Washington-Franklin SC 332

Well,

Here's something I've never noticed before. I have been working on ID'ing Washington Franklin stamps; specifically concentrating on stamp types. All was going well until I got to a 332 - a two cent Washington. It appears that this stamp does not fall into any of the categories. Is this because it says "TWO CENTS" instead of "2 CENTS 2" as they appear on all the others? I have never noticed this before. Comments?

Jack Kelley

If it says "TWO CENTS" it would be part of the 1908 series.

If it says "2 CENTS 2" it would be part of the 1911 series.

Yes, I understand that. But is it a type 1? Type 1a? Or is it that the 1908 issues have no type? It is a W-F but doesn't appear to have a "type".

Jack Kelley

The Universal Postal Union (UPU) required all stamps to have numerals (e.g. 2 CENTS 2) instead of spelled words (e.g. TWO CENTS) to aid in mail delivery across country and language borders. However, by error or intention, the 1c and 2c of the 1908 Wash-Frank series was spelled out. This was remedied by 1912.

Guys,

I think I am being misunderstood here. The above comments are dancing around what I am really asking. My specific question is whether or not the pre 1912 W-F stamps are typed as are all the "2 Cent 2" stamps. I can not find any reference as to the typing of 332. Is this true?

Jack Kelley

Yes, you only have to look for perforation and watermark for the "TWO CENTS" to get the stamp, the types are only for the "2 CENTS 2". I also wondered sometimes why there are so many types for the "2-Cents-2", but only one for the "Two Cents", but that's just the case.

The first "2 CENTS 2" Wash-frank stamp was #406. However, all the 3 CENTS and higher denominations from the beginning (1908) were in the 2 CENTS 2 format (e.g. 3 CENTS 3; 4 CENTS 4; etc). The ONE CENT and TWO CENTS were the only values typed out as such until 1912.

Does that answer the question or am I still missing it?

The stampsmarter site for those w/f's is below
http://www.stampsmarter.com/1847usa...ankmain.html

Oh yes indeed. I never knew that the TWO CENTS is not typed. I forgot to first access the Stampsmarter site. When I did, I found something else I never knew; namely that there is a TWO CENTS perf 11 stamp - Sc 519. Thank you all for your help. I see the light now.

I may go back to my KGVI collection. Its easier than these damned W-F's!

Jack Kelley