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General Philatelic/Gen. Discussion : United Nations Airmail C3a - Prussian Blue

 

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Terry
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23 Apr 2013
10:48:59pm
I have obtained a really choice MNH copy of this key UN item. I have a couple of questions about this stamp:

1. Do we know how many of this color variety were printed?

2. When were they printed? At a later date (perhaps a second printing)?

3. Or was it just a color mix error in the original printing, where a few sheets escaped?

Anyone have some reference material that can shed some light on this topic?

Thanks,
Terry

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khj
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23 Apr 2013
11:05:32pm
re: United Nations Airmail C3a - Prussian Blue

First of all, nice example of the C3a, Terry!

The so-called "Prussian blue" error occurred during the 5th print run. It was an ink mixing error in which the "vermilion red" color was omitted from the mix.

Sorry, I do not the size of the print run. But it is not a very small number, which is why the stamp catalogs for less than US$100. The total printing was 3,250,000.

But to get a ballpark idea plus/minus 1 order of magnitude, the 1955 souvenir sheet had a total printing of 250,000 and catalogs for US$100.

My guess is that the Prussian blue color error quantity is that order of magnitude or one BELOW that.

k

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Rhinelander
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23 Apr 2013
11:48:39pm
re: United Nations Airmail C3a - Prussian Blue

Hi Terry,

As per my Michel United Nations Specialized Catalog (2007), the regular C3 (= Michel #14a) was issued Dec. 14, 1951, and the 15c prussian blue variety (Scott #C3a = Michel #14b) appeared in June 1957. The total number printed was 3,250,000: 2,650,000 of the C3 and 600,000 of the C3a. Based on these proportions, and not knowing anything else, the prussian blue variety appears to be quite overvalued.

Since you are reporting the initial printing quantities only, here are the total quantities:

6c: 2,500,000 (two runs)
10c: 2,750,000 (six runs)
15c: 2,650,000 (six runs)
15c (prussian blue): 600,000 (one run)
25c: 2,250,000 (four runs)

The catalog lists Ole Hamann as the designer for the 6c and 10c and a different person, Olav S. Mathiesen, as the designer for the 15c and 25c. The engravers for the 6c/10c and 15c/25c are given as B. S. Cresser and A.B. Corssett, respectively. Printing was by De La Rue.

Looking at the above, we have a great illustration for my earlier, generalizing claim in the color topic (which I still have to finish, but I got sidetracked) that usually the common variety of a shade, here the C3, encompasses several printings and covers a range, while the expensive variety tends to be one distinct printing only.

Best,

Arno

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khj
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23 Apr 2013
11:53:57pm
re: United Nations Airmail C3a - Prussian Blue

Thanks for that additional info, Arno!

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Rhinelander
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24 Apr 2013
12:12:26am
re: United Nations Airmail C3a - Prussian Blue

Believe it or not, khj, that was the first time I ever looked into that catalog. I got it for free, thrown in as a freebie with a larger order of other supplies.

Your rationale what the printing quantity should have been, based on comparative prices of other comparable UN stamps is 100% sound. I was surprised to find a 600,000 quantity. There must be a reason why the price for this variety is so much higher than the roughly "1 in 5" ratio suggests. Very curious. I hope someone has additional information and perhaps an explanation.




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khj
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24 Apr 2013
12:46:20am
re: United Nations Airmail C3a - Prussian Blue

Thanks for the kind words, Rhinelander! Well, I least my guess about plus/minus 1 order of magnitude was right.

Does the Michel UN mention whether the ENTIRE 5th print run was affected, or only a part of the print run? I only know it is the 5th print run, but never knew if it was part or whole.

I've seen numerous "used" examples (including on-cover) for sale. Maybe the pricing is taking into account how many of the stamps remain unused?

Yes, also hoping someone can chime in with additional info.

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Rhinelander
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24 Apr 2013
08:53:26pm
re: United Nations Airmail C3a - Prussian Blue

Hi kjh,

The catalog does not mention which printing is responsible for the prussian blue variety. The quantities for both stamps are given separately

Michel #14a: 1,000,000 + 200,000 + 150,000 + 200,000 + 500,000 + 600,000 = 2,6250,000
Michel #14b: 600,000

These two quantities make the 3,250,000 that you cite.

The catalog values (2007) for the 14a is EUR 0.70 MNH and EUR 1.00 used; for the 14b it is EUR 160.00 MNH and EUR 180.00 used.

Given that the quantities suggest a one in five ratio, the enormous difference in values is quite puzzling.

Arno

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khj
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24 Apr 2013
09:46:52pm
re: United Nations Airmail C3a - Prussian Blue

Thank you for the details, Arno!

k

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albert7910

12 Nov 2013
09:30:15pm
re: United Nations Airmail C3a - Prussian Blue

I think I can clear up some of the misinformation on the C3a United Nations 15 cent airmail stamp of the color error "Prussian Blue", the only true color error of the first issue.

After much searching, I came across a booklet called: "A HANDBOOK ON THE FIRST ISSUE OF UNITED NATIONS POSTAGE STAMPS 1951-1966" By Robert Kvarnes and Ramon Goodey.

The error occurs in the 5th printing of the c3 15 cent airmail issued in June of 1957.

Of 600,000 stamps printed, only 350,000 were sold. The remainder were destroyed.

During the initial color check of the printing run of the 5th printing, the ink was found to be far different from the intended color and this was corrected. About 100 sheets, or 5000 stamps, by mistake got included in the shipment and were placed on sale without notice by the UNPA. The color is quite distinctive, since the vermilion is missing. The color error is of sufficient degree to merit a separate space in addition to the one for the ordinary 15c airmail stamp in some German albums.

Arleigh Gains, in his extensive work called "United Nations Philately" used information from the Handbook mentioned above.

If you compare a total printing of the Scott 38 tenth anniversary sheetlet of 250,000, and having a value of $100 to the Prussian Blue error, with a printing of only 5000, you will find that the Prussian blue is 50 times rarer than the 38 sheet!

In my opinion, the c3a should be much more valuable than the Scott 38 10th anniversary.

In summary, there were only about 100 sheets, or 5000 stamps of the Prussian blue error stamps put on sale by mistake along with the regular 5th issue. Nobody knew when they went on sale that the color errors were mixed in.


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khj
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12 Nov 2013
11:13:21pm
re: United Nations Airmail C3a - Prussian Blue

Thank you, Albert7910, for the additional background information and clearing up the questions we had regarding whether or not the entire print run or only a part of it was affected!


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Terry

23 Apr 2013
10:48:59pm

I have obtained a really choice MNH copy of this key UN item. I have a couple of questions about this stamp:

1. Do we know how many of this color variety were printed?

2. When were they printed? At a later date (perhaps a second printing)?

3. Or was it just a color mix error in the original printing, where a few sheets escaped?

Anyone have some reference material that can shed some light on this topic?

Thanks,
Terry

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khj

23 Apr 2013
11:05:32pm

re: United Nations Airmail C3a - Prussian Blue

First of all, nice example of the C3a, Terry!

The so-called "Prussian blue" error occurred during the 5th print run. It was an ink mixing error in which the "vermilion red" color was omitted from the mix.

Sorry, I do not the size of the print run. But it is not a very small number, which is why the stamp catalogs for less than US$100. The total printing was 3,250,000.

But to get a ballpark idea plus/minus 1 order of magnitude, the 1955 souvenir sheet had a total printing of 250,000 and catalogs for US$100.

My guess is that the Prussian blue color error quantity is that order of magnitude or one BELOW that.

k

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Rhinelander

Support the Hobby -- Join the American Philatelic Society
23 Apr 2013
11:48:39pm

re: United Nations Airmail C3a - Prussian Blue

Hi Terry,

As per my Michel United Nations Specialized Catalog (2007), the regular C3 (= Michel #14a) was issued Dec. 14, 1951, and the 15c prussian blue variety (Scott #C3a = Michel #14b) appeared in June 1957. The total number printed was 3,250,000: 2,650,000 of the C3 and 600,000 of the C3a. Based on these proportions, and not knowing anything else, the prussian blue variety appears to be quite overvalued.

Since you are reporting the initial printing quantities only, here are the total quantities:

6c: 2,500,000 (two runs)
10c: 2,750,000 (six runs)
15c: 2,650,000 (six runs)
15c (prussian blue): 600,000 (one run)
25c: 2,250,000 (four runs)

The catalog lists Ole Hamann as the designer for the 6c and 10c and a different person, Olav S. Mathiesen, as the designer for the 15c and 25c. The engravers for the 6c/10c and 15c/25c are given as B. S. Cresser and A.B. Corssett, respectively. Printing was by De La Rue.

Looking at the above, we have a great illustration for my earlier, generalizing claim in the color topic (which I still have to finish, but I got sidetracked) that usually the common variety of a shade, here the C3, encompasses several printings and covers a range, while the expensive variety tends to be one distinct printing only.

Best,

Arno

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khj

23 Apr 2013
11:53:57pm

re: United Nations Airmail C3a - Prussian Blue

Thanks for that additional info, Arno!

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Rhinelander

Support the Hobby -- Join the American Philatelic Society
24 Apr 2013
12:12:26am

re: United Nations Airmail C3a - Prussian Blue

Believe it or not, khj, that was the first time I ever looked into that catalog. I got it for free, thrown in as a freebie with a larger order of other supplies.

Your rationale what the printing quantity should have been, based on comparative prices of other comparable UN stamps is 100% sound. I was surprised to find a 600,000 quantity. There must be a reason why the price for this variety is so much higher than the roughly "1 in 5" ratio suggests. Very curious. I hope someone has additional information and perhaps an explanation.




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khj

24 Apr 2013
12:46:20am

re: United Nations Airmail C3a - Prussian Blue

Thanks for the kind words, Rhinelander! Well, I least my guess about plus/minus 1 order of magnitude was right.

Does the Michel UN mention whether the ENTIRE 5th print run was affected, or only a part of the print run? I only know it is the 5th print run, but never knew if it was part or whole.

I've seen numerous "used" examples (including on-cover) for sale. Maybe the pricing is taking into account how many of the stamps remain unused?

Yes, also hoping someone can chime in with additional info.

Like
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this post
Members Picture
Rhinelander

Support the Hobby -- Join the American Philatelic Society
24 Apr 2013
08:53:26pm

re: United Nations Airmail C3a - Prussian Blue

Hi kjh,

The catalog does not mention which printing is responsible for the prussian blue variety. The quantities for both stamps are given separately

Michel #14a: 1,000,000 + 200,000 + 150,000 + 200,000 + 500,000 + 600,000 = 2,6250,000
Michel #14b: 600,000

These two quantities make the 3,250,000 that you cite.

The catalog values (2007) for the 14a is EUR 0.70 MNH and EUR 1.00 used; for the 14b it is EUR 160.00 MNH and EUR 180.00 used.

Given that the quantities suggest a one in five ratio, the enormous difference in values is quite puzzling.

Arno

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khj

24 Apr 2013
09:46:52pm

re: United Nations Airmail C3a - Prussian Blue

Thank you for the details, Arno!

k

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albert7910

12 Nov 2013
09:30:15pm

re: United Nations Airmail C3a - Prussian Blue

I think I can clear up some of the misinformation on the C3a United Nations 15 cent airmail stamp of the color error "Prussian Blue", the only true color error of the first issue.

After much searching, I came across a booklet called: "A HANDBOOK ON THE FIRST ISSUE OF UNITED NATIONS POSTAGE STAMPS 1951-1966" By Robert Kvarnes and Ramon Goodey.

The error occurs in the 5th printing of the c3 15 cent airmail issued in June of 1957.

Of 600,000 stamps printed, only 350,000 were sold. The remainder were destroyed.

During the initial color check of the printing run of the 5th printing, the ink was found to be far different from the intended color and this was corrected. About 100 sheets, or 5000 stamps, by mistake got included in the shipment and were placed on sale without notice by the UNPA. The color is quite distinctive, since the vermilion is missing. The color error is of sufficient degree to merit a separate space in addition to the one for the ordinary 15c airmail stamp in some German albums.

Arleigh Gains, in his extensive work called "United Nations Philately" used information from the Handbook mentioned above.

If you compare a total printing of the Scott 38 tenth anniversary sheetlet of 250,000, and having a value of $100 to the Prussian Blue error, with a printing of only 5000, you will find that the Prussian blue is 50 times rarer than the 38 sheet!

In my opinion, the c3a should be much more valuable than the Scott 38 10th anniversary.

In summary, there were only about 100 sheets, or 5000 stamps of the Prussian blue error stamps put on sale by mistake along with the regular 5th issue. Nobody knew when they went on sale that the color errors were mixed in.


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khj

12 Nov 2013
11:13:21pm

re: United Nations Airmail C3a - Prussian Blue

Thank you, Albert7910, for the additional background information and clearing up the questions we had regarding whether or not the entire print run or only a part of it was affected!


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