$5.00 Red, Brown & Black (834a). Deep rich color which is significantly different from the normally issued colors, neat strike of oval cancel, tiny filled perf thin speck at right not mentioned on accompanying certificate

FINE APPEARANCE. ONLY ONE OTHER USED SINGLE AND A USED BLOCK OF FOUR HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED AS GENUINE BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION. ONE OF THE GREAT RARITIES OF THE 1938 PRESIDENTIAL ISSUE.

According to The Prexies by Roland E. Rustad, this error was discovered by George Sloane in 1947 and is thought to have occurred in the winter of 1938-39. A 1950 letter to Sloane from the director of the Bureau states "it is our opinion that the stamps...are the result of printing ink containing a trace of black rather than as a result of chemical action." A former employee is also known to have stated that the error panes were sold over the counter before they were reported to postal authorities and that "over a million dollars worth of stamps of the error of color were recalled and destroyed when they were discovered".

This used single, another used single from our "Natalee Grace" sale (Siegel Sale 1028, lot 500) and a used block of four with similar centering and cancel have been certified by The Philatelic Foundation. It is also known unused in more plentiful numbers.

Ex Twigg-Smith. With clear 1978 P.F. certificate

Image Magnifier / Download

Power Search for Comparables