Please Help USA 5c Blue Washington

Well, it's not a #332 because that would mean that the design has "TWO CENTS" instead of "2 CENTS 2" like your stamp. I never trust a number written on the back of a stamp. Regardless, it is a flat plate printing and is a perfectly good tool to use to help you differentiate between rotary and non-rotary prints. You're very welcome. I enjoy teaching. Also, much of what I wrote above came from members on this site as well as a few of my own observations. Thank you everyone else for helping ME learn!

-EDIT: I forgot to answer your question, yes it is a rotary.

Ah stamp collecting always something to trip ya up, ha! Scott #332 not, oh well at least you confirmed I can use it as a template, I have it in a glassy with instructions for next time.

It happens. It happens a lot less the more that you learn and the more stamps that you identify. The good news is that your red 2c was a #406, so you didn't cut up an expensive stamp accidentally.

LB--your cover is definitely a rotary press issue. Most probably, (with that very late use of 1939), a 496; but an outside chance of it being a 458. You would have to lift the stamp to check the watermark to be sure, but I wouldn't really recommend it unless you just have to know. Since the cancel is so light, lifting it and then hinging it back in place could cause some concerns as to whether the stamp originated on the cover, should you wish to part with the cover at some point in the future.

I put it back in a binder intact, with notes from this thread on the Saunders Ltd address in London. I need the watermarked one for my USA liberty album but will get elsewhere. At least I know how to tell what it is when I check one out now.

It is interesting to note that 496 was first issued 1/15/1919 and the subject cover is postmarked 6/3/1939! Quite a run. And if it is a 458, which it could possibly be. even older - 3/9/1916.

Jack Kelley