A Small Wine Stamp Collection

Wonderful work Richard

I really enjoyed looking at your collection.

Dianne

Here are the top and bottom plates of my RE31. So that should bring us to a documented census of 4 examples of the top and one of the bottom.

Ron Lesher

I stopped recording serial numbers on the reprinted book wine stamps about fifteen years ago, so the numbers below should be considered lower bounds on a census. The original reissues were all perforated 12 (Kiusalas 12-67). A further printing about 1936 was perforated 12 ½ on our friend the Rossback perforator. But only the $50 and $100 denominations were ordered.

RE107A $20 lowest serial 93061 estimated issued 9,000 reported examples 41
RE107B $40 lowest serial 16971 estimated issued 6,000 reported examples 14

RE107C $50 perf 12 (Kiusalas 12-67) lowest serial 13617 issued 5,000 (est) reported examples 8
RE107C $50 perf 12 ½ lowest serial 18001 issued 2,000 reported examples 21

RE107D $100 perf 12 (Kiusalas 12-67) lowest serial 13649 issued 27,000 (est) reported examples 9
RE107D $100 perf 12 ½ lowest serial 40,001 (est) reported examples 78

There are three types of uses that can be distinguished. The first use of the original issue (Scott RE56-9) is on imported wine. These were attached to import documents and were forwarded to Washington for destruction. Fortunately for us C.E. Worden (yes, the pioneer servicer of FDCs in the 1920's!) obtained these before they were destroyed. Fortunately, for us.

The second use, shown by Frajola are the so-called tank car examples, usually coated with shellac or varnish and otherwise subject to the effects of weather as the California wine was shipped to the east coast for bottling.

The third use is on barrels of wine, well documented in the Handbook of Cancels on United States Wine Tax Stamps by Nussmann and Woodworth and published by the American Revenue Association. When I get the chance I will scan my examples from the Prohibition years, often with attached stamps to make the built-up denomination to pay for the barrel.

I have run out of time this morning, but there is more to be reported on the book wine stamps, both the original and the reprinted issue. But I have run out of time available.

Ron Lesher

Ron - One of the more interesting items in the collection that did not make the cut for the mounted group is the $50 RE107C with "SPEC(imen)" serial Number 12823 shown here:

- higher resolution image here: http://www.rfrajola.com/wines/RE107CSa.jpg

I think this Specimen example is not in your records, but maybe. Maybe a 1929 print? ...

And another #RE107C for your records (not in mounted collection) - this in the more typical yellow green shade
here: http://www.rfrajola.com/wines/RE107Cx.jpg

Great grapes, really nice wines. How about some census data on the 1-7/10 and 3-1/2 values used

There are two used 1 7/10 ¢ examples and however many mint the National Postal Museum disgorged.

To the best of my knowledge there are six used examples of the 3 ½ ¢ and again however many mint the National Postal Museum disgorged.

I do not follow the mint remainders.

Three mint 1 7/10 were sold in the first Smithsonian sale, but there did not seem to be any of the 3 1/2 cent sold in either auction.