Formats of Regular Issues in 2003 White Ace Supplements

FORMATS FOR 2003 ISSUES IN
WHITE ACE REGULAR ISSUE SUPPLEMENTS

This compilation is published to assist collectors in obtaining currently available regular issue stamps in the formats in which they will be shown in the 2003 White Ace album supplements. A separate compilation deals with the 2003 commemorative stamp issues.

REGULAR ISSUE ALBUMS

AMERICAN CLOCK SELF-ADHESIVE SHEET STAMP (01/24/03)

-Singles Simplified - 1 single

-Singles Complete - 1 single

-Blocks - 1 block of 4

-Plate Blocks - 1 plate block of 4

-Booklet panes - not included

-Distinguished Americans Series Specialized - not included

37¢ AMERICAN FLAG SELF ADHESIVE ATM PANE OF 18 (02/04/03)

-Singles Simplified - not included

-Singles Complete - 1 single

-Blocks - 1 full pane of 18

-Plate Blocks - 1 full pane of 18 with plate number

-Booklet panes - 1 full pane of 18

-Distinguished Americans Series Specialized - not included

NONDENOMINATED (10¢) LION STATUE GUMMED COIL (02/04/03)

-Singles Simplified - not included

-Singles Complete - 1 pair

-Blocks - 1 pair

-Plate Blocks - 1 plate number strip of 3

-Booklet panes - not included

-Distinguished Americans Series Specialized - not included

$1 WISDOM SELF-ADHESIVE SHEET STAMP (02/28/03)

-Singles Simplified - 1 single

-Singles Complete - 1 single

-Blocks - 1 block of 4

-Plate Blocks - 1 plate block of 4

-Booklet panes - not included

-Distinguished Americans Series Specialized - not included

1¢ TIFFANY LAMP GUMMED COIL (03/01/03)

-Singles Simplified - 1 single

-Singles Complete - 1 pair

-Blocks - 1 pair

-Plate Blocks - 1 plate number strip of 3

-Booklet panes - not included

-Distinguished Americans Series Specialized - not included

NONDENOMINATED (5¢) SEA COAST GUMMED COIL (03/19/03)

-Singles Simplified - not included

-Singles Complete - 1 pair

-Blocks - 1 pair

-Plate Blocks - 1 plate number strip of 3

-Booklet panes - not included

-Distinguished Americans Series Specialized - not included

AMERICAN FLAG COIL OF 100 - BCA PRINTING (04/03)

-Singles Simplified - not included

-Singles Complete - 1 pair

-Blocks - 1 pair

-Plate Blocks - 1 plate number strip of 3

-Booklet panes - not included

-Distinguished Americans Series Specialized - not included

37¢ PURPLE HEART SELF-ADHESIVE SHEET STAMP - BANKNOTE CORP OF AMERICA PRINTING (05/30/03)

-Singles Simplified - 1 single - either BCA or AP printing

-Singles Complete - 1 single

-Blocks - 1 block of 4

-Plate Blocks - 1 plate block of 4

-Booklet panes - not included

-Distinguished Americans Series Specialized - not included

83¢ EDNA FERBER (06/03)

-Singles Simplified - 1 single

-Singles Complete - 1 single

-Blocks - 1 block of 4

-Plate Blocks - 1 plate block of 4

-Booklet panes - not included

-Distinguished Americans Series Specialized - 1 single and 1 block or plate block of 4

NONDENOMINATED (5¢) SEA COAST COIL DIECUT ON 4 SIDES - AP PRINTING (06/03/03)

-Singles Simplified - not included

-Singles Complete - 1 pair

-Blocks - 1 pair

-Plate Blocks - 1 plate number strip of 3

-Booklet panes - not included

-Distinguished Americans Series Specialized - not include

NONDENOMINATED (25¢) AMERICAN EAGLE GUMMED COIL (06/26/03)

-Singles Simplified - 1 strip of 10

-Singles Complete - 10 singles & 1 strip of 10

-Blocks - 1 strip of 10

-Plate Blocks - 1 plate number strip of 10

-Booklet panes - not included

-Distinguished Americans Series Specialized - not included

PURPLE HEART SELF-ADHESIVE SHEET STAMP - ASHTON POTTER PRINTING (08/01/03)

-Singles Simplified - not included

-Singles Complete - 1 single

-Blocks - 1 block of 4

-Plate Blocks - 1 plate block of 4

-Booklet panes - not included

-Distinguished Americans Series Specialized - not included

AMERICAN FLAG COIL OF 100 - SSP PRINTING (08/08/03)

-Singles Simplified - not included

-Singles Complete - 1 pair

-Blocks - 1 pair

-Plate Blocks - 1 plate number strip of 3

-Booklet panes - not included

-Distinguished Americans Series Specialized - not included

ANTIQUE TOYS S.A. 2-SIDED CONVERTIBLE BOOKLET OF 20 (09/03/02)

-Singles Simplified - not included

-Singles Complete - not included

-Blocks - 1 full pane of 20

-Plate Blocks - 1 full pane of 20 with plate number

-Booklet panes - 1 full pane of 20

-Distinguished Americans Series Specialized - not included

SNOWY EGRET COIL (10/24/03)

-Singles Simplified - 1 single

-Singles Complete - 1 pair

-Blocks - 1 pair

-Plate Blocks - 1 plate number strip of 3

-Booklet panes - not included

-Distinguished Americans Series Specialized - not included

NON-DENOMINATED (5¢) ATLAS COIL - AVERY PRINTING (10/03)

-Singles Simplified - not included

-Singles Complete - 1 pair

-Blocks - 1 pair

-Plate Blocks - 1 plate number strip of 3

-Booklet panes - not included

-Distinguished Americans Series Specialized - not included

23¢ GEORGE WASHINGTON S.A. SHEET STAMP (10/03)

-Singles Simplified - not included

-Singles Complete - 1 single

-Blocks - 1 block of 4

-Plate Blocks - 1 plate block of 4

-Booklet panes - not included

-Distinguished Americans Series Specialized - not included

AMERICAN FLAG SELF ADHESIVE VENDING BOOKLET OF 20 (10/23/03)

-Singles Simplified - not included

-Singles Complete - not included

-Blocks - 1 full pane of 20

-Plate Blocks - 1 full pane of 20 with plate number (on back of pane)

-Booklet panes - 1 full pane of 20

-Distinguished Americans Series Specialized - not included

AMERICAN FLAG SHEET (11/24/03)

-Singles Simplified - not included

-Singles Complete - 1 single

-Blocks - 1 block of 4

-Plate Blocks - 1 plate block of 4

-Booklet panes - not included

-Distinguished Americans Series Specialized - not included

3.85 JEFFERSON MEMORIAL (12/03)

-Singles Simplified - not included

-Singles Complete - 1 single

-Blocks - 1 block of 4

-Plate Blocks - 1 plate block of 4

-Booklet panes - not included

-Distinguished Americans Series Specialized - not included

Our decisions to include or exclude some stamps from our regular issue albums seem to become less obvious in each successive year. For this reason we offer the following explanations:

In our Regular Singles Simplified pages we attempt to show each face different stamp issue only once. Thus perforation, booklet format, coil format, and other varieties having the same face design, are considered equivalent and space is provided for only one example. Thus we have not included the Gummed Lion Statue coil, the Gummed Seacoast coil, a second version of the Purple Heart definitive, the Antique Toys 2-sided convertible booklet stamp or any of the other 2003 reprints discussed below.

The Regular Singles Complete album is intended to show all stamps in sheet and coil formats. To maintain a measure of completeness, booklet stamps are included when they don't exist in sheet or coil form. However, we have a strong conviction that booklet stamps should be collected as unbroken panes. Thus, for the collector who wishes to properly collect booklet stamps, a separate White Ace album is available for full booklet panes. Accordingly, we have not included the Antique Toys 2-sided convertible booklet stamps or the American Flag vending booklet stamp in this album as the coil versions of these stamps were shown in our 2002 supplement.

Sometimes it is just not possible to include an issue in a format consistent with prior standards. In the past, a setenant coil would be shown in the White Ace Plate Block Albums as two complete sequences of the setenant stamps with a plate number on the last stamp of the first sequence. Thus, the American Eagle Coil should be shown as a strip of 20, with the plate number on the tenth stamp. However, as a strip of ten stamps of this coil is about 10.5" long, our page size would have to be about 22" high to show this coil properly. Rather than omitting it entirely, we have chosen to show a coil of 10 with a plate number. (While the plate number could reasonably be positioned anywhere on the strip, we will show it on the fifth stamp from the left).

Eight of the stamps listed above will likely be unfamiliar to many collectors, particularly because they were not accorded first day cancellations, were not announced in advance of their issue and in some cases have not even been identified with a "for the record" announcement in the Postal Bulletin. We list below nine such stamps known to us at this point and provide additional information which will enable the collector to identify them.

As most collectors know, it is common for the USPS to reprint definitives when necessary to keep these available for sale. Usually these reprintings are identical to the first printing and are not considered by collectors to be new issues or collectible varieties. When changes are made in production of such a reprint, collectors may or may not consider it worthy of being distinguished as new and collectible.

Of the 2003 reprintings, eight of these appear to have occurred because the Bureau of Engraving and Printing is discontinuing its printing of U.S. stamps, and later in the year because a stamp production contract with Banknote Corporation of America was not renewed. The stamps previously printed by either of these organizations were reprinted by Ashton Potter or Sennett Security Printers, although some of those early in the year were reprinted by Banknote Corporation of America.

In modern printing, press plates are made by the printer using electronic files usually created from conventional artwork. While manipulation of the image files may occur in preparing the job for press, the printer would only have to do this the first time the stamp is printed. If subsequent printings require new plates, the same files would be used and no change in the image would occur. The Acadia National Park reprint appears to be a case of this sort - and is thus not shown in any of our supplements .

If production of a stamp is moved to a new printing firm, the process almost certainly involves starting over from the conventional art. The preparation of electronic files for output will likely differ from the process as used at other firms and will result in an image which is at least slightly different. Additionally, it may be printed on different paper or have changes in perforation or die cut measurements. Because of these differences, the USPS usually changes the date printed at the bottom edge of the stamp, so the origin of the stamp is less ambiguous. In the 1990s, (particularly for the Flag over Porch varieties) the USPS accorded first day cancellations for such varieties. However, in the last year, the USPS has often disallowed first day cancellations of such issues because the original stamp was often accidentally affixed to collector submitted covers.

In any case, all of the 2003 varieties in which the printer changed are considered new issues, and in all White Ace Regular Issue albums except in the Regular Singles Simplified pages, we will treat these as such. Details of these issues sufficient for identification are as follows:

Flag S.A. Coil of 100 (April 2003) - Printed by BCA (Guilford Gravure) with "2003" date, die cut 8.5 vertical, with square corners, Scott #3633A, USPS order #780141 (Coil of 100). Original stamp June 7, 2002, printed by BEP, die cut 8.5 vertical, Scott #3633.

Non-denominated Seacoast S.A. Coil of 10,000 (June 3, 2003) - Printed by Ashton Potter, serpentine die cut 9.5 x 10.5 on 4 sides on a carrier that is wider than the stamps, with a space between stamps, Scott 3785, USPS order #781431 (Strip of 25 with pl #). Original stamp October 21, 2002, printed by BEP, die cut 8.5 vertical, Scott #3693.

Edna Ferber (June 2003) - Printed by Ashton Potter, frame line at left doesn't touch shoulder, serpentine die cut 11.25 x 11, "2003" date, Scott #3434, USPS order #118320 (Bl 4) or #118330 (Bl 10 with pl #). Original version issued July 29, 2002, printed by BCA, frame line cuts off shoulder, die cut 11 x 11.7, Scott #3433.

Acadia National Park (June 2003) - Printed by BCA, die cut 11.4 x 11.9, dated "2001," different tagging & paper, press sheet & likely press changed, selvadge markings also changed, Scott #C138a, USPS order #501320 (Bl4) or #501330 (Bl 10 with pl #). Old version issued May 30, 2001 printed by same printer, BCA, dated "2001," die cut 11.3 x 11.4, Scott #C138.This appears to be only to be a press change and corresponding change of press sheet layout. Printed image is essentially the same. For this reason, this issue is NOT shown in any White Ace 2003 supplements.

Flag S.A. Coil of 100 (August 8, 2003) - Printed by Sennett Security Products, dated "2003," die cut 10 vertical, Scott #3632A, USPS order #780142 (Coil of 100). Replaces BEP printed coil issued June 7, 2002, diecut 10 vertical, Scott #3632.

Non-denominated Atlas Coil (October 2003) - Printer changed from BCA to Avery, dated "2003," slight change in colors, die cut 11 vertical, Scott #3770, USPS order #791231 (Strip of 25). Original stamp issued June 29, 2001, printed by BCA, has "2001" date, die cut 8.5 vertical, Scott #3520.

23¢ George Washington (October 2003) - Printed by Avery Dennison, dated "2003," gauge 11, sheet stamp, USPS order #180020 (bl 4) or 180030 (Bl 10 with pl #). In 2002 we showed coil & gummed sheet but omitted s.a. booklet of 10 in our regular singles pages. No Washington s.a. sheet has previously been issued. Colors make the 2003 Avery Washington are very different from 2002 gummed sheet, but similar to 2002 coil.

Flag Vending Booklet of 20 (October 23, 2003) - Printed by Avery Dennison, dated with small "2003," die cut 11, Scott #3634c,d, USPS order #670741 (Book pane of 20). Original version with 2002 date, issued June 7, 2002, printed by Sennet Security Products, diecut 10.5 x 10.75, Scott #3636a,b.

3.85 Jefferson Memorial (December 2003) - Printer changed to Sennett Security Printers,date "2003" in larger type, slight change in blue color, die cut 11 x 10.75, Scott #3647A, USPS order #180110 (single) #180120 (Pl 4). Original stamp printed by BCA, issued July 30, 2002, dated 2002, die cut 11.25, Scott #3647.