1954 Liberty Series Study

In the same way I am doing a specialised study of the 11¢ Americana series stamp, I am considering doing one on one of the 1954 Liberty series stamps.

I would like from those interested, a stamp from the series I should study, and why.

Cheers!

David

The 25¢ Paul Revere design had a very long run (from the 1950s to the 1980s).



Scott 1048 - The 25¢ Paul Revere Sheet stamp - issued April 18, 1958



Scott 1059A - The 25¢ Paul Revere Coil Stamp - Untagged - 2/25/65
Scott 1059Ab - The 25¢ Paul Revere Coil Stamp - Tagged - Shiny Gum: 4/3/73 - Dull Gum: 1980

Hello David......


These were on just about everything that came in the mail when I was young. I'd give most anything to have all the shoeboxes I had that were full of Liberty series material. What ever you decide on will display well.

It was a total surprise to me that the 25c Revere was in production for so long.

About 1983 I found myself in the Minneapolis Air Terminal sending a postcard off to a friend. I located a stamp machine, dropped in a quarter for a stamp and was astounded to get a 25c Revere coil -- I thought they had long been out of print! Even when I was a kid in the 60s, most American mail came franked with the 6c FDR from the Distinguished Americans series, save for the '54 3c Statue of Liberty, which was often used by big volume mailers, but wasn't nearly as impressive as the portrait stamps from the Liberty Series.

I'd agree that the Revere would make an excellent stamp for study.

Do you have the book detailing the Liberty Series available from the APS store? If not it would be a wonderful addition to your library.

I would have to go with these three as they tie in with one another. The 1041,a,b and 1042,a along with my favorite 1044a. They are all intertwined together and would make a great study. IMHO.

Keep the suggestions, coming folks!

A few comments...

Tom: I was considering the 25¢ Paul Revere because it had such a long run. See what giving me that Encyclopaedia on U.S. Stamps & Stamp Collecting did, Tom? You have me ABSOLUTELY hooked on U.S.A.

Dude: I am going to get the Liberty Series book as soon as I get a job. I'm still working full-time at Ian Limmerly Stamps.

Mac: The other stamps I was considering... "The Four Liberties"... but I just want to stick with one.

Thanks for all your help, guys!

David

Glenn & Others:

This is the information on the 25¢ Paul Revere stamp from the Arago website:

The likeness of Paul Revere is featured on the 25-cent stamp. The image was reproduced from a photoprint of the Gilbert Stuart portrait of 1813 provided by the National Collection of Fine Arts. The stamp was issued at Boston, Massachusetts, on April 18, 1958, on the anniversary of his famous ride.

Paul Revere is best known for his ride from Charlestown to Lexington on April 18, 1775, to warn the people that the British were on the march. This ride was immortalized by Longfellow in his poem "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere."

Seven years after its initial issuance, the final issue of the Liberty series was the 25-cent Paul Revere in coiled rolls, available on February 25, 1965, at Boston. While most of Liberties went off sale by the mid-1970s, this popular vending machine stamp was removed from sale on April 30, 1987. It was then reissued when the first-class domestic rate went to twenty-five cents in 1988. It has the distinction of being the only U.S. definitive to be reissued two decades after its debut in order to fulfill the need of a newly-established domestic first-class letter rate.

My 2002 Scott U.S. Specialised Catalogue lists a variety of the coil stamp (tagged, dull gum) issued in 1980!

I'm a big fan of U.S. stamps 1976-1995... so this might be the one.

Anyone got a U.S. postal rates sheet 1954-1985 handy?

David

I think the 1 1/4c Palace of the Governors is an interesting issue.

1031A


1054A (coil)

Thanks, bobggg, Nice Site!

Mike

Gvcoll:

I like the 1 1/4¢ Palace of the Governors (whatever that is...?) but it paid a bulk-letter-rate, so the available covers would be few. I like the colour of that stamp.

Thank-you for your suggestion.

David

I see what you're saying, David, and the 25 center would make for more interesting covers -- airmail, Special Delivery, Registered, etc.

Sounds like it would be fun.

From : www.palaceofthegovernors.org

Originally constructed in the early 17th century as Spain's seat of government for what is today the American Southwest, the Palace of the Governors chronicles the history of Santa Fe, as well as New Mexico and the region. This adobe structure, now the state's history museum, was designated a Registered National Historic Landmark in 1960 and an American Treasure in 1999.

I was going to start a new thread with my question, but perhaps this is not too far off the topic.

Has anyone made a study or collection of the wet vs dry printings of the Liberty series. Also, does anyone know of a source for these two varieties of many of the stamps in the series? Also, in the subsequent coils, there are the large vs small holes varieties. Any source on these? According to Scott, there is no real premium attached to any of the types. Except on the Silkote paper for the 2 cent Jefferson.

The two cent Jefferson is also interesting..i could come up with a lot more of those than the 25 cent Revere..i don't know if I have a cover with the 25 cent Revere as the single stamp..but who knows ??