Formats of Regular Issues in 2004 White Ace Supplements

FORMATS FOR 2004 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 2004 White Ace album supplements. A separate compilation deals with the 2004 commemorative stamp issues.

REGULAR ISSUE ALBUMS

SNOWY EGRET SELF-ADHESIVE CONVERTIBLE BOOKLET OF 20 (01/30/04)

-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

AMERICAN FLAG SELF-ADHESIVE COIL OF 3,000 & 10,000 - SSP PRINTING (January 2004)

-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

CHIPPENDALE CHAIR SELF-ADHESIVE SHEET STAMP (03/05/04)

-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

SNOWY EGRET COIL OF 100 - ASHTON POTTER PRINTING (March 2004)

-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

NONDENOMINATED (5¢) SEA COAST COIL OF 3,000 & 10,000 DIECUT ON 4 SIDES - AP PRINTING (04/06/04)

-Singles Simplified - not included

-Singles Complete - not included

-Blocks - not included

-Plate Blocks - not included

-Booklet panes - not included

-Distinguished Americans Series Specialized - not included

NONDENOMINATED (25¢) AMERICAN EAGLE GUMMED COIL (05/12/04)

-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

NONDENOMINATED (5¢) SEA COAST GUMMED COIL OF 3,000 & 10,000 - SENNETT SECURITY PRODUCTS PRINTING (06/11/04)

-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

TOLEWARE SELF-ADHESIVE SHEET STAMP (06/25/04)

-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

23¢ WILMA RUDOLPH S.A. SHEET OF 20 (07/14/04)

-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

23¢ WILMA RUDOLPH S.A. CONVERTIBLE BOOKLET OF 10 (07/14/04)

-Singles Simplified - not included

-Singles Complete - 1 single

-Blocks - 1 full pane of 10

-Plate Blocks - 1 full pane of 10 with plate number

-Booklet panes - 1 full pane of 10

-Distinguished Americans Series Specialized - 1 single & 1 full pane of 10

23¢ WILMA RUDOLPH S.A. VENDING BOOKLET OF 10 (07/14/04)

-Singles Simplified - not included

-Singles Complete - not included

-Blocks - not included (same as Wilma Rudolph convertible booklet)

-Plate Blocks - not included (same as Wilma Rudolph convertible booklet)

-Booklet panes - not included (same as Wilma Rudolph convertible booklet)

-Distinguished Americans Series Specialized - not included (same as Wilma Rudolph convertible booklet)

37¢ AMERICAN FLAG S.A. 2-SIDED CONVERTIBLE BOOKLET OF 20 - AVERY DENNISON PRINTING (Late July 2004)

-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

23¢ NAVAJO NECKLACE S.A. SHEET OF 20 (08/20/04)

-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

NONDENOMINATED (5¢) SEA COAST COIL OF 10,000 - ASHTON POTTER PRINTING (August 2004)

-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

NONDENOMINATED (5¢) SEA COAST COIL OF 10,000 - SENNETT SECURITY PRODUCTS PRINTING (Late August 2004)

-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

NONDENOMINATED (10¢) ATLAS STATUE COIL OF 3,000 - AVERY DENNISON PRINTING (9/13/04)

-Singles Simplified - not included

-Singles Complete - not included

-Blocks - not included

-Plate Blocks - not included

-Booklet panes - not included

-Distinguished Americans Series Specialized - not included

While there are a number of definitive stamps in 2004 which defy categorization, our decisions on which stamps to include in our regular issue albums follow quite closely those made in 2003 and in prior years.

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 Snowy Egret booklet, American Flag SSP printed S.A. coil, Snowy Egret A.P. printed coil, Nondenominated Seacoast AP printed coil diecut on 4 sides, Nondenominated Seacoast SSP printed gummed coil, Wilma Rudolph convertible booklet, Wilma Rudolph Vending Booklet, American Flag double-sided AV printed convertible booklet, Nondenominated Seacoast AP printed coil diecut on 2 sides, Nondenominated Seacoast SSP printed coil diecut on 2 sides, and Nondenominated Atlas Statue printed by AP.

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 single stamps from the Snowy Egret s.a. convertible booklet of 20, or the American Flag double-sided AP printed convertible booklet. We have included a single from the Wilma Rudolph convertible booklet (which is the same as the vending booklet), because the intaglio impression present on the sheet stamp was omitted in printing the booklets. .

As with the American Eagle coil of 2003, the 2004 American Eagle gummed coil will not fit on our regular issue album page if shown as two complete sequences of se-tenant stamps with a plate number as the last stamp of the first sequence. As we did in 2003, we will show the 2004 Eagle Coil as a plate strip of 10. (While the plate number could reasonably be positioned anywhere on the strip, we will show it on the fifth stamp from the left).

Five 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 these five plus three additional reprints which were given first day service. Because of their similarity to each other and to previous versions of these stamps, we have provided 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.

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, or even if the same printer moves the job to a different size press, the same files would be used and usually no change in the image would occur. The Sea Coast coil AP re-printing of 4/6/04 appears to be a case of this sort, while the Atlas coil AP printing of 9/13/04 appears simply to be a change in the size of the roll of stamps. Neither of these are 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.

The policy of the USPS in according first day cancellations to reprints has become somewhat irrational in 2004. For example, the Snowy Egret coil of March 2004 differs from the original coil stamp issued in October 2003 in Printer (AP vs AV), date in the stamp margin (2004 vs 2003), and perforations (9.5 vs 8.5). No first day cancellation was offered for the reprint.

On the other hand, the Seacoast gummed coil issued 6/11/04 has similar differences from the 2003 version (SSP vs BCA), (2004 vs 2003), (perforated 9.9 vs 9.9), but was given a first day cancellation. Other examples can easily be found in the list of 2004 regular issues. We point this out to underscore that the existance of a first day of issue is not of much value in determining the significance of a reprint variety.

In any case, all of the 2003 varieties in which the printer changed are considered new issues, and will shown 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:

American Flag SA Coil of 3000 & 10000 SSP Printing (January 2004) - New stamp, printed by Sennett Security Products is dated "2004," is on a carrier wider than the stamps and has gaps between the stamps, the corners of the stamps are rounded, plate numbers every 20 stamps, Scott #3632C, die cut 11.7, USPS order #780231 (pl strip of 25 from coil of 3000) or #780331 (pl strip of 25 from coil of 10000).

The 2004 printing replaces a "2002" dated flag stamp printed by Banknote Corporation of America in rolls of 3000 and 10000 & issued 6/07/02, Scott #3633, die cut 8.5, plate numbers every 20 stamps, USPS order #780230 (plate strip of 25 from coil of 3000) or #780330 (plate strip of 25 from coil of 10000).

37¢ Snowy Egret Coil of 100 (March 2004) - Printer changed to Ashton Potter, date "2004," plate numbers every 31 stamps, die cut 9.5, Scott #3829A, USPS order #782241 (coil of 100).

Original stamp of this design was printed by Avery Dennison, issued 10/24/03, date "2003," plate numbers every 10 stamps, die cut 8.5, Scott #3829, USPS order # 782240 (coil of 100).

Non-denominated (5¢) Seacoast SA Coil of 3000 & 10000 diecut on 4 sides (4/06/04) - Printed by Ashton Potter in coil roll of 10000, with "2003" date, serpentine die cut 9.5 x 10 on 4 sides on a carrier wider than the stamps with space between stamps, plate numbers every 27 stamps, No Scott number assigned, USPS order #782730 (plate strip of 25 from roll of 3000) or USPS order #781432 (plate strip of 25 from roll of 10000).

Same as coil of 10000 released 6/3/03, printed by Ashton Potter with "2003" date, serpentine die cut 9.5 x 10 on 4 sides on a carrier that is wider than the stamps, with a space between stamps, plate #s every 22 stamps, Scott #3785, USPS order #781431 (plate strip of 25).

Non-denominated (5¢) Seacoast Gummed Coil of 3000 & 10000 SSP Printing (06/11/04) - Printer changed to Sennet Security Products, date "2004," plate numbers every 14 stamps, perforated 9.9 (estimated), Scott #3864, USPS order #782630 (plate strip of 25 from coil of 3,000) or #782031 (plate strip of 25 from coil of 10,000).

Replaces gummed coils of 500 & 10000 printed by Banknote Corporation of America, issued 3/19/03, dated "2003," plate numbers every 10 stamps, perforated 9.9, Scott #3775, USPS order #781830 (plate strip of 25 from coil of 500) & #782030 (plate strip of 25 from coil of 10000).

37¢ American Flag S.A. 2-Sided Convertible Booklet of 20 - Avery Dennison Printing (Late July 2004) - New printing by Avery Dennison, dated "2004," die cut 11 x 10.8, Scott #3636D, USPS order #670841.

Replaces booklet pane printed by Sennett Security Products & released June 7, 2002, dated "2002," die cut 10 1/2 x 10 3/4, Scott #3636, USPS order #670840.

Non-denominated (5¢) Seacoast SA Coil of 10000 diecut on 2 sides (August 2004) - AP Printing - Reprinted as coil of 10000 with "2003" date, plate numbers every 27th stamp, die cut 10, Scott #3874, USPS order # 781434 (plate strip of 25).

Non-denominated (5¢) Seacoast SA Coil of 10000 diecut on 2 sides (Late August 2004) - SSP Printing - Reprinted as coil of 10000 with "2004" date, plate numbers every 20th stamp, die cut 11.7, Scott #3875, USPS order #781433 (plate strip of 25).

Originally issued 10/21/02 as coil of 10000, printed by Banknote Corporation of America, dated "2002," plate numbers every 20-- or 21-- stamps, die cut 8.5, Scott 3693, USPS order #781430 (plate strip of 25).

Non-denominated (10¢) Atlas Statue coil roll of 3000 Avery Dennison Printing (9/13/04) - Printer changed to Avery Dennison, dated "2003," die cut 11.1, plate #s every 10 stamps, No Scott number assigned, USPS order #701130 (plate strip or 25).

Previously printed by Avery Dennison in October 2003 as coil of 10,000, dated "2003," plate numbers every 10 stamps, die cut 11, Scott # 3770, USPS order #791231 (plate strip of 25).

Original printing (6/29/01) in coil of 10000, "2001" date, printed by Banknote Corporation of America, plate #s every 20 stamps, die cut 8.4, Scott #3520, USPS order number #791230 (plate strip of 25).