The Inverted Jenny, A Rare Find Part II of II

In continuation from Monday’s post.

W. T. Robey was the lucky collector who happened to find the, not yet discovered 100 panes, of the inverted Jenny stamps. He quickly made his purchase, on his lunch hour, from his local Washington, DC post office. Robey then contacted both journalists and stamp dealers to let them know of his precious find. Soon after his purchase, he sold all 100 stamps for $15,000 to a dealer named Eugene Klein. Klein immediately sold the lot to H. R. Green for $20,000.

Soon the sheet of 100 would be split into block of 8 and several blocks of 4. The remaining stamps would be cut into singles. Once the mistake was made public, stamps collectors worldwide tried to get their hands on these rare stamps.

H. R. Green placed one of these rare stamps in a locket for his wife. This locket was up for auction in May, 2002 from Siegel Auction Galleries Rarity Sale. The locket did not sell that day, but was sold later for an undisclosed amount of money.

In October 2005, four stamps were anonymously purchased for $2,970,000. Later, financier Bill Gross was revealed to be the purchaser. In 2007, a Wall Street investor forked out $825,000 for a mint never hinged stamp. He reports that he lost out on a previous auction when the winner obtained the stamp for $977,000.

Like other valuable stamps, there have been counterfeits produced, and sometimes even used. The inverted Jenny is likely the most famous stamp making error in American history. It is one of the most sought after stamps in all philately. People have asked the question over the years as to why the postal clerk sold the stamps to Robey in the first place. The fact is, it was 1918, and most people had not ever seen an airplane at that point to even know that it was actually upside down.

It would be fun to know where all of these rare stamps have landed, but it would be even more fun to actually own one of these stamps!

The Inverted Jenny, A Rare Find Part I of II

If you ever happen upon one, hang on to it for dear life, you are already rich! This stamp is one of the rarest and most desired stamps in United States history.

It was produced on May 15, 1918. The stamps controversial value at the time was a whopping 24 cents. The price of using the stamp was enormous compared to the going rate of 3 cents for a first class stamp. In the 1910’s, the USPS had been experimenting with flying mail from New York, Washington, DC and Philadelphia. This stamp was produced just for this “air service”.

Two million of the patriotic “Curtiss Jenny” stamps were produced in red, white a blue. The stamp depicts the JN-4 airplane (courtesy of the US Army Air Corp.) that was used to shuttle the mail from place to place. Production was fast and furious. Engraving began on May 4th and stamp printing on May 10th. These stamps were printed in sheets of 100, unlike previous stamps that were printed in 400 and then cut into 100 panes. The stamps had to be fed through the printing press two times because of the colors. The inverted Jenny was accidentally printed with the airplane upside down.

Although several misprint sheets were discovered and immediately destroyed, one soon to be valuable sheet of 100, slipped through the cracks. To date, only one sheet of 100 has ever been discovered. It is quite possible that other sheets were circulated and then caught by inspectors at other postal facilities once the mistake had been made public.

Please check back on Wednesday for the conclusion to this post.

The Jury Duty Social Awareness Stamp

The United States Postal Service released the Jury Duty Social Awareness Stamp on September 12, 2007. The stamp was made to call attention to the importance of jury duty service, which is the cornerstone of our democracy in the United States. The stamp features twelve diverse jurors in silhouette. The first day issuance ceremony highlighted Juror Appreciation Day, which salutes New York jurors annually.

Serving on a jury is a shared responsibility by all eligible citizens. Service should not be taken lightly. Under the US Constitution, the American jury system guarantees its citizens the right to a jury trial by their peers, if they so choose. Becoming a member of a jury is not always easy. There are questions that are asked to potential jurors from both the prosecution and defense. It is the goal of both sides to determine who is best to sit in judgment of their case.

In criminal cases, 12 jurors stand between the accused and the power of the government. The government must convince the jury of the accused person’s guilt, “beyond a reasonable doubt”. In civil cases, it is often easier to obtain a guilty ruling because jurors can make their decision based on a less stringent requirement of a “preponderance of the evidence”.

The United States Postal Service produced 40 million 41-cent Jury Duty Social Awareness stamps in a pane of 20. They may be purchased at http://shop.usps.com/.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Stamp

This Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stamp was issued in 1999. The stamp depicts Dr. King at the civil rights march in Washington, DC, where Dr. King delivered his “I Have A Dream.” speech to many onlookers.

Rumors have circulated around the internet that the stamp, and the series that it was issued in, is due to be discontinued and the remaining stock destroyed. The claim was that the United States Postal Service would do this because of lack of interest and lack of purchases by the general public. This rumor is completely false and nothing but an urban legend.

The series in question is one part of the “Celebrate the Century” series issued by the USPS. This series commemorates notable American people, places and events in the 20th Century. It is one of 15 souvenir sheet stamps notating special events in the 1960’s. The stamps featured in the series are: Barbie Doll, The Beatles, Ford Mustang, Green Bay Packers, “I Have A Dream”, The Integrated Circuit, Lasers, Man Walks on the Moon, The Peace Corps, Peace Symbol, Roger Maris, Star Trek, Super Bowl I, The Vietnam War and Woodstock.

Individual stamps are not available for purchase from the USPS, nor are the stamp sheets for this series because they are out of circulation. There is no threat of destruction. If you like the designs of this series and want to purchase them, some are still available from stamp collectors and vendors alike. The USPS produced wonderful stamps, separated by the decades, representing the entire 20th Century.

Ronald Reagan Commemorative Stamps Part III of III

The conclusion to the series on President Reagan...

America's 40th President was known for his unwavering patriotism, great moral character, and devotion to his family. He fought to put an end to communism in the Soviet Union. He was well respected by not only American's, but by other countries. Ronald Reagan is regarded by a 2005 Gallop Poll as being the most favorite president among American's.

This commemorative stamp began circulating on February 9, 2005; three days after what would have been the President's 94th birthday. Traditionally, the US Postal Service does not honor prominent American's with a stamp until at least 10 years after their death. US President's are the exception to the rule. Their stamps may only be released after their next birthday following their death. Several other countries have also made commemorative stamps of President Reagan (Belize, Grenada, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, and Antigua, to name a few). The stamp was first issued at the 37 cent rate and then reissued in 2006 at the 39 cent rate.

If you are interested in buying these stamps, at either the 37 cent or the 39 cent rate, or other Ronald Reagan stamps, visit http://www.stampcenter.com/. Having a stamp issued and then reissued in Reagan's honor is an appropriate tribute to this great American hero, as he is known to have mailed over 10,000 letters in his lifetime!

Ronald Reagan Commemorative Stamps Part II of III

In continuation from the post last Wednesday….

His first service was as a Liaison Officer at Fort Mason. Soon he transferred to the 1st Motion Picture Unit in Culver City, California. He put his acting experience to work and was promoted to First Lieutenant and was then sent to the Provisional Task Force Show Unit of “This Is The Army” in Burbank, California. By the end of his tour of duty, he has produced over 400 training films. In 1945 Captain Reagan was released from active duty status.

He was married to actress Jane Wyman from 1940 to 1948. He then married Nancy Davis in 1952. She steadfastly remained by his side throughout the remainder of his life. Reagan is quoted as saying to Nancy in a one of his many love letters, “Whatever I treasure and enjoy….all would be without meaning if I didn’t have you.”

Ronald Reagan became the 33rd Governor of the State of California. He served as Governor from 1967 through 1975. Reagan first was a Democrat, but switched affiliations to join the Republican Party in 1962. He was defeated in his Presidential nominations in 1968 and 1976.

Ronald Reagan ran for President and was victorious over President Jimmy Carter. He began is Presidential life in January 1980. He ran for a second term and won again in a landslide victory winning 49 of the 50 states votes.

Please check back on Monday for the conclusion to this post.

Ronald Reagan Commemorative Stamps Part I of III

One of the most loved President’s in the United States was Ronald Reagan. He was born on February 6, 1911 in Tampico, Illinois. President Reagan died on June 5, 2004at his home in Bel Air, California when he succumbed to Alzheimer’s disease. Reagan was known for his strong faith in the goodness of people.

Reagan was a radio announcer for the Chicago Cubs. While traveling with the team in 1937, he took a screen test in California. He was then awarded a seven year contract with Warner Brothers. The film he enjoyed acting in the most was “Kings Row”. He gained his nickname “The Gipper” from his roll as George “The Gipper” Gipp in the movie “Knute Rockne, All American”. He was an accomplished actor in Hollywood acting in over 80 television and movie parts. He eventually served as the President of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) for many years.

After finishing college, Reagan, with his immense patriotic spirit, enlisted in the United States Army Reserves. He had already completed 14 home study Army Extension Courses in preparation for his enlistment. In 1942 he was called into active duty, but because he was near sighted, he was not able to serve overseas.

Please check back on Friday for the continuation of this post.

Australia - Zodiac Cartoon Stamps

The Zodiac is made up of twelve different sun signs. Your date of birth determines which one you are. These signs are believed to represent twelve basic personality types. Each sign emphases both positive and negative personality traits in people.

In Chinese astrology, the line of the equator is divided into 12 segments. Time is the main factor as the zodiac is operating in cycles of hours, months and years. Each sign of the zodiac is represented by an animal. 2008 is the Year of the Rat.

In Indian and Western astrology, the twelve signs are associated with the constellations. In contrast to Chinese astrology, the movement of the sun, moon and planets are emphasized instead of time. The rising sun is the most common feature of astrology among all three.

Western astrologers believe that no one person possess all of the characteristics of any one sign. In other words, each person, with their varying personality, is a combination of many different signs.

Australia has released some silly cartoon Zodiac Stamps. There are 12 stamps in the set. One stamp for each astrological sign. Each stamp personifies fun personality characteristics. If you would like more information on this adorable stamp set, visit www.stampcenter.com.

U. S. Disney Magic – Sheet of 20

The third largest entertainment and media company in the world is The Walt Disney Company. It was founded in October 1923 by brothers Roy and Walt Disney. The company first began as a small animation studio. As of today, the empire now owns 11theme parks, several television networks and has one of the biggest Hollywood studios. They are headquartered in Burbank, California and enjoy astounding revenues.

Disneyland opened, after one year of construction, on July 17, 1955 to mixed reviews. On opening day, water fountains did not work, the park ran out of food, there was a gas leak that closed down much of the park, and the women’s high heels sank in the newly poured cement when they walked. Even today, Disney employees wear blank ribbons on July 17th, in remembrance of the failures of that day. By the second day of opening, the magic that was Walt Disney’s dream had come true. The press fully supported Disney and the visitors came by the thousands. To date, there have been over 515 million guests visiting Disneyland alone.

Some of your favorite characters have come together in an adorable display of United States Disney stamps. Mickey Mouse, Peter Pan, Dumbo and Aladin can be found all together on one stamp sheet. Each sheet has 20 stamps on it. If you are interested in purchasing these, or other Disney stamps, visit www.stampcenter.com .

St. Helena - 1934 Centenary Issue

Saint Helena is located in the South Atlantic, near the island, Tristan de Cunha. Saint Helena is best known for being the place of exile of Napoleon Bonaparte from 1815 through 1821.

Unlike Tristan de Cunha (see post from last Friday and Monday), St Helena welcomes and encourages visitors to their beautiful island. There are approximately 4,000 residents of the island. There currently is no airport, so arrival is difficult and can only be obtained via fishing boat or ship. They do have a port-of-call, unlike their neighboring island. There are several hotels and restaurants for visitors to enjoy.

Tourism is very important to island residents and is heavily based around the past imprisonment of Napoleon. Island residents believe that they have the best museum of Napoleon in the entire world. There are two national parks with rare flora, several of which can only be found on St. Helena. Mostly, the economy is suffering and St. Helena is largely supported by England.

St. Helena has produced its own postage stamps for years. Stamp sales are one of the main sources of income for the island. From the Post Office and Philatelic Bureau Bureau, “Stamp Advisory Committee meets regularly to ensure that issues of stamps incorporate designs of an historical, geographical, economical, constitutional or thematic nature which is of the interest to the stamp collector.” To purchase a set of 10 rare and amazing 1943 Centenary Issue stamps from St. Helena, or other stamps from St. Helena, visit www.stampcenter.com for more information.

Tristan de Cunha – 1960 Sealife Definitives (Set of 14) Part II of II

In continuation from Friday’s post….

Healthcare is free to the island’s residents. They are limited to services by only one South African doctor and five nurses. IBM and Beacon Equity Partners have set up a Web system with the University of Pittsburg Medical Center. This system provides the resident doctor with long distance tele-medical help with instant consultations available in other countries. If an island resident is seriously injured, signals are sent to fishing boats so that residents can be transported to Cape Town, South Africa.

The islands economy is based on fishing and farming to provide the islanders with their food. Islanders also appreciate the sales of their lobsters (crawfish) to outside countries. It is not uncommon for islanders to have two occupations. You may find them working for local government and in the lobster factory. Another source of income for the island is their sales of postage stamps and coins, especially to philatelists and collectors around the globe. Often times, post office staff will board cruise liners to enable passengers, who would otherwise not be able to come ashore, the opportunity to purchase the sought-after stamps from the island.

If you are interested in purchasing 14 interesting and colorful stamps from Tristan de Cunha, visit www.stampcenter.com. These beautiful stamps are the 1960 Sealife Definitives featuring whale, lobster, fish and shark.

Tristan de Cunha 1960 Sealife Definitives Part I of II

Tristan de Cunha is a group of very remote islands located in the Atlantic Ocean between South American and South Africa. They are considered the most remote group of islands in the world. These islands are currently an overseas territory of Great Britain. They are part of the British Crown Colony of St Helena. The territory consists of a main island, Tristan de Cunha, and 3 remote uninhabited islands; Gough Island, Inaccessible Island and Nightingale Island.

Tristan de Cunha is an active volcanic mountain. In 1961, the island was evacuated because of eruptions. The local lobster (crawfish) factory was destroyed, but rebuilt soon afterwards. Crawfish is one of the main sources of revenues for the island. They have exclusively been exported to Japan and the United States. Currently, there is less demand in the U.S. and the Tristan de Cunha economy is suffering as a result.

There is no airport on the islands and therefore it is difficult to transport to the outside world. Fishing boats from South Africa service the island on a regular basis. Television arrived on the island in 2001. There is only one channel available; The British Armed Services Broadcast. The resulting education on the island is poor. Children are allowed to leave school at 15 years of age.

Currently there are only 275 residents on the island. All residents are descendants of the original settlers. There are only seven surviving family names living on the island today; Glass, Swain, Green, Rogers, Hagan, Repetto and Lavarello. Patterson was the last name added in 1986, bringing the total to only 8 families inhabiting this remote island. Only a few expatriate members and their families may live on the island at a time. They are only allowed to live there for a short period of time (from a week to a couple of months). Priests, doctors and dentists fall into this category.

Check back on Monday for the conclusion to this post.

Gibraltar Princess Diana Stamps

Gibraltar is well known for their wonderful commemorative stamps. The Princess Diana stamp is a welcome find to both Royal watchers and curious stamp collectors alike.

Gibraltar is a small British overseas territory that is located near the southern most tip of the Iberian Peninsula, which is overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar. It shares a border with Spain on its north side. The population is a mere 27,495, but this territory is considered to be the most densely populated area in the world today.

Princess Diana (of Great Britain) was born on July 1, 1961 in Norfolk, England. She was married to Prince Charles, the first in line to be the King of England, on July 29, 1981. She bore two sons, Prince William and Prince Harry who are both heirs to the throne in England.

Princess Diana lived a tumultuous life in her Royal role. She died a tragic death on August 31, 1997 while in a car with boyfriend Dodi Al-Fayed. Her death still sparks controversy today. She served many charities in her short life. Those of particular interest for her were ridding the world of landmines and her AIDS charity work.

These Gibraltar stamps feature 4 lovely photos of the beautiful Princess Diana. If you are interested in purchasing these exquisite stamps, with the beloved Princess Diana, visit stampcenter.com for more information.