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1929 Kansas-Nebraska issues

Due to a rash of post office robberies in the Midwest, the 1¢-10¢ values of the then-current definitive series were overprinted with "Kans." or "Nebr." in an effort to prevent their use in other states and diminish their resale potential.  The plan was not successful and was not continued for other states or other stamp issues.

Kansas issues

Scott 658, 1¢, Plate number 19339 LL

Scott 659, 1-1/2¢, Plate number 19191 LR

Scott 660, 2¢, Plate number 19273 UR, high overprint

Scott 661, 3¢, Plate number 18126 UR

Scott 662, 4¢, Plate number 18082 LL

Scott 663, 5¢, Plate number 18097 LR

Scott 664, 6¢, Plate number 18037 UR

Scott 665, 7¢, Plate number 18736  LR

Scott 666, 8¢, Plate number 18192 UL

Scott 667, 9¢, Plate number 18744  LL

Scott 668, 10¢, Plate number 19235 LL

 

Nebraska issues

Scott 669, 1¢, Plate number 19338 LL

Scott 669, 1¢, Plate number 19339 LL, high overprint

Scott 670, 1-1/2¢, Plate number 19182 LR, high overprint

Scott 671, 2¢, Plate number 19059 UR

Scott 671, 2¢, Plate number 19431 UR, high overprint

Scott 672, 3¢, Plate number 18803 UL

Scott 672 var, 3¢ precanceled, Plate number 18804 UL

Scott 673, 4¢, Plate number 18082 UL

Scott 673 var, 4¢ with inverted precancel, Plate number 18038 LL

Scott 674, 5¢, Plate number 18908 UR

Scott 675, 6¢, Plate number 18030 UL

Scott 675 var, 6¢ precanceled, Plate number 18037 UR

Scott 676, 7¢, Plate number 18736 UR

Scott 677, 8¢, Plate number 18191 UL

Scott 678, 9¢, Plate number 18742 UL

Scott 678 var, 9¢ precanceled, with very high overprint, Plate number 18744 LL

Scott 679, 10¢ yellow, Plate number 19235 LR

Scott 679 var, 10¢ orange, precanceled, Plate number 19234 LL

 

Examples of fake Kansas-Nebraska plate number singles

Example #1:  Scott 637, 5¢ Roosevelt with fake Nebr. overprint

Clues:

  • Only plates 18907 and 18908 were used on genuine 5¢ Nebraska overprints; 18909 is not known
  • The font (type face) does not match known genuine issues, as seen most clearly in the lower case "e" and "r"
  • The period is raised too high from the base line of the type, indicating that it was probably typed with a manual typewriter.  Also, the overprint is placed unusually low, but this in itself is not unknown on genuine issues. 

Image from a 2004 eBay lot offered as a genuine Scott 674.

 

Example #2:  Scott 637, 5¢ Roosevelt with fake Nebr. overprint

Enlargement of faked 'Nebr.'     Enlargement of genuine 'Nebr.'

Clues:

  • This time, a correct plate number was selected from among the several used to print Scott 637.
  • However, while the type font is closer to the genuine one than that of the Fake 5¢ Nebraska Example #1, the ascender of the 'b' is not tall enough and its bowl (the O part) is too narrow, and the arm of the 'r' is too long.  Compare with the 'Nebr.' in genuine examples above, most easily seen on the 6¢, 9¢ and 10¢ stamps, and in the enlargement from a genuine 6¢ example.
  • The period on genuine overprinted stamps occupies its own space, and is very slightly raised above the base line of the type.  On the faked example, the period is too far to the left, appearing actually under the arm of the 'r'.  It also appears to be on the exact same level as the letters.

Image from a 2007 eBay lot offered as a genuine Scott 674.

 

Example #3:  Scott 641, 9¢ Jefferson with fake Nebr. overprint

Clues:

  • Only plates 18742 and 18744 were used on genuine 9¢ Nebraska overprints; 19355 is not known.
  • The font is a better match than that used on the 5¢ Example #1, but still has problems with the "N" (too narrow), "e" (horizontal bar too high) and "r" (right extender too long); and the period is too full.
  • The overprint looks "typed," over-inked -- the real thing looks "printed" and has "holes" in the inked overprint letters.
  • Also, while we have seen overprints that are placed high or low, or a bit to the right or left, genuine overprints are not known other than dead-on level -- this one slopes up to the right.
  • The real key is the plate number -- in this case, the faker might have been better off offering it as a normal single stamp. 

Image from a 2003 eBay lot clearly described as a faked Scott 678.

 

Comments?  Suggestions?  Email the Webmaster at secretary at apnss dot org.

 

This page last updated May 14, 2007.

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