U544 Albino

I'm just wondering why U544 Albino isnt listing in Scott's. And also why it sells for less than the normal ones. There must be a fair but obviously smaller number of them out there. I have 3 or 4 so far. One is inside the original outside envelope, since that is how they came to exist. 2 envelopes stuck together through the printing and folding operations.

I have not yet, but plan on figuring out which Die is on each that I have.

". . . wondering why U544 Albino isn't listing in Scott's."

I'm not aware of any albinos that are listed in the Scott catalog.

U659a qualifies as an albino, based on the definition in the Scott U. S. Specialized catalog, but it is not listed as such.

". . . also why it sells for less than the normal ones"

Not sure what you refer to as "normal". A regular non-error U544 envelope? The UPSS catalog has those with a catalog value of $.75 mint (barring a couple rare watermarks and the 4cent/5cent errors). Dollar box territory, at best.

I collect albinos, but I've not seen anything definitive on pricing. For me, there is a valuation jump when an albino can be resolved to a complete UPSS number. Weakly embossed ones where the die cannot be identified - also dollar box territory. [caveat: rare or unique combinations of knife, paper, watermarks excepted]

I don't believe Scott has ever listed an "Albino" print. Albino's are a great collecting aspect of the hobby7 and have always been sought after. My guess is that the Publishers are just afraid of listing "ghost" ( printings) ---- (sometimes, I crack my self up!)

ThomasGalloway, I don't know what you mean by that. Could you explain?
This is an albino I posted here some time ago. It is an entire envelope. Not sure why I only posted the embossing. But, would this fit the criteria you mention?

Wow, nice envelope, stampcrow. Is it completely devoid of color? (difficult to tell from the scan with all the shadows, etc.)

I think the impression is too good to be an albino. I think it is a missing color error (if it meets the requirements of absolutely no color) or a radically underinked EFO. You'd never get an expertizing committee to give you a color omitted decision, but I don't see how you get that fine of detail with two envelope blanks being embossed together.

Difficult to determine a precise catalog number using Scott. That die image exists in dark violet as well as purple. With the UPSS catalog you can look at the watermark and determine what color it would have been if it were a regular strike. (Dark violet exists only on watermarks 19 & 20; the rest are purple).

Many albinos tend to be more like this one. Hard to figure the die type on these guys.

ThomasGalloway, here's a pic of the entire cover. There is embossing on the upper left also. It's the William Whitman Company Inc.

With my loop I don't see any color... except that Washington shows, what I think is dirt. It could be ink. This cover was loose in an old ledger book. So it's not pristine.

I'm sorry I don't have a scanner.






I noticed after posting the images above, there is some discoloration on the back of Washingtons head. That must be a shadow from the lighting.

ThomasGalloway, is this something I should have looked at for certification. I just assumed it was a common albino.

I didn't intend to hijack this thread, but I am still hoping for some guidance with this cover.

". . . some guidance with this cover."

Well, what do you want to do with it? Collect it or sell it?

If you want to collect albinos, you've got a realy nice example to start your collection. I have hundreds of albinos. Only a couple are as nice as this one.

If you want to sell it, put it on ebay in the EFOs category and tell us when its up. I know I'll bid. Probably a few others will. You will be disappointed in the amount it brings.

You can send it in to be expertized, but I fear that will also lead to disappointment. I just don't think any member of the expertizing committee would go out on a limb and call it a missing color. At best you'll get "no opinion" if you ask specifically about missing color v. albino. A cert identifying it as an albino just isn't going to do anything for you.

Maybe others have more optimistic guidance.

Thanks, that's what I was looking for.

My collection (accumulation really) of stamps and covers, does not include many premier pieces. However, I'm always fearful that my ignorance will have me burying items that should be given more respect.

I'm still looking to have my first certified item. In the case of this cover, looks like the search continues...
But, my ignorance had this cover in my second tier book of covers. It is the only albino I have but I thought it was a common, typical version.

Thanks to you sharing your knowledge, I'm a little less ignorant now , and this cover will be upgraded to my top tier cover book.

As a postal stationery examiner for APEX, single color stamped envelopes with all color missing are albinos, technically an error but valued as a freak. No single color stamped envelope with the color missing will be certified as color missing, that classification is reserved for multiple color stamps. Albino stamped envelopes from production runs made with precut envelope blanks are very common. Excellent impressions slightly less common.