Transportation Coil Caboose 1905 Trying To Understand Untagged Variation

It appears that there are 3 variations of the Caboose Stamp 1905.
One tagged.
Two Untagged.
Three Untagged with precancel.
problem is there is only 2 numbers I have found for this stamp set
1905 and 1905a.
1905 appears to be the tagged stamp.
1905a is the untagged stamp but does not define weather it is precanceled or no precanceled
I have heard that the the untagged with no precancel is a reprint in 1991 but I see nothing listed in scotts catalog about this.
Can anyone please help me understand this set of stamps. I would greatly appreciate any help.

There is a note in the Scott specialized catalog that states the untagged stamp with the Bureau precancel lines are from plate 1. Untagged stamps without precancel lines are from plate 2. Both untagged stamps are Scott 1905a.

Hope this helps.

Robert

PKstamper, you understand this idiotic situation clearly! And this stamp is not the only Transportation Coil where Scott is not very clear. I will try to explain.
1. The original Caboose was issued as a precancel with two black lines. We know this stamp as Scott 1905a. It was issued untagged - all precancels are supposed to be untagged since they do not go into electronic cancel machines. Plate number 1.
2. At the time Scott 1905a was issued the post office, as a gesture towards collectors also issued a tagged version, Scott 1905. This stamp was issued in rolls also with plate number 1.
3. Seven years and lots of changes later another 11 cent stamp was issued, also untagged with plate number 2. One of the changes that I was referring to above was the fact that this stamp was not considered a precancel, but a "Service Inscribed stamp".
Hope this helps?


Peter

Thanks for both of your answers. Peter I really appreciate the added insight. I will label them 1905a and 1905a precancel and hope someday the catalog will catch up with the rest of us. LOL

Thanks again

PKstamper, you're welcome. There is another facet to these stamps - maybe why Scott has them listed like this.
The first to stamps, the precancel and the collector's issue were both printed on the BEP B-press.
The plate 2 stamp was printed on the BEP C and/or D press. If you have a copy of the latter you will find the quality of the printing is by far superior over the earlier ones.

Peter

In this case, the defining characteristic that drives the minor variety listing in the catalog is the absence of tagging. The presence or absence of precancel lines is irrelevant to the catalog editors.

Robert

Peter
Not sure I could tell the difference in the quality. What I see in the my stamps appears to be the same. I will keep an eye open to see if I see the difference.
One note since I also collect the first day covers I am assuming that no first day cover was produced for the 1991 version it was just slipped in to the mix.

Thanks again Peter.

Perry K.

Robert, I understand that Scott does not give major numbers to precanceled stamps.
However, I was trying to show the OP what the reason was for the three listings.


Peter

Yeah I guess you are right Robert.

Perry K.

PKstamper, the originals saw a first day at Rosemont, IL on February 3, 1984.
The plate 2 stamp was issued September 25, 1991 Nationwide, no official ceremony

Peter

Thanks again for all the clarification you two.

Perry K.

Peter,
Sorry, I wasn't trying to refute what you were saying. I was actually addressing PK's comment about the catalog catching up to us collectors. It was my indirect way of saying "not likely". I should have prefaced my response with a quote.

Robert

Peter
I had commented on another tread that I was wondering if the Precancels had first day covers and you stated that they did I just hand not found any can you suggest where you may have seen them. I may not be looking with the right searches or in the right locations.
If you have any suggestions I would appreciate that.

Perry K.

PK_stamper,

According to Mellone in the 2009 Scott U.S. FDC Catalogue (the most recent I'm aware of), there isn't a FDC listed for the plate number 1 precancel and I don't recall ever seeing one. There are 2 different versions of the plate number 2 FDC and are described in the footnote as "This value for a cacheted cover with dial UO cancellation. There was no FDOI cancel although some exist where the stamps had been added to a postal card with the FDOI for the postal card. These sell for considerably less."

I have examples of both the cacheted FDC and the postal card FDOI and can post the images if you're interested.

Walkman,

Thanks for the clarification. I can take that off my list. I appreciate the offer but no need to post them.
I have put together a lot of my stampes from 1935 on with a first day cover, mint stamp and Used stamp for each issue but with the transportation coil it looks like I will had the precancels mint and used to the set and consider it complete.

Thanks

This discussion rang a bell in my mind. I've always separated sets which contain both tagged and untagged items into two subsets.
Now I'm wondering...how do others treat these ?