#496 - 1919 5ยข No watermark, perf. 10 vertically
See below for details
Basic Info
5¢ blue, dark blue
Subject: George Washington
Printing Method:: Rotary press
Perforations: 10 vertically
Watermark:: no watermark
Scott #: 496
Quantity Issued: 35,850,490
Issued: January 15th, 1917
Value for pairs
Used
$3 - $4
No postmark with gum (MH)
$2 - $6
Full perfect gum, no postmark
no trace of stamp hinge mark (MNH)
$5 - $15
Joint Lines
A solid line between two stamps, seen along the perforations in the middle, was the joint where two plates meet, the ink fills in the gap. They would be placed between each pane of 17 stamps. They can triple the value of the pair.
Precancels
Precancels on this issue were cylinder printed, and can appear sideways as apposed to the upright version on stamps with perforations on all four sides.
The right perforation
Prior to this stamp coils had been issued in all manner of perforations. If the perforation was too large the stamps tore whilst separating from each other. Too small and the coils of stamps broke apart before they could be sold. The 10 perforation proved to be the ideal balance for coil stamps, and from this point on all coil stamps were issued with this perforation.
This stamp was in production all the way through to 1923, making it the most common 5¢ coil.
Earliest documented use
Earliest documented date of use, April 15th, 1919
Fake Joint Lines
On almost every coil, somewhere, you can find an example of a fake joint line drawn in. The line should be identical ink, spaced equally between the stamps, and square with the stamp
The 1916-22 Coils
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