils of 3,000. A paste up, occurred every twenty stamps, each strip being divided by the guide line running in the same direction as the perforations. The primary reason for issuing imperforate stamps in sheets being for the use of makers of private perforations, Above is shown an example of where two stamps have been pasted together.
The purpose of imperf
These imperf. stamps were issued primarily for use in making private coils for vending machines. They were printed from the same type of plates as were used for the perforated stamps of this issue, although not all the plates noted for perforated varieties were used.
Vending machines manufacturers discontinued the use of five cent coils at about this time and as a result it was the last five cent stamp regularly issued in imperforate condition
Earliest documented use
347's earliest documented date of use, April 17th, 1909
A full pane
A full pane of 100 #347, there are four panes to a sheet of 400
Double line letters watermark
1908-09 Definitive Double Line USPS Watermark Coil Issues
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