U311 1890 cut square UPSS Die 88, creamy white paper, line above POSTAGE EFOs

Item Specifics

Country

United States

Catalog Number

U311

Stamp Type

Postal Stationery

Condition

Used

Stamp Format

Single

Topic

People - Politicians

Year of Issue

1890

Item Description

41x47mm. This cut square was among thousands of stamps and cut squares collected from businesses at Union City, Indiana, in the early 1890s. Most of the readable postmarks in this hoard are from 1891 to 1893. Most of the 11-12,000 cut squares have the two-cent green Washington indicium that the United Postal Stationery Society (UPSS) identifies as Die 88. The Scott catalog number for this example is U311. There is no watermark. There are a few yellow spots in the area between the top edge and the top of the indicium.

This cut square is one of at least a few dozen in the hoard with this creamy white paper color. The Scott catalog does not mention this color and it is generally treated as a white paper, which Scott lists as #U311. The United Postal Stationery Society (UPSS) catalog mentions this color, but does not include a separate listing. This copy has a paler color than many of the examples in the Union City hoard.

The stamps in the hoard had been soaked from the envelopes around the time of their collection. The stamps and cut squares were then sorted and tied tightly with string and sewing thread into bundles of 100 each. That process protected most of the items from damage and aging for over a century. I inherited and began unpacking the bundles in 2000. None of these sale items from the hoard has ever been in a collection.

The Die 88 stamped envelopes were printed in huge quantities. They display a wide variety of inking problems and die varieties, many of which fall under the EFO (errors, freaks and oddities) umbrella. Except for a few newly identified and unconfirmed variants, these varieties are found on multiple copies and have been documented. Some display progressive characteristics.

This copy has a line above the “E” in POSTAGE that connects a tooth to the outer text ribbon line. Other Die 88 examples indicate this was a progressive variety. There is also an obvious notch in the outer frame line below the letter “T” in TWO. Copies of Die 88s with this combination of characteristics have been documented by others. I have four copies in the hoard with this combination. Separately, the crossbar of the letter “G” in POSTAGE does not extend to the right of the post of the “G.” Some of the other documented copies with the first two characteristics also have this third characteristic.

You may combine this item with other stamp sale items to save on shipping. Thank you for looking.

All stamps are carefully packaged for safe delivery.

APS Member

Seller Information

Seller

keesindy (4629)

Registered Since

04/11/2016

Feedback

100%

Store

Stamps from Keesindy

• Sales

Item Location

Indiana, United States

Ships To

United States

Shipping Instructions

About 3½ years ago, I stopped selling and shipping outside the US due to new postal rules and rapidly rising costs. The USPS is raising postal rates again in January 2019. Today, December 25, 2018, due to the continuing rise in the cost of postage and associated fees, I am reluctantly raising my general shipping fee for the first time in many years. My sales here at HipStamp involve no additional charge for the purchase of multiple stamps. Shipping is via USPS unless otherwise specified. Be sure to contact me before making your purchases if you have questions.

Returns Accepted

Yes

Returns Policy

All items may be returned unless otherwise stated in the listing. Of course, I cannot be responsible if uninsured items are damaged during shipping. If you are dissatisfied with a purchase, contact me within 7 days of your receipt of the item to make arrangements for returning it. If I have made an error in my listing or the item is not as described, you will receive a full reimbursement plus the pre-agreed-upon cost to return the item.