Help Please With Stamp ID - 1919 Aef (499f)?

I was recently informed that this stamp might be from a booklet and might be 499f.

How's my luck today

Just out of curiosity, what did your informant cite as the reasons for that opinion?

No specific reason - I think just because of the AEF connection. But I take it I should cancel my cruise ...

No, I was just asking. I'm no authority on these issues, but 499f is specifically for an entire pane of 30 not for a single stamp, because the same plates were used for the large AEF panes as for the smaller panes. The perfing machines were set differently, but the clichés on the plate would have meant that single stamps would be indistinguishable insofar as printing was concerned. Cutting might be another matter. That, at least is how I would understand that. Of course, stamps from a regular booklet pane would have at least one straight edge somewhere, while only stamps from an AEF pane could be perfed all around and still be from a booklet.

Unless there were restrictive regulations on postage sources, the fact that the large panes were for AEF forces in France does not preclude the possibility that the troops might have had access to other stamp sources and types. A parcel from home could well have contained a supply of sheet stamps among other things. But I will leave comments like that to those who really know this stuff.

Thank you for taking the time to respond. I've tried finding info how to ID these, but without luck - hopefully someone will know.

AEF booklet pane singles can be identified by carefully comparing the height and width of the stamp with a normal sheet stamp. Almost all US booklet panes, including AEF panes were printed on paper with horizontal grain. Normal 400 subject flat plate sheet stamps were printed on paper with vertical grain. Since most shrinkage occurred across the grain, a booklet pane stamp will be slightly wider and shorter than a corresponding sheet stamp. The difference will be on the order of half a frame line or more. In earlier watermarked issues, booklet panes had vertical (sideways) watermarks while sheets from 400 subject panes had horizontal watermarks.

AEF singles can be distinguished from booklet pane singles except for right or left straight edges or lower right or left corner copies. Identified AEF singles on cover sell for some premium depending on the usage.

When production of flat plate booklet panes ended, the remaining paper was used to print some higher value Fourth Bureau issues, the C11 Beacon airmail stamp and the E13 Special Delivery stamp. One of the tests for genuine C10a booklet panes is to compare the height and width of the stamps in the pane with normal sheet stamps.

I have some scans somewhere, but it will take some time to locate.

Clark

Please excuse my ignorance here, but, I am not familiar with the term AEF booklet panes. Were these special booklets issued under a special booklet cover?

Chimo

Bujutsu

These were 30 stamp booklet panes for American Expeditionary Forces in WW1. That's where the AEF came from... Ken

I'm no expert, but the cancellation appears to have a 1913 date whereas 499 was issued in 1917. On the other hand, the perf gauge does appear to be 11 rather than 12. Perhaps the 3 is really an incomplete 8 or 9. Just speculating.
ADDED: Just noticed the Jan. 30, 1919 date on the left side of the card. The 3 is obviously really a 9.

All examples I've been able to find on the net indicate that they were mailed from France in 1917/1918. Mine was mailed from Germany in 1919, so logically I don't think mine is from an AEF booklet pane. Thank you everyone for your help!