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.