RF1
02 C. (1894 - Engraved-Unwatermarked-Rouletted 5 1/2) - Lake
An interesting unlisted minor variety is found on this stamp. On some there are periods after "Aug."; on others there are no periods. Total issue was 13,400,000
02 C. (1894 - Engraved-Unwatermarked-Rouletted 5 1/2) - Lake
An interesting unlisted minor variety is found on this stamp. On some there are periods after "Aug."; on others there are no periods. Total issue was 13,400,000
These were placed on decks that were "On Hand” by dealers when the tax was initiated.
No Period After The "Aug"
RF2
02 C. (1894 - Engraved-Unwatermarked-Rouletted 5 1/2)- Ultramarine, Blue
a) 2c Blue Stamp
b) Imperf Pair
c) Imperf Horizontal ($160)
d) Rouletted 12 1/2 ($150)
e) Imperf. horizontally, rouletted 12 1/2 vertically ($95)
These were placed on the decks at the factory by the manufacturer.
(Version RF2a shown)
RF3
02 C. (1896-99 - Wmk. USIR - Rouletted 5 1/2 & 7) - Blue, Ultramarine
It was at first rouletted 5 1/2 and later 7.
a) 2c ultramarine 1899
b) Imperf. pair
Uncancelled stamp
RF4
02 C. (1902 - Wmk. USIR - Perf. 12) - Deep Blue $50
The stamps may have been issued imperf by the Bureau and then privately perforated. This seems improbable due to the number of manufacturers that used it over a short period of time.
No pairs, strips or blocks of this stamp are known.
In most cases, the playing card revenue stamps were precanceled with the name of the manufacturer. When combined with other official overprints and surcharges, the proper identification of certain varieties can be challenging.
U.S.P.C. cancellation reading down
RF4 Facsimile
1902 2c deep blue
RF4 facsimile imprinted on a Bicycle Rider Back Playing Cards advertising piece, Draw Poker odds on the back. U.S. Playing Card Co. Cincinnati, Ohio. ($350)
RF5
07 C. on 02 C. (1917 - "ACT OF 1917"- Watermark 191R - Rouletted 7) - Ultramarine $700
This stamp was used on imported packs of cards at the Internal Revenue Office in New York City.
a) Inverted Surcharge ($900)
RF5 RF5 VARIATION RF5 VARIATION
JAF CO Diagonal ACT 1917 Vertical
JAF CO Diagonal ACT 1917 Vertical
RF5 Telbax Co.
Act of 1917
Purple surcharge
T. C. 1918 black typewritten cancel
$750
RF5 Telbax Co.
Act of 1917
Purple surcharge
T. C. 1918 black typewritten cancel
$750
RF6
07 C. on 02 C. (1917 - "17") $65+
Used by the New York Consolidated Card Company. At first the company canceled the stamps with an old canceling plate, in red "CANCELED 1915 N. Y. C. C. Co." in three lines. This cancellation is found reading both up and down-therefore, two varieties. Later a new canceling plate was made, like the above except the date "1917".
a) The same except the black "17" is inverted. On this stamp we have the same four cancellations, giving us eight interesting varieties.
RF7
07 C. on 02 C. (1917 - "7") $500
Used by the Standard Playing Card Company.
The figure "7" is horizontal on the stamp, the letters are vertical. The "7" is normal on RF7 and inverted on RF7a.
a) Inverted surcharge ($750)
RF7 7 Cent on 2 Cent
Surcharge
Reading Down
RF8
07 C. on 02 C. (1917 - "7 CTS.") $1,350
Used by the Russell Playing Card Co. This is one of the rarest stamps, being in use only about three months until the company went to a more distinct surcharge, RF10. Both stamps valued over $2,000.
a) Double surcharge ($2,000)
b) Reading down ($2,000)
RF8b Red surcharge reading down, usual light crease, used, Graded Fine $1,750
RF9
07 C. on 02 C. (1917 - "7 CENTS")
Used by the Andrew Dougherty Co. and the Standard Playing Card Co., which would eventually become divisions of the U.S. Playing Card Co.
Each division of the combine had its own distinct combination surcharge and cancellation. "U. S." was in black, "10-4-1917 / 7 CENTS / U. S. P. C. Co."
Standard was the same except in violet and the last line was "S. P. C. Co."
Dougherty was the same except in red and the last line "A. D."
In all cases the date is the same. All three surcharges are found reading both up and down.
a) Double surcharge in violet ($100)
b) Numeral omitted in black ($100)
c) Surcharge reading down
d) Like "c" but numeral omitted ($80)
e) Like "c" but double surcharge in violet ($275)
f) Double surcharge, one down in red ($300)
g) Surcharge and initials in violet ($375)
h) Surcharge and "AD" in red and "USPC Co." in black ($1,100)
i) Surcharge and "AD" in red reading up, "USPC Co." in black reading down ($800)
j) Like "g" but reading down
k) Double surcharge in black ($1,000)
l) Double surcharge in red ($400)
m) Double surcharge and "AD" reading down in red
n) Double surcharge and "USPC Co" reading down in black ($2,500)
o) Violet surcharge reading down
RF9c 7 Cent on 2 Cent Reading Down
RF10
07 C. on 02 C. (1917 - "7 C") $85
Used by the Russell Playing Card Co.
a) Inverted surcharge
b) Double surcharge ($550)
c) Double surcharge inverted ($1,000)
d) Triple surcharge
RF10c Double Inverted Surcharge