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SET XI - The Offsets - Perf 11 and Imperforate of 1918
Germany had been the America's major source of high quality printing inks prior to the World War I. Since we were at war with Germany, the supply of high quality ink was severely diminished, particularly in the colors of the denominations of higher demand, i.e. the 1c, 2c and 3c stamps. The lower quality inks which were substituted had a more abrasive nature and wore out the plates that printed the stamps much faster than the older, higher quality inks.
Although the war was over, the supply of high-quality inks had dried up by late 1918, and to meet the high demand for the lower denominations, a new method of printing was used, offset lithography, or simply "offset". The perforated stamps are listed in Scott as numbers 525 through 530 and Scott 536. Again, there is an anomaly in this set, the one cent stamp experimentally perforated 12.5, Scott 536.
The offset stamps have a distinctive look of poor quality, they just don't have the same engraved beauty of the earlier flat plate printings. In fact, the acid test in the determination of printing method for these stamps lies in the fact that they were not engraved, one can literally "feel" the difference. Offset stamps are not engraved, that is to say they are flat and feel smooth to the touch, whereas flat plate printed stamps are engraved, one can literally feel the ridges of the printed surface. This is also the set that contains all of those difficult types of the 2c stamp, Type IV through Type VII, as well as Types III and IV of the 3c stamp.
The imperforate stamps of this period were produced mainly for private vending companies such as Schermack, and are most commonly listed as Scott numbers 531 through 535. The two cent offset imperforate stamps include the same varieties as the perforated 11 stamps. For a detailed worksheet on the types of the 2c Offset stamp click here.
Next: Set XII
Rotary Press - Experimental Printings and Coil Waste of 1919
A Guide to the Washington Franklins 1908 · 1909 · 1910 · 1910 Perf 8.5 · 1912 · 1914 · 1915 · 1916 · 1916 Coils · 1917 · 1919 · 1919 Shanghai