On Revenue Stamps, What Does Hyphen-Hole Perforation Mean?

I have acquired a bunch of "Maine" stamps, both documentary and propriatary. Album distinguishes between rouleted and hyphen-hole. What is the difference? How does hyphen-hole differ from regular perforating?

In my present state of ignorance, I have classified all of the ones I have as rouleted. Am I correct in thinking that the hyphen-hole are much scarcer?

Thanks.

Don

Hyphen-hole perforation looks very much like roulette perforation, but small amounts of paper are removed from the sheets.

Peter

The old description for hyphen hole perforation was slot perforation. Since it is a perforation a hyphen or small rectangular piece of paper is supposed to be punched out. In many cases the punching out has not happened and so we have "hanging chads."

Rouletting place a cut in the paper; no removal of paper!

You might also note that the gauge of these two are different; 7 for the hyphen hole and 5 ½ (#8532; is actually more precise). On single stamps the gauge may be the easiest way to differentiate, because it is hard to ascertain if any paper has been removed.

Ron Lesher

The 1/8c Proprietary is rouletted 5.5
The 1c Documentary is hyphen-hole 7

Thanks for the information. Now I have to go over all of my "Maine" stamps. Probably some of them are hyphen-hole.

Don