
The 1918 Curtiss Jenny airmail stamps are a treasure trove for philatelists. These stamps feature a Curtiss JN-4 biplane, also known as a "Jenny", which was a popular aircraft in the early 20th century.
The Curtiss JN-4 was a biplane trainer used to teach military pilots during World War I. It's interesting to note that the Jenny was also used for civilian flying and was a popular choice for barnstorming.
The 1918 Curtiss Jenny airmail stamps were issued by the United States Postal Service to commemorate the use of aircraft in mail delivery. These stamps were printed in large quantities and feature a distinctive design.
Philatelists can find the 1918 Curtiss Jenny airmail stamps in various denominations, including 1 cent, 2 cents, and 5 cents.
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The 1918 Curtiss Jenny Airmail Stamps
The 1918 Curtiss Jenny airmail stamps are a fascinating piece of philately history. These stamps were issued in three different denominations: 6¢, 16¢, and 24¢.
The Scott Catalog Numbers for these stamps are C1, C2, and C3, respectively. The 6¢ stamp was issued on December 10, 1918, while the 16¢ and 24¢ stamps were issued on July 11 and May 13, 1918, respectively.
The Curtiss Jenny airmail stamps feature a Curtiss JN-4 airplane, a biplane designed by Glenn Curtiss. This airplane played a significant role in the development of aviation in the early 20th century.
Here are the details of the individual stamp designs:
One of the rarest and most valuable of these stamps is the Inverted Jenny, which features an upside-down Curtiss JN-4 airplane. This error occurred during the printing process, resulting in only one sheet of 100 inverted center stamps being sold.
Inverted Error and Sales
The Inverted Jenny is a rare and valuable stamp.
Only one sheet of 100 inverted center stamps was sold, making it incredibly valuable.
The error occurred either when an inverted carmine frame sheet was fed into the small hand press for the second impression or when the plate printer, after inking and wiping, placed an inverted blue vignette plate into the press.
A New York man, Charles Hack, bought a rare Inverted Jenny at an auction for a record-setting $2 million.
He already owns other Inverted Jennys, and in the early 2000s, he bought one for about $300,000.
The Smithsonian's national postal museum has four original Jennys on display in their William H Gross Stamp Gallery.
Frequently Asked Questions
What stamp sold for $2 million?
The Inverted Jenny, a rare 1918 US postage stamp, sold for $2 million due to its unique error featuring an upside-down biplane. This stamp's rarity and historical significance made it a highly sought-after collector's item.
What was the printing error on the first airmail Jenny stamp?
The printing error on the first airmail Jenny stamp was an upside-down biplane image. A sheet of 100 stamps with this error was sold to the public.
Sources
- https://www.mysticstamp.com/c1-3-1918-curtiss-jenny-set-of-3-stamps/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1918_Curtiss_Jenny_airmail_stamps
- https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/nov/14/inverted-jenny-stamp-sold-auction-new-york
- https://www.linns.com/news/auctions/2017/march/robert-siegel-stamp-auction-don-david-price-jenny-invert-collection.html
- https://jamboza.com/inverted-jenny.html
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