United States Stamps continued...

VERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT PAN-AMERICAN ISSUE.

The 1c Pan-American Inverts were found in at least four different post offices around the country. Of the 600 to 700 known, most have disturbed gum and are off-center.

Ex Weisman. With 1984 P.S.E. and 1990 P.F. certificates (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE CENTERING. A REMARKABLY WELL-CENTERED EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT.

The 2c is the rarest of the three Pan-American Inverts. It is surmised that approximately 200 were issued through the post office, with two distinct shades known. Estimates of surviving examples range from an early count (1945) of 55 unused and 2-3 used to the 1998 Datz estimate of 150 unused, 3-5 used and a block of four intact. Our Levi records contain the intact block (4), reconstructed block (4), 64 unused singles and 6 used singles, for a total of 72 unused and 6 used. Many of the unused singles have disturbed gum or no gum, but the example offered here is far better-centered than most.

With 1997 and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (Image)

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A SCARCE EXAMPLE OF THE 4-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT WITHOUT "SPECIMEN" OVERPRINT.

he 4c Pan-American Invert was a special printing and not regularly issued. Examples were distributed through two official channels, and the gum on the majority of stamps without "Specimen" overprint was disturbed. In fact, because the stamps were removed from mounting paper, they are generally thinned or have seriously disturbed gum.

With 2002 P.S.E. certificate (Image)

VERY FINE FOR THIS RARE 4-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT WITH SPECIMEN OVERPRINT.

If the reported numbers are correct, a total of 203 4c Inverts was released, both with and without the overprint. An unknown quantity of the 4c Pan-American invert was overprinted with a small "Specimen" overprint. Some examples, both with and without the overprint, were given away by Third Asst. Postmaster General Edwin C. Madden. When postal authorities learned of the practice, they destroyed 194 copies and put one pane of 100 into the official archives. At a later date, 97 of these were traded for rarities missing from the archives.

With 1974 and 1995 P.F. certificates (Image)