United States Stamp History
Stamp Book Leaflets

Two Cent Leaflet

The Stamp Book Issue of November 16, 1908
TWO CENTS Washington, Imprint IX, 44 Plates

Watermark Perf 1
Carmine

Max Johl writes that the 2c stamp book was the first issue released at the same time as the sheet stamp. Leaflets were printed from both the 180-subject and 360-subject plate. Printing was done on the four plate flat bed power press. So was the green ONE CENT partner, which was issued two days later. The plate layout was the same as all flat plate issues. Positions were the same as the ONE CENT leaflet from both the 180 and 360-subject plate. The color was mainly carmine, but extensive ink mixes provided the light and dark carmine shades.

There were 32 plates used for the180 subject leaflet. Four plates were crafted but not used. All plate numbers have been reported. Durland lists 18 plate numbers as scarce. They are 4803, 4804, 4805, 4806, 4808, 4826, 4832, 4836, 5042, 5043, 5047, 5088, 5090, 5096, 5106, 5113, 5139, and 5154. The basic selling price listed in the 1990 edition of DURLAND-STANDARD PLATE NUMBER CATAGOG, for this leaflet is $160.

According to Max Johl, (op. cit.) varieties collected include a cracked plate showing on stamp 5, LL corner. The size of plate was not mentioned. It is news to me. He also notes that Position A with four double transfers has been reported.

There were fewer of the 360-subject plates used than the 180-subject. In fact, only 12 were crafted. None are scarce. The 12 are 5130, 5261, 5262, 5266, 5445, 5446, 5448, 5450, 5451, 5456, 5458, and 5459. This indicates to me the 360 was used in the latter couple of months. This could be the experimental stage of the new stamp before it replaced the 1908 series. The total leaflets produced including both the 360-subject plate and the 180-subject plate was 76,634,666 considerably less than the prior 2c issue.

The 2c stamp book covers had four colors. The first in 1908 was type I-n with 48 stamps which cost 97 cents. The second type was I-o. The color of the book with 12 2c stamps was Natural. The book's color for 24 stamps was Buff or Pink. Finally, the 97c book of 48 stamps was Gray. The Pink color was new, but the other three covers were left over from the previous issue.

New covers Type II-a had books of two leaflets, four leaflets, and eight leaflets of stamps. The color of the covers was Natural for the 25c book, Pink for the 49c book, and Gray for the 97c book.

Some collectors added the shipping boxes from the BEP to their holdings. That is not in my line. Sorry about that!