2c Interior, "Sepcimen" Error (O16a). Without gum as issued, brilliant color, three wide margins, perfs just in at top

FRESH AND FINE. ONLY ONE OR TWO EXAMPLES OF THE 2-CENT INTERIOR WITH THE "SEPCIMEN" SPELLING ERROR ARE RECORDED. THIS IS THE ONLY INTERIOR DEPARTMENT ISSUE WITH THE SPELLING ERROR -- IT WAS CAUGHT AND CORRECTED DURING PRODUCTION IF THIS INTERIOR DEPARTMENT VALUE.

The "Sepcimen" error occurred on Position 21 of the overprint setting. Stamps printed from sheets of 200 were separated into panes of 100, so depending on whether the underlying stamp was from the left or right pane it would have perforations on all sides (left pane) or a straight edge at left (right pane).

An intact pane of the 2c Interior, once owned by Elliott Perry, is known without the "Sepcimen" spelling error. Combs also notes that Perry had seen one pane with the spelling error, so this would indicate it was corrected during printing of the 2c Interior. Markovits (2004 Bennett sale) noted two are known; we assume the other is contained in the pane noted in the Combs book, but it is possible that pane was divided. We do not know the whereabouts of the potential second copy.

No other denomination of the Interior department is known with the spelling error. For the 1c Interior, a large quantity was sold (7,194) but none have been recorded with the error, so it is highly likely it was discovered before the 1c denomination was printed. Quantities sold for the 3c thru 90c are all under 100. We do not know the order of overprinting; therefore, it is possible other "Sepcimen" errors exist (one of each is possible) but have never been seen. The Executive and Treasury departments must have been the last to be printed, because the overprint error is not known on any of those issues.

Ex Sheriff and Markovits. With 2004 P.F. certificate

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