I am trying to complete my collection of panes of the US Purple Heart definitive. I thought I had completed the series when I found that there is a 4704b pane, which is the same as the 4704 except that it is dated 2014 (to reflect a rate change). The 4704 is dated 2012. I checked with the Identifier of Definitive Issues in the front of the catalog, and found that the 2014-dated issue was indeed real, but to my surprise it was listed as 2014a. I called Amos Media and reached a nice guy named Chad. He checked and told me that there was indeed an error. The correct number for the 2014 version is 2014b as listed in the catalog proper. He thanked me and assured me that the error in the Identifier will be corrected in the next edition of the catalog. He told me that if there is ever such a difference, the version in the catalog prevails. Maybe this is trivial, but it is stuff like this that makes philately fun. And now I'm looking for a 4704b pane!
Perfeleven: There are 5 varieties of Purple Heart that have a red "FOREVER USA" running vertically down the right side of the stamp. (1) 4529 ... dated 2011 ... die-cut 11.25x10.75 ... very light yellowish rather than white background ... tagging bright yellow-green (2) 4704 ... dated 2012 ... die-cut 11 ... white background ... tagging bright yellow-green (3) 4704a ... imperforate version of 4704 removed from no-die-cut press sheet (4) 4704b ... dated 2014 ... otherwise same as 4704 (5) 5035 ... dated 2014 but released in 2015 ... die-cut 11 ... white background ... tagging very light yellow-green ... microprinted USPS to left of medal ribbon at top of stamp Note that ONLY 5035 has the microprinted USPS ... which can be seen with the naked eye. Added: Possible plate numbers for the 5 varieties are as follows: (1) S11111111 (8 digits) (2) V111111 or C111111 (6 digits for the remaining varieties) (3) V111111 (4) C111111 (5) S111111 or B111111
Mongolia is translated wrong in Scott in the illustrated identifier. The word in Cyrillic that they show is shyydaH and means "post" or "post office". Mongolia in Cyrillic is at the top of the example listed and is Mongol. It is a minor thing but it is irksome.
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