Sale 1075 — 2014 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Thursday, 26 June, 2014
Category — Inverted Jenny (C3a) and Upright Jenny Souvenir Sheet
$2.00 Red & Blue, Non-Inverted Jenny Error Sheet (4806 var). Intact pane of six self-adhesive stamps with souvenir sheet design in margin, choice centering, back of pane indicates plate position (this is the lower left of the six positions), accompanied by all collateral material including original cellophane wrapper with cardboard insert, original envelope (slightly reduced where carefully opened) and card with USPS printed notice: "Congratulations! You have just purchased a Limited Edition 'Right Side Up' Inverted Jenny Stamp Souvenir Sheet. This souvenir stamp sheet is one of only 100 sheets printed and distributed for customers to purchase. Yes, that's right; you now own one of only 100 stamp sheets in existence."; with additional information on how to register the souvenir sheet, also accompanied by official registration certificate signed by Postmaster General Patrick R. Donahoe, certifying this is the eleventh souvenir sheet registered with the post office, and letter from Susan McGowan, Director of Stamp Services and Corporate Licensing, to the RobinsonsEXTREMELY FINE. THIS IS THE FIRST NON-INVERTED JENNY SHEET TO APPEAR AT AUCTION. ONLY 100 WERE DISTRIBUTED TO RANDOM POST OFFICES AROUND THE COUNTRY, AND ONLY EIGHTEEN HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED. A PHENOMENAL MODERN RARITY DISCOVERED BY DAVID AND GAIL ROBINSON OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.
According to the U.S. Postal Service's website (http://about.usps.com/postal-bulletin/2013/pb22371/html/info_003.htm ) and other sources, the $2.00 Inverted Jenny souvenir sheet went on sale nationwide September 22, 2013, and a ceremony was held on that day at the National Postal Museum. The souvenir sheet was printed using the intaglio printing process and plates made from the original dies used to produce the 1918 24c Air Post stamp (Scott C3). The denomination was changed to make it easily distinguishable from the original. The souvenir sheet background depicts the original airmail route, the National Postal Museum, and aviation pioneer Reuben H. Fleet.
A special automatic distribution was done to all post offices. Pre-orders and re-orders through stamp distribution offices or centers were not allowed once original automatic distribution quantities were sold. A total of 13,200,600 stamps were printed, which translates into 2,200,100 souvenir sheets of six. They were printed six souvenir sheets at a time, and their position on the plate is noted on back of each. The sheets were sold individually wrapped in cellophane, which collectors questioned at the time of issue.
The reason for the odd quantity and cellophane wrapping was revealed shortly after the release of the souvenir sheets, when an upright example was discovered by a collector in Ontario, Canada. The USPS then revealed that 100 had been created and randomly seeded throughout their distribution system. The cellophane wrappers were used to prevent searching through stocks for the upright designs -- souvenir sheets with opened cellophane were not returnable.
The souvenir sheet offered here was discovered by David and Gail Robinson in Virginia. An account of their discovery follows.
