Little known "secret" in US Philatelics - Something Fun for the Holidays

Scott Payton

The USPS is oft criticized for it's terrible service and slow processing (and never more so than at current, with the holiday package shipping season on in the midst of the Covid Pandemic). So I thought I'd try to lighten the atmosphere a bit, and shine a spotlight on a little known area of history in the USPS the "Stamp Decoder".

Starting in 1999 with Scott #3036, and continuing through to 2004 with Scott #3862, they issued 42 (another favorite and magical number) of these stamps. Scott Catalog states: Beginning with Nos. 3036 and 3036a, hidden 3-D images can be seen on some stamps when they are viewed with a special "Stamp Decoder" lens sold by the USPS. Stamps with 3-D images are 3036-3036a, 3167, 3168-3172, 3178, 3206, 3230-3234, 3238-3242, 3261-3262, 3321-3324, 3472-3473, 3647-3648, 3651, 3771, 37897-3791, 3808-3811, 3838 and 3862.

So if you have any of these issues, and a USPS Stamp Decoder, you can see the magic. Here is an example of the 2002 issued #3651 "Houdini" stamp, as seen with the naked eye:


And here is is "Decoded"


You can see the "Chains" in Houdini's jacket.

The decoder is plastic, and looks like this:



I thought about putting this in the Philatelic Eye Candy thread, but decided this was weird and special enough it deserved it's own writeup.
Happy holidays every!

Brett Moulton

Wow these are awesome Scott I knew about the Bhutan Stamps but these had no idea that's awesome kinda like invisible ink magic this is up my alley for sure thanks bud for posting Happy Holidays from my family to yours.

Jeri Stathas

Actually, I think the decoder started in 1997 for the Mars Pathfinder Souvenir Sheet. The sheet has a special USA perforation. Thanks for the reminder, Scott - it is rather fun.

And -- Happy Holidays to all, too

Don Leischner

Well, there's something new to spend money on. Always love reading Scott's posts. Always spreading the joys in collecting

Scott Payton

@Jeri Stathas if you can find a reference, I'll accept it, but Scott catalog officially mentions the 3036 as the start of the "Secret Decoder". Since I don't have the Mars issue, I can't verify it. That perforation may be something different then the decoder template, but it may be the forerunner, and is utilizing something else. I'll look into it and let you know what I find.
-S

Wayne Buza

Pg 239 in the 2021 Specialized says: "A hidden 3-D image (USPS and MARS PATHFINDER JULY 4, 1997) can be seen when viewed with a special "Stamp Decoder" lens sold by the USPS.

Scott Payton

Good luck finding a decoder...

Jeri Stathas

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
United States Postal Service
November 12, 1997
Stamp News Release Number 97-096

The Mars Pathfinder stamp is the third U.S. stamp subject to incorporate hidden images to prevent counterfeiting, while adding an interesting design element. The hidden text -- Mars Pathfinder, July 4, 1997 and the letters USPS --is not visible to the naked eye but can be viewed by using a decoder lens, which is available through the Postal Service's Philatelic Fulfillment Center in Kansas City, MO. The U.S. Air Force and Classic Movie Monsters stamps issued earlier this year also feature hidden images.

Jeri Stathas

Thanks, Wayne

Scott Payton

Interesting. Odd that Scott doesn't mention the term "Decoder" until 3036.

Ted Tyszka

A few months ago, APS had a stamp chat on this very subject. In the video, the presenter shows every issue:

Richard Pauls

I purchased a number of these decoders back when they were still for sale. I thought they might come in handy when trading material. I think I still have several duplicates. I will get them listed soon and have them available in the "Publications and Supplies" category and then under the subcategory of "Accessories". Once posted, they can also be found by searching the entire site with the single word "Decoder".

I did a search of the site using both "Stamp Decoder" and "Decoder" and found only one match, that being for a $1 fox stamp from the USPS. This is apparently one of the stamps with a secret image that can only be seen with the decoder.
The seller has an image of the stamp seen through the decoder to show secret image if anyone is interested.

Scott Payton

Looking back at this, I already listed the Pathfinder stamp it's 3178, and as noticed the first (earliest) is the 3036. So I had this included... but it's not the first one. The mistake I made is the year the started. I stated 1999, but it was the 3036 in 1996 that was the first (Red Fox in the Flora and Fauna series).

Sorry for the confusion.

Ted Tyszka

Scott Nr 3036 is the lowest catalog number, but not the 1st stamp. The Red Fox is listed in Scott within a series that started in 1996, but was not issued until 1998. The first stamp to see the light of day was the Air Force Thunderbirds, on 18 Sep 1997.
The cast (in order of appearance):

1997, Sep 18: Scott Nr 3167 US Air Force Thunderbirds
1997, Sep 30: 3168-72 Classic Movie Monsters
1997, Dec 10: 3178b Mars Pathfinder
1998, May 29: 3206 Wisconsin Statehood
1998, Aug 14: 3036 Red Fox
1998, Aug 20: 3230-34 Bright Eyes
1998, Oct 1: 3238-42 Space Discovery
1998, Nov 19: 3261 $3.20 Space Shuttle Endeavor
1998, Nov 19: 3262 $11.75 Spaace Shuttle on Boeing
1999, Jun 25: 3321-24 X-treme Sports
2001, Jan 29: 3472 $3.50 Capitol Dome
2001, Jan 29: 3473 $12.25 Washington Monument
2002, Jul 3: 3651 Houdini
2002, Jul 30: 3647 $3.85 Jefferson Memorial
2002, Jul 30: 3648 $13.65 Capitol Dome
2003, Feb 13: Special Olympics
2003, Jun 13: 3787-91 Lighthouses
2003, Aug 8: 3808-11 Football Heroes
2004, Apr 1: 3838 USAF Academy
2004, May 29: 3862 Nat'l WWII Memorial

Jeri Stathas

Thanks, Ted

Ted Tyszka

You’re welcome, Jeri. You’ll notice, too, the Jefferson Memorial and Capitol Dome stamps of 2002 have lower catalogue numbers than the Houdini, but were actually issued later.

Bryant McVey-Crawford

I received a decoder in error in an order from Mystic. It was fun learning what it was for — I had no idea.