United States, Scott #1820, used(o) coil, 1981, Rate Change Transition Stamp, issued to cover the transition period after a postal rate change for first class mail from the effective date to a later time when normal stamps with the new correct value are issued; in this period, the Post Office is in a quandary not knowing beforehand when the rate will take effect and not knowing the new rate, to resolve this problem, the Post Office, beginning in 1978 began issuing non-denominal letter coded transition stamps, the first was orange and featured the letter “A”, and an American eagle (Scott #1735-37); this was occurring during the period of high inflation in the American economy in the late 1970s and early 1980s; thus, at the same time, knowing another rate change was likely in the near future, the Post Office printed this stamp, a second transition stamp, using the same American eagle and alphabet letter theme, but changing the color to violet and the letter to “B”, and kept it ready; the time came in March 1981, when the Postal Commission changed the rate from 15 to 18 cents and this stamp was issued; this was a busy time period as the Post Office had another rate change in that same year, in October, with a “C” stamp, another Eagle, and a brown color (Scott #1946-48); this stamp issued at a counter selling price of (18) cents, perforated 10 vertical, perforated on left and right, imperforated at top and bottom, photogravure printed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP), violet, Scott 2019 Catalog Value: 25¢, slightly off-centered, which is typical for a coil stamp of the period, very faint, large, half circular, black-inked, double-rimmed, hollowed-out, socked-on-the-nose cancellation over the lower half of the stamp and into the main image, however, the lightness of the cancel and its hollowed-out effect leaves the main image remarkably clear, sound back, good perforations; largely image clear cancel warrants a selling price premium This is not a 'bait-and-switch;' the stamp you see will be the one you receive.
Please review my terms of sale. If you are not ordering from the United States, there is a $US1.55 additional postage expense that needs to be added to the price of the stamp. If you are ordering from the United States, there is only a $US0.68 added postage expense. Also, if you make additional purchases from my offerings, they can all go in one mailing at no extra shipping expense for the added purchases. I will send the purchase by US first class mail, since the relatively low value of the stamp does not warrant signature or tracking mail. Hence the buyer assumes risk of loss or non-delivery. I will keep a scan of my mailing to verify that the correct mailing address was used. If not satisfied, return the stamp to me at your own expense, and I will refund the cost, but not my postage to you. If the stamp is not as described, I will refund the cost and reimburse you for postage both ways.
By way of reference, I am an American Philatelic Society member (195176) and an American Stamp Dealers Association (ASDA) member. Thank you for looking, and I hope this is the perfect stamp to fill that gap in your collection.
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