424e Imperf Pane Error.

Does anyone know the story behind the 424e imperf booklet? Even in the USSS Specialist I have only been able to find minimal info (basically that it was an error and only about 60 panes are known to exist--all unused without gum).

This is one sold recently by Matthew Bennett International Auctions for $1200:

I would sure want a cert on it before I would bid that kind of money, or at least an extension.

Since 60 booklet panes of 6 stamps exist that would be 360 booklet stamps which is just 1 sheet. It appears that the booklet stamps were issued before the sheet stamps. There was an order for the new perf. 10 perforating wheels which was sent out for the booklet sheets. See article in United States Specialist Volume 40, March 1969 pp. 101-105 by George W. Brett.

It could possibly be faked using a 408, unless there is a watermark orientation issue.

Jogil, thanks for the reference. I will look at that article.

Revcollector, I don't know if watermark orientation is unique for the booklets vs the 408 sheet. If not, I don't know how you could verify one of these unless the history of that particular item could be traced. Spacing, color, etc looks to me like it could be relatively easily duplicated from a 408 sheet. Of course, I didn't know this error existed until I saw the auction (I browse stampauctionnetwork looking for eye candy--prices are too high for me on the nice stuff), so there obviously could be a simple solution for authenticating that I don't know.

Sweet: Jogil, that article looks like just what I was trying to find. Thanks!

Revcollector,
On second consideration, if a portion of a guideline in conjunction with the spacing of the booklet "tab" is present I think that would confirm it is a genuine booklet pane. But the one sold above has no guideline portion, so I agree it needs a cert.

I am scratching my head trying to determine what evidence would convince an expertizer that it is genuine. Not the staple holes and rust stains; they could be faked. Not the overall appearance or margins. Watermark? Anything else? Just trying to figure out if a cert submission really would get the seller (or buyer) anywhere.

After reading the article Jogil mentions above, I can relay that even without a guideline mark, any such booklet pane can be certified with confidence. One is that the watermark orientation will be different than a sheet of stamps: it will read vertically (instead of horizontally like a sheet). Also the size of the design per stamp will be greater in a booklet pane, as there will be less shrinkage compared to a sheet stamp.

There are 7 424e submissions in the PF certificate database and 1 in the APS certificate database--all certified as genuine (one has am added cancelation). No fake submissions.

It's also difficult to fake the outside edges properly.