U311 cut square UPSS Die 88 Chicago, IL, reverse setoff (or set off) EFO

Item Specifics

Country

United States

Catalog Number

U311

Stamp Type

Postal Stationery

Condition

Used

Stamp Format

Error

Topic

People - Politicians

Year of Issue

1890

Item Description

41x45mm. This large cut square is Scott U311 with darker green indicium on laid white paper. The United Postal Stationery Society (UPSS) identifies this as Die 88. This copy does not include enough of the watermark to clearly identify it. The date on the Chicago, Illinois circular date stamp is unclear. The obliterator is practically nonexistent. There is a light crease at the bottom right-hand corner. There are spots of light discoloration at the top and bottom edges where foxing stains have been neutralized with household ammonia.

This item falls into the EFO (errors, freaks and oddities) category. The back has a reverse inked impression of the indicium from another sheet of inked paper. This is called a setoff (or set off). Immediately after printing, the sheet of paper printed with this indicium was placed on top of that other sheet of paper that still had wet ink. Some of the ink on that other sheet transferred to the back of this sheet.

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.

Most types of the Die 88 stamped envelopes and cut squares are common. However, a wide range of inking problems during their production resulted in a long list of inking varieties. In addition, several die varieties have been identified. This copy appears to be an ordinary copy of the Die 88 indicium in that regard.

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Seller Information

Seller

keesindy (4614)

Registered Since

04/11/2016

Feedback

100%

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.