What Are "Private Perforations"? Examples Shown.

I have seen these in listings. What are they and their significance? What is the difference in value?







-IBFS

Private Perforations were developed by the manufacturers of Stamp Vending and Affixing machines.

The US Postal Service provided imperforate sheets to these companies. Then then applied their private perf to the sheets and striped the sheets. These strips were pasted together to make coils that were used in their machines.

The perforations are not as we commonly think of perforations. Their purpose was not to seperate the stamps but to give the fingers inside the machine something to pull the stamps through. The actual seperation was done by a knife inside the machine. The machines were capable of applying up to 250 stamps per minute.

The Vending & Affixing Machines were used by the mass mailers of the day. Like spam and junk mail of today most were trashed. Though millions were sent, relatively a small % remain.

Nice specimens shown. Based on my 2011 Scott Specialized Catalog the first one is a Brickerhoff Company Type II Perforation (SCV $80.00); the second a Schermack Company Type III 2 mm Perforation (SCV $67.50). Both compare favorably against a standard Scott #368 Imperforate stamp in MNH condition (SCV $30.00). Of course, on the secondary market, catalog values are hardly ever a true estimate of actual selling prices.

(NOTE: There are many instances where the private perforations actually diminish value as compared to an imperforate stamp without them. However, the Lincoln Memorial issue is just the opposite.)

Very well explained. Thanks guys.

-IBFS