2c Jefferson, Silkote Paper (1033a). Horizontal pair, tied by "Westbrook, Maine, Cumberland Mills Sta. Dec. 17 5:30 PM 1954" First Day machine cancel on S.D. Warren Co. corner card company to Dow Chemical Co. in Midland Mich., typed "First day of issue" at lower left.

VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE FIRST DAY COVER OF THE 2-CENT JEFFERSON ON SILKOTE PAPER. ONLY THREE ARE KNOWN. ONE OF THE RAREST 20TH CENTURY FIRST DAY COVERS.

The Silkote papers went on sale in the Westbrook and Cumberland Mills Me. post offices on December 17, 1954. They were printed using a new type of pigmented paper developed by the S. D. Warren Co., in an attempt to speed up the printing process. It contains calcium carbonate and required less moisture when printing; it it was hoped this would improve perforating. In this respect it is similar to the earlier Bluish papers.

They were released at the post offices with no notification, but several were purchased by employees of the S. D. Warren Co. Only three First Day covers are known, including one with a block of four and two with pairs, all of which are on S. D. Warren Co. corner cards.

Ex Lawrence. With 1997 A.P.S. certificate.

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