I seem to remember the Q2a used on cover at a aution a few years ago but I can't find a reference, most copies are mint. The Q2b is definitely known used.
I have an old 2002 Scott Specialized Catalog of US Stamps. No Q2a or Q2b varieties are listed. On the other hand, my 2011 Scott Specialized Catalog of US Stamps has them listed.
Apparently it is a newly accepted color variety of an old stamp that was only recognized by Scott in the last 10 years or so. Does anyone know any other history behind why it was only added to the catalog so many years later?
The lake varieties (also known on some 2 cent third and fourth bureaus) were simply noted as a color variety for many years. A few years ago the carmine lake color was recognized and Scott created the minor numbers for both varieties.
These were a color error. It is generally believed that both varieties were printed on the same day. The lake variety was caused by using the wrong ink (the ink used was the lake color used on the postage due stamps) to print the stamps. A small quantity of sheets were printed before the mistake was discovered and the normal carmine ink was added to the reservoir creating the carmine lake. Probably less than 100 sheets of each color were printed.
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Posted 09/28/2012 5:00 pm
