Normal 319 sheet stamps will have a horizontal watermark (reads in the horizontal direction) in one of four orientations while 319 booklet pane stamps have a vertical watermark (reads in the vertical direction), again in any of the four possible orientations. See the following Stamp Smarter link:
http://www.stampsmarter.com/1847usa...ntations.htmIt would be more helpful if the web page was clear about the reasons why horizontal and vertical watermarks will not be found in the same printing or variety. While the terminology is confusing, the Scott catalog usage should be followed or at least mentioned.
It should also be noted that paper grain orientation is important enough that the Bureau rarely got it wrong. Such an even occurred while 279 and 279B was printed and Scott minor varieties were added to the specialized catalog recently. Because of paper shrinkage, mixing paper grain directions in the same printing would result in the error stamps being grossly off center in some part of the sheet. It should also be noted that "special paper" for booklet panes was used to print higher values of the Fourth Bureau issue after production of booklets was converted to rotary press printing. By then, stamps were not watermarked, but the special paper variety can be easily detected by small differences in height (shorter) and width (wider). Since the entire 1928 printing of the Special Handling stamps was on special paper, it is possible to distinguish that printing from the later printings.
Clark
Posted 03/05/2016 11:30 am
