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Post by ctm2matman on Jul 3, 2014 6:22:48 GMT
The limited sources I have are no help. What's the difference between these two versions?
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Ryan
Member 
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Posts: 2,720 
What I collect: If I have a catalogue for it, I collect it. And I have many catalogues ....
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Post by Ryan on Jul 3, 2014 6:56:09 GMT
The primary difference is that the 3626 set is non-value indicated (NVI), the stamps are denominated as "FIRST-CLASS". The 3642 set shows the stamps denominated as "37" cents. In the Scott catalogue, NVI stamps are shown with their initial value within parentheses. They're becoming increasingly common around the world. The newest US stamps indicated "FOREVER" have face values which change as the postal rates change, but the older stamps didn't. If you were to use one of these older "FIRST-CLASS" stamps on an envelope, it would only be worth 37 cents and you would have to affix additional postage to bring it up to the current rate. That was different than the way an NVI stamp was used in virtually any other country, which always treated it in the way that "FOREVER" stamps are now treated (face value floats along with changing postal rates). What a mess that was with these older US stamps!  I should note that the Canadian "A" stamps, originally sold at 30 cents, are valid for postage only within Canada and only at their original face value of 30 cents due to the potential confusion of their NVI status (this according to the UPU due to the letter indication of face value - I wonder if the various letter-indicated face values on old US stamps follow the same domestic restrictions?). And I have no idea how they treat the 1995 Canada issues with no value on them, the Canada Day and Fortress of Louisbourg issues.  Ryan |
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Post by ctm2matman on Jul 4, 2014 3:16:11 GMT
Duh. It was so obvious. I must be going blind.
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rod222
Member
Posts: 9,905
What I collect: Worldwide Stamps, Ephemera and Catalogues
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Post by rod222 on Jul 4, 2014 5:54:41 GMT
Duh. It was so obvious. I must be going blind. "Taking leave of your senses" moments are a rather unfortunate common occurrence, in stamp collecting, only yesterday, I was sorting a large batch of Poland, and three stamps I just could not locate in 1972, I was just about to give up, when I noticed "Romania" at the bottom.  |
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Post by ctm2matman on Aug 12, 2014 19:22:45 GMT
Ryan, I'm sure that the A, B, C, D, E, F, G etc. issues retained their sold face value. They were interim stamps during rate changes when the actual date of change and/or amount was uncertain. The "Forever" stamps sold these days retain their power to send a first-class letter forever, but I'm sure that if used on other types of mailings, retain the face value at which they were sold. Or it may be that they can only be used on first-class mail to eliminate that gray area. With all the nit-picky crap that goes on like that, it's no wonder the USPS is always losing money and having to boost the rates.
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tomiseksj
Moderator 
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,265
What I collect: Worldwide stamps/covers, Cinderellas, Ohio Prepaid Sales Tax Receipts, U.S. WWII Ration ephemera
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Post by tomiseksj on Aug 12, 2014 20:03:29 GMT
...I wonder if the various letter-indicated face values on old US stamps follow the same domestic restrictions?... |
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philatelia
Member
Captain Jack - my best kiloware find ever!
Posts: 3,404
What I collect: Ireland, Japan, Scandy, USA, Venezuela, Vatican, Bermuda, Austria
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Post by philatelia on Aug 13, 2014 16:52:06 GMT
3642-5 has two types - different dates. They exist dated "2002" and "2003". The "2003" date is smaller.
USA definitives are tricky! I'm still identifying bells. I finally found a loupe powerful enough to easily read the microprinting.
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