U312 cut square UPSS Die 88 unreadable cancel, reverse setoff (or offset) EFO

Item Specifics

Country

United States

Catalog Number

U312

Stamp Type

Postal Stationery

Condition

Used

Stamp Format

Error

Topic

People - Politicians

Year of Issue

1890

Item Description

36x42mm. This cut square is Scott U312, green indicium on laid amber paper. The United Postal Stationery Society (UPSS) identifies this as Die 88. This copy does not include enough of a watermark to identify that watermark. The partial circular date stamp and the obliterator are indistinct. There is a small indentation outside the indicium at the upper left. It doesn’t show on the back and may be a paper defect.

This item falls into the EFO (Errors, freaks and oddities) category. The back side has a reverse inked impression of the indicium from another sheet of inked paper. This is called a setoff (sometimes called an offset). Immediately after printing, the sheet of paper containing this cut square was placed on top of that other sheet that still had wet ink. That ink transferred to the back side of all the indicia that were part of this sheet. Most examples of setoffs are less obvious than this one.

This item has never been mounted in a collection. It was among 11-12,000 cut squares collected from Union City, Indiana, businesses. Although a few cut squares may have been collected across the state line in Union City, Ohio, 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. Many Die 88 cut squares display a few oddities that may be related to inking problems rather than being die varieties. This copy has the unusual, but not rare, serifed lower bars of the letter “E” in UNITED and POSTAGE. Sometimes the serifs are more pronounced than is the case in this example.

An ongoing study of the Die 88 type indicium and its varieties is presented online. Contact me if you are interested in finding that website.

An ongoing study of the Die 88 type indicium and its varieties is presented online. Contact me if you are interested in finding that website.

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Seller Information

Seller

keesindy (4626)

Registered Since

04/11/2016

Feedback

100%

Store

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Item Location

Indiana, United States

Ships To

United States

Shipping Instructions

About 2½ years ago, I stopped selling and shipping outside the US due to the changing regulatory environment and rapidly rising costs. The USPS is raising domestic postal rates again in January 2019. Today, December 25, 2018, due to the continuing rise in the various costs directly associated with shipping, I am reluctantly raising my general domestic shipping fee for only the second time since I began selling at StampWant/BidStart/HipStamp in 2006. My fee is rising from $1.80 to $2.10 and I hope to maintain that level for many years to come. My long-standing policy of not charging for additional purchases in a single order here at HipStamp will be maintained. Shipping is via USPS unless otherwise specified. Insurance is required on orders exceeding $50. Insurance, Registered Mail shipments and other shipping costs are extra at the buyer's expense plus $2.00 processing fee. 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.