Scott 3228 (Small Date) Vs 3228A (Large Date)

Wow! Identifying some stamps. I got to stamp 3228 and I noticed that there is a large date version and a small date version. There is a nice close up view in both the 2024 and 2025 Scott specialized catalog and it shows the date underneath the p of the text pre-sorted.

the small date version the year date is only under the p.

The large date version shows the date under both the p and the r.


All of the images that I see of the 3228a stamp for sale, do not have the date showing is under the r. This includes a strip whose plate number indicates that it should be 3228a.

I have decided that the stamps that I have are 3228 because the date measures 1 mm. If the date was 1 and 1/2 mm which would indicate a 3228a it does not necessarily show that the image would be the same as that shown in the Scott catalog, but is also possible that the letter spacing will be different in reality.

Can anyone shed some light on this?

ohio_andy,

Looking at my 2022 Scott Specialized, I see that they show close up views of small date and large date varieties, but there are actually three date sizes. 3228 is small (1mm), 3228a is MEDIUM (1.5mm), and the large date (2mm) is found on 3229. I will try to post a scan of all three.

Jr Ratfish, I completely missed that. The 3228a is a medium size date and that the 3229 is the large size date. So that the small and large dates that they are showing in the Scott catalog are for $328 and for $32.29. they do not show the date size for the 3228a.

Well now I feel a little silly..... That explains everything. Thanks!

ohio_andy,

Here's a scan of all three varieties, 3228, 3228a and 3229.

Philatomic

That looks precisely correct.... Thanks for taking the time.

You can not go by the placement of the black 1998 under the purple Presorted as a color shift/misregistration will change the relative ;;ocation.

Now that I've thought about your response for a bit, I suppose that a color shift could also change the size of the date if multiple colors are used to create the date. Probably not an issue if the date is black since they usually use a black ink because it's difficult to create black by mixing colors when you print.

Size, no; RELATIVE position, yes. Black on stamps is from black ink.