Experimental Roto Color Stamp

In the process of doing research on an unrelated project, I stumbled on an interesting discovery. The Bureau of Engraving & Printing regularly prints small numbers of special presentation folders that are given out to dignitaries at special events. These go back as far as 1973 (when the BEP was still printing stamps). I've obtained some scans of these from the Bureau to examine.

In 1977, they produced one for the Pacific Conference III (formerly the Pacific Bank Note Conference) which contained a number of stamps printed earlier that year. But looking closer, today I noticed that one of these is actually an "experimental" stamp. This is something I know nothing about. Is it considered a test stamp? Can anyone shed some light on this?

I'll post an image cropped from the scan, next to one of the others for scale. (Sorry for the graininess.) The experimental stamp appears to be the same size as a typical commemorative.

Hi Greg,

Assuming that stamp was an actual, physical stamp and not an artist's concept drawing or something, then I would consider it to be a test stamp.

Maybe it wasn't used to "test" anything, but a number of existing Scott-listed test stamps weren't either.

Jim

Greg - thanks for posting this. I collect test stamps, but haven't seen this one. I have a photocopy of another thing the BEP made for another conference (I think it was later than 1977), but I don't have it handy right now, so all I can recall is it was large with multiple items on it - it seemed like it might have been a printer's sample sheet, but there were some things on it that were labeled test (or was it experimental)

I don't have the actual presentation album in hand, but I think I can safely say this is a physical stamp. It is tucked into a sleeve just like the other stamps.



I'm going to be looking over other presentation albums in the near future. If I find anything similar I'll let you know!

I was able to get a somewhat better image of this test stamp from the BEP's Historical Research Center. This was included in a presentation folder, distributed to visiting delegates at the 1977 Pacific Rim Conference III, held in Ottawa, Canada. This annual conference showcased the abilities of security printing organizations -- primarily related to currency, but stamps as well.

I'd email John Hotchner with an image of this and ask his opinion.