Indian Head Stamps

They're 13c, are these common?

Spedward: Yes, these are common. Use them for postage.

David
Ottawa, Ont. CANADA

thanks, are there different varietys and years??? And what years do they range from>>>?

The 13-cent Indian Head Penny was issued by the USPS on Jan. 11, 1979. It's face-value of 13-cents paid the domestic letter rate that was effective Dec. 31, 1975 to May 28, 1978.

The small-sized stamp was an attempt to save paper and printing costs by having 150 stamps in a single pane, rather than the conventional 100 definitive stamps in a pane. this is ironic in to-day's USPS, where every stamp issued is a self-adhesive, using twice the paper!

The USPS would try this stamp-size again, in 1980, with the 15-cent Dolley Madison stamp.

I should mention I am president of the Americana series Study Group of the United States Stamp Society, and study, in-detail, the postal history of the Americana Series (1975-1986).

Hope this helps!

I'm off tomorrow as it is our 141st Birthday... Happy Dominion Day!

David
Ottawa, Ont. CANADA

Thankyou very much, that's everything I needed! Might put some of them on my trade list.

Yes in Australia we have stamps to lick, AND self-adhesive stamps, so the self adhesives don't really soak off, you can soak them, but you have to leave them soak for over a day and they don't turn out very well.

Spedward,

I haven't tried this with Australian self adhesives, but it has worked OK for the U.S. ones. I use Ronson or Zippo lighter Fluid ( not the butane gas ones ) and let a few drops seep around the edge of the stamp and slowly flex the paper a little so the stamp edge comes up, put a few more drops of the fluid under the stamp until it separates completely from the paper. I do not need to say to do this in ventilated flame free area do I

Now the stamp will become very sticky again as the fluid evaporates. You can press it on a piece of the paper similar to the original stamp booklet, and mount that, or you can turn the stamp over and add the fluid again and using a gentle method ( I use a discarded clear plastic part of a scott's mount)or sometimes my finger nail to scrape the adhesive off.When the fluid evaporates, the glue will be gone and the stamp can be hinged when dry.

When the stamp is wet, it is easily damaged, but when the glue is dissolved in the fluid, it doesn't need much pressure to get it off. Try it on a common stamp until you decide if it works for you.

Jim

ok, first I have to get a zippo lighter, they're expensive!

You don't need the lighter, just a small can of the lighter fluid. My can is just 4 oz ( 125ml) and cost about 1.50 USD. Lasts a long time. Some people use it for watermark fluid. Now that it crosses my mind, maybe watermark fluid would loosen the adhesive also. Hmmm experiment time.

maybe you know someone who has a lighter and can spare a little fluid into a small vial for you.

Jim

nah I'll just soak em

I have never had a problem soaking Aus stamps. The self adhesive ones take a few minutes longer usually, but that's all.

Some of the new U.S. ones are a problem though. I have ruined a few lately, because I didn't know they were a problem until it was too late. Could we start a list of stamps that don't soak off well, or is it all stamps after a particular date? So far I have had problems with Frank Sinatra stamp and Star Wars Series.

Steve

thats why I haven't soaked my stamps off the envelope LaSwabbie sent me, all modern US. A sinatra in there, the star wars one PhilB sent me looks like it's not going to come off easy.

Since I am in this just for myself I have chosen to just trim the paper very close to the stamp perfs and mount the stamp that way since these new pieces of crud don't soak very well.

Cim, I think I will be doing the same thing.

Steve

Not your typical Indian Head "stamp":

I like it!