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39. Markings from perforating equipment on stamps: Stripper marks, from built-up ink on the mechanism that pulls the paper through the pins, are sometimes seen, especially on regular issues of the last 40 years. They have little worth beyond their curiosity value. An item with moderate value, but rarely seen, is the "smallpox" Gilbert Stuart "George 'Washington" coil of 1932. It came about because the Bureau of Engraving and Printing had to add linseed oil to a batch of unsatisfactory ink to make it usable. That lengthened drying time just enough to let rollers feeding the web of printed stamps through the perforator to pick up wet ink and deposit it later on trailing stamps. They are not easily detected and are hard to find. Value is $20 or so for a used copy.
Type 39: Left: Scott 1280. Right: Scott 1281. Both blocks show stripper marks across the top of the upper pair of 2¢ stamps, and in the right margin of the 3¢ stamps.
Type 39: The Gilbert Stuart "George Washington" "smallpox" coil (Scott 721).
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