Israel Strip Oddity? Help!

Got this in from a dealer in Israel as a freebie.
My question is this part of a normal sheet?
2 right side up, one upside down.
Since it was a freebie, I can only assume it is a common thing and I just don't know why.
So, any explanations?



Notice that the horizontal line of image edges between the normal and upside down are NOT the same level, indicating 2 seperate print runs?

It's called a tete-beche but I am not sure how common or rare it is on the above stamps. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T%C3%AAte-b%C3%AAche

These were some of the first Israeli stamps issued after the founding of the country in the late forties. Jogil is correct in that these were printed tete-beche. Half the sheet was printed one way, the other half upside down. This method of printing was fairly common at one time but I do not know how rare this particular strip is.

Peter

These values came from tete-Beche sheets made especially for ease of making up Booklets of 6.
Printed by Photolithography in sheets of 90 [9x10].
The left pane [3x10],Gutter either lined or patterned [top one numbered], next 3x10 are T-B in relation to the first producing 10 T-B Gutter pairs.The last 30 are the same as the first without gutter producing 10 T-B pairs[like the one shown in initial post].
Issued on 15th June 1954.

http://www.israelphilately.org.il/e...TTER%20PAIRS

Here's a couple of examples from my paltry collection of the Gutter Tete-Beche pairs.





Modern day Tete-Beche sheets are still issued albeit in smaller sizes. Usually for definitives only.

An example:



The sheet produces even more types of T-B pairs as you can see !
They make for a great side collection with one can get carried away !

These are part of Israel Post's 3rd Coinage Tête-bêche series(part three) issued 1950-52. This stamp was issued Feb 26, 1953. The Bale catalog #63a. It is a Tête-bêche pair plus a single, catalog value is listed $80 for a pair. I am sure it would sell for far less. Tête-bêche are used in Israel as booklet stamps.

CORRECTION the $80 is Israel Sheqels not dollars so value would be about $20

I cannot believe the Bale catalogue lists that pair at $80 !
It's possible to buy the whole set of 12 [Gutter and no gutter] pairs, mint at less than $20 on ebay right now.

Gibbons list the pair at £1.50

Londonbus1 I should have said 80 Israel sheqels or about $20
which is still very high. I corrected above.