U311 cut square UPSS Die 88 2-bar obliterator, die spur rt side of shield EFO

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

34x39mm. This cut square is Scott U311 with green indicium on white paper. The United Postal Stationery Society (UPSS) identifies this indicium as Die 88. This copy includes part of a UPSS watermark 8. There is a short paper tear in the president’s hair, probably associated with the embossing process during production.

This item has never been mounted in a collection. It was among 11-12,000 cut squares collected from Union City, Indiana, businesses. A few cut squares may have been collected across the state line in Union City, Ohio, but I have found no evidence of that. Most of the readable postmarks are from 1891 to 1893, with the majority from 1892. However, there were also postmarks from the 1880s.

Although mail was coming to Union City from all over the country, much of it seemed to be coming from small cities and towns in Indiana and Ohio and to a lesser degree from smaller communities in other nearby states. In other words, most of the fancy and geometric cancels probably originated within 150 to 200 miles of Union City.

There is no circular date stamp on this cut square, only the two parallel black bars of the obliteration device. This is the only copy of this obliteration design I have found in the Union City accumulation. The post office of origin is unknown.

This copy represents one of the more obvious die varieties. It has the long spur extending from the right side of the shield at the bottom of the design toward the “C” of CENTS. This was a progressive die variety with types ranging from a small nub, or spur, on the side of the shield to a complete line extending all the way to the “C.” I have found 42 copies of this variety in the Union City hoard, varying from the small nub to a very clear and complete link with the letter “C.” In this example, there is a nub on the “C” and a break between it and the long spur from the shield. In 1955, researcher H. S. Dickinson produced a list of 29 Die 88 varieties. His list included the partial spur extending from the shield toward the letter “C” as type B-28.

This and at least three other copies exhibit the additional characteristic of green ink on one particular tooth in front of the president’s chin.

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Seller Information

Seller

keesindy (4603)

Registered Since

04/11/2016

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Store

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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.