C137 - Two Noticeable Differences

"Then compare the two, get an expertizing service to agree (APEX would be best) and forward the successful out come to Scott for listing the second run."

Scott listing - never going to happen.

" However, if the cave can tell 1st from 2nd, a USPS FOIA request may get an answer regarding differing the two print runs."

The caves could tell them apart simply by them having different dates on the boxes.

USPS hate FOIA requests These were printed by one of the private printers, not the BEP, So good luck getting an answer.

Eye, possible and easy are not one in the same. Scott updating the listing is a different matter before that would happen, I would want to see a 2026 Specialized issued on time this year. But the fact is it will take effort by someone to get the process completed.

At least there is verification of the second printing even if a date on a box is the only differential. At least a FDC will show which version of JWL's two came first.

There is an assumption that the small difference noted for one example is consistent for the entire second printing.

ParcelPostGuy - thank you for the compiment. It was appreciated. To John Becker, I wanted to put a full pic, but for some reason, my pic's file is too big to post. I will keep trying. In the mean time, here is a pic of the order form I ordered the 2nd Stamp from. 501500 is what you put for a "single" stamp instead of 501540.

Updated Pic of both Stamps & USPS Order Number

Oh heck, so you were quoting from a document that shows, 501500. This provides now three Philatelic order item numbers, 561500, 501500 and 501540 for what has been established as being produced in two printings.

That said, the 561500 stamps are the one issued for the First Day of Issue of April 17, 2001. The stamps sold under the item number 501540 are the April 2003 reprints per the USPS. But there is no clear answer to which, 1st or reprint, the 501500 are unless you know the date the 501500 were purchased AND we'd have to know if the 1st Printing and the Reprint were ever offer for sale at the same time. UGH.

Comment to hoarding: There are reasons to keep documentation long after it is out of date because it may need to be accessed as a reference. For domestic harmony, my reference hoard was sent off to a philatelic library while I trust most other copies hit the recycle bind or bird cage floor no long after arrival.

Edited to add more C137 inventory item numbers.

FDC 561561


Half pane 561510

The second stamp (with the tab) is 501500 and the double zero 5015"00" is what you put for a "single" stamp instead of 501540 which is the whole bunch.

I have examined many of these under LW UV and have found four distinct varieties. This indicates there may have been more than two printings. Below are LW UV images of the front and back of the four varieties I have found. The differences are most dramatic from the back side backing paper, they are quite different. Front side are fairly distinct but not as dramatic. Note, taking photos of paper under LW UV is challenging so the colors are difficult to get correct. These colors are close.


That back side image is not as cyan as the image indicates. Cameras don't respond to LW UV very well. They tend to have too much blue in the image. I corrected the color the best I could.

Just because there is more than one UV reaction to the papers of different stamps does not automatically mean there was more than 1 printing. They could easily have used rolls of different reacting paper in a single print run. An entire print run is unlikely to have the same centering and color registration. I feel like "we" are trying to make a mountain out of a mole hill here.

JWL, I apologize upfront, but your first image (close-ups) were too cute by half. Since this is the only scan that is usefully bright ( the later 'whole stamp' image(s) are badly dark*), let me complain -- you went to all that trouble to get the upper-right close-ups of both stamps, but the TOP one was shoved off by a fraction at top. Even though there are different inks involved, seeing the actual distance from tip of jet to TOP (i.e., die cut if point of reference needed) would allow fighting chance to compare vertical registration as well, "just saying."

* - not using a scanner ?! Then get some more room light (or try sunlight) if using 'smart'phone, please Everyone !!

To All: back in the day, the scuttle-butt was that the reprint "has more pink in it" but I couldn't tell difference. I will be on lookout for a source and post back if I can.