Fort Mchenry 15 Cent Question

Sorting through some kilo ware I found a large number of this stamp and there appears to be a lot of varieties in the area of stars.Is this typical for this issue and could someone explain why there would be so many occurrences of apparent color mixing?Also I have noticed some color change in the words "of the free"
Thanks
Paul

This is normal for this issue, and type of print method. It's an over/under inking and wiping problem. Lots of varieties... no real value.

Enjoy!

David

If memory serves, there was a huge hoopla shortly after the
issue began, then died quickly after everyone recognised that
quality control at the printers was extremely poor. Some
very pronounced color smears were also produced. I saw a
strip of those coils years ago that had a fine red line
completely across all of the stamps in an 8 or 10 piece strip.

Just another question regarding this stamp
Why are there more strips on this flag than the normal flag?
Paul

[EDIT: I have corrected the post to say "13" stripes instead of "15" stripes. Thanks, Kirk!]


This is the flag that flew over Fort McHenry in 1814 when Key wrote the Star Spangled Banner.

You are very observant! Yes, it is the only official US flag to ever have more than 13 stripes. It was authorized in 1794 when there were 15 states in the Union. It was replaced in 1818 by the 20-star flag, in which Congress also changed the number of stripes back to 13. In all subsequent flags, the number of stars increases to represent the number of states, but the number of stripes stays at 13.

Also, David is correct. Your stamps show inking problems which are common for that issue/press.

I'm sure it's just a typo, but you mean 13 stripes -- you got it right in your last sentence.

Yes, you are right! I should have typed 13 in the first sentence!

Obviously my meds had not kicked in yet, and I was in my typical confused state.

k

KHJ
Great info, thanks for the history lesson,
Paul