I
want to tell you about one of the most popular stamp series in US
history – the 1938 Presidential Series. These stamps are commonly known
as the “Prexies.” The series was approved by stamp-collecting
president Franklin D. Roosevelt and pictures every US president from
Washington to Coolidge. It also includes influential figures Benjamin
Franklin and Martha Washington.
One of the most interesting facts
about the Prexies is the designs were found in a contest FDR ordered
the postmaster general to run. The contest asked the public to submit
design suggestions for the new series.
A total of 1,122 candidates sent in their designs! The winner was Elaine
Rawlinson of New York City. She won $500 and is forever remembered as
the woman who designed the Prexies. |
US #807(CF1) and #807(CF2) |
Unusual Counterfeit U.S. #807 Prexie Stamp
Phony Stamp More Valuable Than the Government Issue! |
Get
a neat piece of philatelic history that’s seldom seen in US stamp
collections. Using a blend of photography and lithograph printing,
33-year-old Nathan Levine of New York City counterfeited copies of the
1938 3¢ Thomas Jefferson stamp. With the stamp in great demand to
satisfy the first-class letter rate, Levine easily sold sheets of 100
perforate and imperforate stamps for $1.75 each until his arrest in
1949. |
|
|
Many
lower value Prexie stamps were issued in coil rolls of 500 stamps,
primarily for commercial use. Many stamps were pre-cancelled and sold
to large mailers who used machines to affix the stamps to letters.
Nine different coils were issued “sidewise” with the vertical
perforations between the stamps. Four stamps were issued “endwise” with
horizontal perforations between the stamps. |
|
|
No comments:
Post a Comment