Don't know if you're familiar or not with private perforations, but this stamp is a Schermack Type III private perforation. There are many wiser than I about this system of private perforations, and they'll correct me if I'm somehow wrong. However, as I understand it, several companies created vending machines to dispense US coil stamps beginning in the early 1900s. The large "perforations" were cut into the margins of the stamps by the company and were designed to fit into the teeth of a feeder cog so that correct number of stamps would be dispensed to the purchaser. Some of these machines had a guillotine type blade to then slice the number of stamps purchased from the remaining coil. Here's a good source of information about all of the priviate perforation schemes.
http://www.1847usa.com/PrivatePerfs...nternational Vending Machine Many of these coils suffer from being off centered. I believe that problem was not so much the fault of the vending companies, as it was due to poor cutting by the Bureau of Engraving or the old US Post Office Department. P.S. I'd certainly put that stamp in my collection since I have a suspicion that the one that I have is actually a #300 with the perfs cut off. Been trying to get an MNH example at the right price, but no luck so far.
Posted 09/09/2012 9:11 pm
