Scotts #519 US stamps

#519 - 1916 2¢ Double Line watermark, perf. 11

2¢ Carmine

Printing Method: Flat Plate
Subject: George Washington
Perforations: 11
Watermark: Double Line USPS
Number issued: 573,000
Scott #: 519
Earliest known date of Use: December 6th, 1916

Value

Used
$300 - $750
No postmark with gum (MH)
$200 - $400
Full perfect gum, no postmark
no trace of stamp hinge mark (MNH)
$400 - $700

Double line letters

An illustration of the double line USPS watermark found on this stamp

First Day Cover

A first day of issue cover with #519 dated October 9th, 1917

An old stamp gets a new life

In 1910 the Postmaster of St. Louis mailed unwanted imperf stamps intended for United States Automatic Vending Company to the New York Post office as the vending company had relocated to NYC. The vending company never purchased the stamps and by 1917 had gone bust. The New York Post Office then asked the Bureau if they could return all 34 sheets to them. The Bureau took them back and put them through the perf 11 perforating machine so they could be sold. Hence this is why you see the old USPS double line watermark and the old TWO CENTS, in words, description of the value on this stamp, in 1917.