2¢ Carmine rose, deep carmine rose
Printing Method: Rotary Press (see below)
Subject: Edison's First Lamp
Number issued: 210,120,000
Perforations: 11 x 10½
Watermark: Unwatermarked
Scott #: 655
Issued: June 11th, 1929
Used
20¢
No postmark with gum (MH)
25¢
Full perfect gum, no postmark
no trace of stamp hinge mark (MNH)
25¢ - 50¢
#655 was issued with the following plate #'s
Number only
19779-80, 96-97
19806-09
A first day cover of #655, dated June 11th, 1929
The source photograph for the design is shown above
The 'Light's Golden Jubilee' was a big deal at the time, with the leaders of several countries, including President Herbert Hoover, and many other famous dignitaries taking part. Celebrating fifty years since the invention of the electric light.
Thomas Edison could not be featured on the stamp as he was still living, and no living person is shown on a US stamp. Instead it was proposed showing either Edison's birthplace (a mock-up by myself is shown above) or a light bulb. The latter was approved.
A pane of 100 of #655, there were four panes to a sheet of 400
Click your selected stamp
A quick heads up if you are attempting to discern the VALUE difference between #654 and #655. Both stamps are worth less than 50¢ used and unused no more than a couple of dollars. Therefore you might not consider the identification process below useful to you.
A great choice would be any of the lower stamp denominations from the 1938 president series shown above . The used stamps have negligible value, less that an nickel, so not much harm done by cutting them up. However I would not use the dollar values of this series as they do have some value.
Cut a square out of each corner as shown above, make sure you cut into the design. I chose a used one cent stamp, but any used lower denomination from the 1938 series would do.
Once you have followed the visual guide above, click the image above that most resembles your Edison stamp.