Looking Back 104 - (US) Century of Progress Imperforates

(US) Century of Progress Imperforates

250,000 sheets of each, 1=A2 and 3=A2 Century of
Progress stamps, imperforate, was the quantity
of these stamps to be printed and issued,
according to the original announcement by
the Post Office Department.

Since the sheets were issued without gum
and were not to be distributed to post
offices, none would be used by the general
public and only a negligible quantity by dealers
and collectors. It is reasonable [to expect
that very few will be] absorbed by the philatelic
fraternity, thus enriching Uncle Sam's Post
Office Department to the extent of $250,000,
which is important money in any language.

That is the present status. Lately there has
been talk from official quarters to the effect
that more will be printed "if the demand is
warranted." It is quite all right to go on
printing them forever, but in my humble
opinion, another printing of these stamps
will have only one result. The new printing
will not sell sufficiently to pay for the ink,
and a large quantity of those purchased and
at present in the hands of dealers and
collectors will be dumped and used for postage,
and Uncle's profit will evaporate.
=20

- George B. Sloane=20
Sloane's Column=20
Stamps=20
October 7, 1933