Kansas Forever Stamp (Minor Flaw?)

Today being the first day of release, I just picked up two panes of the Kansas Forever Stamp fresh out of the package at my local post office:



Actually, I picked up two panes (one for postage; the other for collecting) but as I was looking at them under a bright light I noticed a very minor irregularity in stamp #7 (bottom left of right plate block) where it looks to be a minor flaw (?) ... maybe a piece of dirt or debris in printing ... just above the "ns" in "Kansas". I'm not sure how good my scanner is to pick this up and if it is even warranted to do so, but I share a hi-res close up of the specific area in question:



None of the other stamps in the pane show this. I then went to the second pane of stamps and there again the same occurrence in the same stamp only. The reverse backing paper suggests both panes are from the top center plate position.

Is this insignificant or is it something to be considered collectible?

You are probaly right that it was debris on the printing plate. Only time will tell if it would be considered collectible or valuable - 2 separate things.

I sent a cachet cover to the postmasters of 3 towns in Kansas last week along with $ to purchase the new stamp for an unofficial FDOI cover. I hope the postmasters comply with my request and give me a clear circle date cancel. I guess I'll find out in a few days. In case you're wondering it was Galena, Baxter Springs, and Riverton the only 3 towns found on historic Route 66.

These arrived yesterday. I am disappointed in the clerk following my directions on applying the postmark though on 1 cover. Oh well, it is hard to control quality control when you aren't there in person. I am happy though to have an unofficial FDOS for my Route 66 collection. I am still undecided whether or not to send off for the official FDOI postmark from Topeka KS for a dual cancel cover.

Nice Route 66 additions to your collection! Too bad the Riverton postmark didn't touch the stamp, though. I find it interesting to look at the "differences" between the three hand cancels. First one uses a larger date; second one a smaller date; and third one the "USPS" initials, with the zip code at the top. I find it interesting that the post offices don't have consistency in the type of postmark devices they use.

Thanks. I think some of the differences have to do with when they replace the circle date cancel devices and whom the USPS gets them from at that time. I also like the differences between the towns postmarks, yet they are still similar.