#332 - 1908 Double Line USPS Watermark P12 2ยข
See below for details
Basic Info
2¢ - Light carmine, carmine, dark carmine
Printing Method: FLAT PLATE
Subject: George Washington
Number issued: 7,000,000,000
Perforations: P12
Watermark: Double Line USPS
Scott #: 332
Issued: November 16, 1908
Value of #332
Used
5¢
No postmark with gum (MH)
25¢ - 50¢
Full perfect gum, no postmark
no trace of stamp hinge mark (MNH)
$1 - $2
Plate #'s
#332 was issued with the following plate #'s
Imprint and plate number
4807-31, 33-35, 37-66, 68, 71-73, 76, 78-79, 83-84, 87, 93, 96
Imprint, small solid star and number
4988
Imprint, star and plate number
4968-69, 90, 92, 96
5015-22, 25-28, 31-33, 36, 39, 44-46, 50-75, 92, 94
#332b
2¢ - Lake
Certificate Required
Value = $3,250
The watermark
An illustration of the double line USPS watermark found on this stamp (note the booklet pane's watermark is sideways)
Not regulatory
According to the Universal Postal Union regulations the standard letter rate stamp should be red and should have the value in figures, not letters. Some examples of stamps that complied with the regulations are shown above. The reason for this regulation was that postal workers around the world could easily identify the rate used on incoming mail.
#332 stamp's design depicted the value in words and not figures, which was not regulatory. This was allowed to continue until finally, four years later, in 1912, the value was changed from words to figures.
Experimental Paper ?
Sometimes you will see very expensive copies of #331 advertised as experimental paper or CHINA CLAY PAPER. There is no such thing, what exists are stamps which have "dirty water" paper because silica in the water became embedded in paper produced during drought conditions when the mill pond was low.
There are some old PF certificates still around that state that a stamp is a "China Clay' stamp. The PF no longer recognises China Clay stamps and has ceased certifying them.
Do not be tempted to buy something that does not exist.
#332a
There are nine different positions of the plate number on the 180 pane and 12 different positions on the 360 subject plate. An example of each is shown above. As the panes had their side margins trimmed off there are no side plate numbers. There were two types of sheets, one with a single pane of 180 stamps, another with two panes of 180 stamps, making a total of 360 stamps. See below for a diagram of the plates.
The booklet pane was issued with the following plate #'s
Plates used:
180 subjects
4803-06, 08, 26 , 32 , 36
4947-50, 53, 55, 63-65, 70
5042-43, 47,48, 88, 90, 95, 96, 99
5104-06, 08, t2-13, 39, 54
360 subjects
5263-64, 67-68513 0
5261-62, 66
5445-46, 48, 50-51, 56, 58-59
Value of #332a
Used
$100-$200
No postmark with gum (MH)
$30-$70
Full perfect gum, no postmark
no trace of stamp hinge mark (MNH)
$150-$225
Please note that the values are for full panes with the top tabs intact
Booklet pane watermark
An illustration of the double line USPS watermark found on this stamp (note the regular stamps watermark is upright)
Booklets
BK20
2¢ carmine booklet with two panes of six
Value: $850
BK21
2¢ carmine booklet with four panes of six
Value: $1,700
BK22
2¢ carmine booklet with four panes of six
Value: $4,250
BK23
2¢ carmine booklet with eight panes of six
Value: $500
BK24
2¢ carmine booklet with two panes of six
Value: $900
BK25
2¢ carmine booklet with four panes of six
Value: $900
BK26
2¢ carmine booklet with eight panes of six
Value: $2,000
Proofs
332-P2
Plate proof on card
332-P2
332-P2
Plate proof on card
332-P2
332-TC1
Trial color proof on card
332-TC1
332-TC1aj
Golden yellow trial color proof on India
332-TC1aj
332-TC1ay
Orange brown trial color proof on card
332-TC1ay
332-TC1
Dark blue trial color proof on card
332-TC1
332-TC1ap
Blue trial color proof on card
332-TC1ap
Plate Positions of the Booklet Pane
Diagram of a 36O Subject Booklet Plate
Position panes on 360 subject plates
A-Ordinary pane.
B-Pane with half arrow line in margin, guide line at right.
C-Pane with half arrow line in margin, guide line at left.
D-Pane with plate number in margin.
H-Pane with vertical guide line at right.
I-Pane with vertical guide line at left.
J-Pane with horizontal guide line at bottom.
K-with vertical guide line at right and line at bottom.
L-Pane with vertical guide line at left and line at bottom.
M-Pane with horizontal guide line at top of margin,
N-Pane with vertical guide line at right and at top of margin.
O-Pane with vertical guide line at left and at top of margin.
Panes A, B, C and D are found on both types of plates and are listed merely to account for the various position panes on each plate.
Panes H and I, of the 180 subject sheets, are the same as H and I of the 360 sheets. They are exactly the same and there is no method of telling them apart.
The 180 subject sheets were used for the booklets of this issue, while the 360 subject sheets were used for this and. all succeeding booklets of ordinary stamps. The above list of positions will, therefore, hold true for all succeeding issues unless otherwise specified
1908-09 Definitive Double Line USPS Watermark P12 Issues
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