Pan-American invert
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| Pan-American invert | |
|---|---|
 Inverted one cent denomination | |
| Country of production | United States |
| Date of production | May 1, 1901 |
| Nature of rarity | Invert error |
| Face value | 1¢, 2¢ and 4¢ |
| Estimated value | US $$100,000[1] |
As part of the Pan-American Exposition held in Buffalo in 1901 the United States Post Office Department issued a series of six commemorative stamps. The stamps were issued with ornate colored frames enclosing a black-and-white image of various means of transportation. In the standard American Scott catalog, these six stamps carry the numbers 294-299. The first day of issue for the stamps was May 1, 1901.[1]
The two color printing left the possibility of errors. Three of the denominations, 1 cent, 2 cents and 4 cents, were printed in sheets on which the center vignette was inverted relative to the frame. The inverts carry the Scott catalog numbers 294a, 295a, and 296a respectively.[1]
The one cent invert is considerably more common than the others—still, the catalogue value of a set of all three inverts is estimated at $100,000[1] though one single stamp of each value was sold at auction in April 2009 for a total cost of $199,000 (respectively, $19,000; $90,000; $90,000).[2] and a block of four of each invert value realised $1,146,000 in the same auction ($21,000; $800,000; $325,000).[3]
In 2001, for the centenary of the inverts issue, the USPS produced a souvenir sheet which contained reproductions of the three original inverts, along four 80-cent stamps based on a souvenir stamp circulated at the original Pan-American Exposition.[4] [1]
See also
References and sources
- Notes
- ^ a b c d Scott (2007), pp. 60-61
- ^ "The Alan B. Whitman Collection of Outstanding U.S. Stamps: 1901 Pan-American Issue Invert Singles". Robert A. Siegel Auctions. 2009. p. 23. Retrieved 2011-05-07.
- ^ "The Alan B. Whitman Collection of Outstanding U.S. Stamps: 1901 Pan-American Issue Invert Blocks". Robert A. Siegel Auctions. 2009. p. 23. Retrieved 2011-05-07.
- ^ Scott (2007), p. 260
- Sources
- Koetzel (editor), James E. (2006). Scott 2007 Specialized Catalog of United States Stamps and Covers. Sidney, OH: Scott Publishing Co. ISBN 0-89487-392-X.
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