Scott 3758A 1-Cent Coil 3k And 10k Varieties

I recently placed an order with SFS for some stamps and decided to add a couple of strips of 25 of the 1-cent coil stamps in with the order, with some interesting results:

First, there are two different stock numbers with USPS for Scott #3758A (1-Cent Coil Reprint), the USPS differences being the coils coming in 3K and 10K rolls. If my understanding is correct, Scott has elected to combine these "varieties" under a single catalog number (3758A) yet my order from SFS seems to show there are some distinct differences between the two stamps ... this scan shows the 10K variety on the left and the 3K variety on the right. The major differences to my eyes are the clarity of the "2008" date at the bottom left of the stamp and the sharpness in the "USA" (particularly the "A") at the top of the stamp.



Secondly, in the 10K Coil, there is an ink smear on each side of the stamp just two stamps prior to the plate number. The ink is almost reminiscent of the old line pairs, but obviously are not because of the modern day plate numbers.




Both are probably meaningless perhaps in terms of any premium value but for the sum total of 50 cents it proved to be an inexpensive study in some varieties that may or may not have been significant enough to warrant their own catalog number.

Has anyone else encountered any of these varieties?

Could they be different printers. Just relying on your scans, there appears to be some subtle color differences in the Tiffany lamp shade.

According to USA Philatelic, both are printed by SSP as the single vendor for this issue. I could post a more detailed scan, if that would help.

Edit: Here's a higher resolution scan of two "varieties":

I see what you are looking at wt1, but I think you hit it when you said they are probably not looking THAT detailed at the stamps. Many of us would flyspeck the stamps, but they may not care all that much. Unfortunately!