Odd Shaped Comma In Precancel

Here is an odd shaped comma from Baltimore Precancel



The bottom one has a square head

There are quite a few varieties of these beyond the Scott specialized catalog.

The April 1970 issue of the United States Specialist has a lengthy article on this issue. Page 147 notes (talking only about Baltimore, I believe, but see image below of Atlanta): "All printings examined contain constant variations in the Gothic type lettering. The 1st, 3rd and 5th vertical rows of stamps have a comma with a round top, while commas with square tops are found in 2nd and 4th vertical rows. There is a greater distance between the comma and the M of MD on all stamps in the 5th vertical row ..."

The Christmas issue is mentioned in several Specialist articles during 1970.

Here are the same comma differences from Atlanta:

On the stampsmarter tagging DB search for 1384a. Listed are the various precancels with images under normal and SW UV light. As mentioned by John, some have square commas and others round. Also listed are various ink colors used for the precancels.

http://www.stampsmarter.com/feature...ingView.html

The tagging DB lists numerous varieties besides tagging varieties for a modern issue if I am aware of them.

For some reason, I have found, punctuation tends to wear faster than lettering. This issue of square versus round is prevalent on NYC Buro's.I even have found this on St. Louis Prexy 1 1/2c. Apparently it was easier to put a square in repair of the original round. Now aside from that, there is nothing to say that some silly technician, couldn't have been messing around when the original plate for the precancel was made, thinking he/she was doing something "kewl" ! I associate it to T&T style where City is below state, or where the state is aligned so far left or right from being centered under the City, i.e. Nephi Ut. of which I have an example where the UT is so far left its almost off the stamp but Nephi is nicely centered. So my 2c worth on it is 1 of 2 issues, Mistake or someone goofing off on the job. either way still a nice lil find.