2 Cent Washington Red

Hi to all
I know this is a common stamp but this one is printed on the gummed side. There is also some remains of the gum on the reverse.
Is it common to find it printed on the gummed side?
Unfortunately the scan does not the show the shinney gum.
Regards
Horamakht

Was it printed on both sides by chance? Some are known and, correct me if I'm mistaken here, but I believe they command a premium over scott cat val. That's awesome.

Hi I Love Stamps

It is only printed on the one side.
But it is interesting to find one.
I do not know much about USA stamps, but it is amazing what turns up
Regards
Horamakhet

I might be quite valuable so I would wait for wt1 or someone else that can give you more info than I can. I will, however, look it up in the scott book to see if it's mentioned and report back in a bit. Great find! ~Jay

I'm not positive on the scott number but it's somewhere between #248-252 or 279b so untill we know that it'll be a tough one (for me anyway.)

EDIT: I really cant find anything on those at least referencing that particular "error?". It will be interesting to see what comes of it!

It looks like a 267 to me providing it's got a watermark if not it's a 252 and I can't find anything about printing on the wrong side or gumming on the wrong side

The stamp is Type IV (Scott 279B). This stamp was flat plate wet print and the gumming operation was performed after printing.
Am I correct in assuming that the gum is over the print?
Does the gum seem to be over the entire surface or is it confined mostly at the top part of the stamp?

Hi Russ the gum is over three quarters of the stamp

Regards
Horamakhet

The process used by the Bureau of Engraving & Printing for flat plate was:
1. Dampen the paper to about 30% moisture content (Stacks of 500 sheets).
2. Print
3. Dry (printed sheets
4. Flatten with press
5. Gum
6. Flatten
7. Perforate and cut to panes

I have heard of stamps that were gummed on both sides but I have not heard of anything that has been certified.
A few things that the process shows us
1. The sheet cannot be gummed before being put to press as the moisture content of 30% would cause the stamp to adhere to the other sheets. The printed sheet were stacked 500 sheets (with blotter tissue between each sheet) and sent to drying rooms until needed.
2. The gum was applied by a glass roller and the sheets immediately flash dried (gum was dried in 30 seconds) then sent to perforators.

The only way that this could have been produced by BEP would be that the sheet was placed face up on the gumming machine, discovered befor perforating and sent back through the gumming operation.

The other option would be fraudulent application after purchase or use. Can you tell if the gum is ovver or under the cancellation mark?

Russ what made you decide this was a type 4 not a type 3 because I didn't think the t has a straight enough edge and the hair line doesnt look recut to me, I was just wondering what made you know it was a type 4, I'm just thinking there is something I can learn here or something I have missed

Hi Russ

The gum seems to be under the cancellation, but the cancellations over Washingtons head seem to be deeper than at the extreme edges oft he stamp
Regards
Horamakhet

It is possible that the stamp could have been gummed on both sides. I know collectors that have found possible occurances of gummed on both sides with some of the early U.S. Bureau issues. I know of a couple of collectors that have tried to get certs but the outcome was gummed on front from unknown origin.