Star Spangled Banner Cb20 With New Plate No. P2222

This image is taken from a ebay seller's listing and it is also posted on another stamp website, so I thought I'd post it here as well. It seems we now have two known plate numbers for the Star Spangled Banner booklet of 20:



Yet another modern issue variety to collect.

Is it safe to assume that there are no significant differences in the two plate numbers (e.g., tagging)?

I can't assume anything until I see one in hand.

As I indicated, the above illustration was taken from an ebay seller and assuming he or she scanned the two booklets at the same time, it would appear the P2222 variety has a slightly darker appearance (most noticeable in the red coloring of the fireworks). That could suggest that perhaps a different paper was used which would be justification for a new plate number.

Since we've been told by the USPS that a new plate number is assigned only if there's some change in production, then something should be different. Whether or not that difference is detectable is another story.

The only "difference" I'm aware of came from another ebay listing in which there were differences in the "sparks" however I can't say for sure as no factual information has been released as far as I know. I would think that if two plate #'s exist that there would be a difference of some sort. I would agree with wt1 there does seem to be a shading difference in the red.

Does anyone know the issue date of the P2222 variety? I know the original P1111 was issued in January 2014.

There is a good likelihood that nobody really knows the "issue" date. Someone in the USPS probably knows the printing date, but that isn't usually released. Since this new plate number has only been found in field stock (I believe), it's hit or miss as to where they are being sold.

Glenn Estus, #8232;President, Vermont Philatelic Society

http://www.vermontps.org

editor, The Vermont Philatelist

First Day Columnist, Stamp Insider http://www.stampinsider.org

http://empirestatepostalhistory.blogspot.com/

http://nypostalhistory.blogspot.com/

http://vermontpostalhistory.blogspot.com

Thanks Glenn. Normally, the USPS is pretty good at providing reprint/reissue/variety details, but for some reason info on this variety seems non-existent.

"Normally, the USPS is pretty good at providing reprint/reissue/variety details"

I beg to differ. Sometimes they appear in the USA Philatelic catalog, sometimes they don't. Rarely are the announced in advance. And if we do get details it is because Linn's assks them, not because they take the initiative to provide the info.

That is why I love Linn's - they constantly try to keep us to-date

& bring us the facts! Thank you Linn's