July 3, 2002, was the first day of the ten-stamp sheets at the Baltimore kiosk. Both the first day stamps and the first day covers are listed here. For the first day covers, each sheet was affixed to a separate cover with archival adhesive; unlike the Hayward first days, there are no solo usages on Baltimore first day covers. The first day cover numbers refer to first day cover sets, for example, a first day cover set for the 20-stamp 37-cent set comprises two envelopes, which are listed as 1 (set). Note that there are some varieties on these Baltimore cachets (which are not official Neopost cachets--the only official Neopost cachets are the ones from Hayward). A few, used for the higher values, show "First Day Postage" in the cachet; the rest show "First Day Thirty-Seven Cent Stamps." Among the latter, a very few show dark coloring. Variety b1--23-cents (postcard): 20-3, FDC-1; 30-2, FDC-1; 40-2, FDC-1; 50-2, FDC-1. There are two sequential complete transactions ($4.60, $6.90, $9.20 and $11.50), both of which show seven examples of the white line in flag stamp (all the Baltimore first day sheets show the white line on alternating sheets; beneath the white line variety is the line by star variety and in the ninth stamp, the line in stripes variety--these varieties occur only on July 3 stamps and the line in stripes variety occurs only on Baltimore July 3 stamps). A $6.90-$11.50 sequence (5370-72) are the sixth through eight extant mint ten-stamp sheet sets printed in an amount larger than the smallest set available for a denomination, and with their $4.60 set (5369) they form the first extant mint ten-stamp sheet sequential complete transactions--highly important in displaying the history of Neopost stamps. Another sequence (5426-5429) is the fourth extant mint sequential complete transactions. One $4.60 set shows overprints. Two overprints were prepared (in addition to the "POSTCARD STAMP" overprint): "FIRST DAY" (F) and "BALT.FD" (B). Orange: three F (note that by virtue of their different serpentine die cuts, one of these stamps is Type I, the others, Type II); bronze: three F, one doubled, one B; brown: four, one PS bronze, one PS orange, one B orange, inverted (this B inverted is the "error of overprint"--it should be PS--and this is the fourth most important overprinted stamp); grey: five, one inverted, one B (note that by virtue of their different serpentine die cuts, one of these F stamps is Type I, the others Type II). Figure 80. This set shows the only mint overprint Baltimore stamps, including the unique examples of overprints on the white line in flag, line by star and line in stripes varieties. Some later varieties have unique first day overprints on cover only.

126. $6000. Variety b1 SCT (14 sheets). Superb. With Cerizet's note card indicating that this is the earliest known ten-stamp sheet SCT.

Variety b2--23-cents (second ounce): 10-2, FDC-1; 20-1, FDC-1. A 5422-5423 sequence is the fifth extant mint sequential complete transactions.

129. $1500. Variety b2 2.30 set. Superb.

130a. $1500. Variety b2(c?) 2.30 set--wide sheet. Superb.

Variety b3--37-cents: 20-3, FDC-12; 30-3, FDC-2; 40-3, FDC-2; 50-3, FDC-2. An $18.50 set (5361) is the fifth extant mint ten-stamp sheet set printed above the smallest set available for a denomination. Two 20 first day cover sets are one sheet on cover and one sheet off cover (mint). One mint sheet shows surface scuffing on two stamps as a result of the production process. (Cook Islands Scott 26 provides an analagous example of scuffing forming an integral part of the stamp.) Another suite of ten comprises five sequential $7.40 sets and shows overprints--one B grey, two (orange and brown), one B bronze and one F bronze.

131. $1750. Variety b3 7.40 set. With Cerizet card stating that these are theearliest extant mint stamps produced at Baltimore.

Variety b4--50-cents: 10-2, FDC-1.

139. $1500. Variety b4 5.00 set. Superb.

140. $1500. Variety b4 5.00 set. Superb.

140a. $1500. Variety b4b(?) 5.00 set--wide sheet. Superb.

Variety b5--60-cents (two ounces): 10-1, FDC-2; 20-4, FDC-1. A 5373-5374 sequence is the second extant mint sequential complete transactions--an extremely great rarity.

141. $2500. Variety b5 12.00 set. Superb.

Variety b5A--60-cents (foreign): 1, FDC-1.

145. $2500. Variety b5A SCT (three sheets). Superb.

145a. $1500. Variety b5(?) or b5A(?) 6.00 set. Superb.

145b. $1500. Variety b5(?) or b5A(?) 6.00 set. Superb.

Variety b6--70-cents: 10-2, FDC-1.

146. $2500. Variety b6 7.00 set. Superb.

147a. $2500. Variety b6b(?) 7.00 set--wide sheet. Superb.

148. $4000. Variety b7 8.00 set. With Cerizet's note card indicating that this is the first 80-cent sheet ever produced, with a lower transaction number and earlier time than the sheet used on the unique first day cover (first day cover transaction number is 5394). Superb.

Variety b8--$3.85: 1-3, FDC-4, one showing overprint B in bronze inverted on void label, another F in grey, on void label; 2-2, FDC-1; 5-2, FDC-1; 10-3, FDC-1. A sequence of two $38.50 sets (5354-5355) are the third and fourth extant mint ten-stamp sheet sets produced in a larger amount than the smallest amount available for the denomination. A $19.25 set (5360) is the fifth, and a $7.70 set (5376) is the ninth. This variety, along with variety b8a and varieties h4-h4a, are the only regular denominated United States $3.85 stamps issued before the issuance by the United States of its own $3.85 stamp on July 30.

150. $2500. Variety b8 3.85 set. Superb. Forerunner.

Variety b9 (Figure 81)--$13.65: 1-2, FDC-4, one F in bronze on void label; 2-2 (by virtue of their serpentine die cuts, the right stamps on these sheets are Type II, thus making two Type I and two Type II first day Express Mail stamps), FDC-1; 5-2, FDC-1; 10-2, FDC-1. This variety includes a sequential complete transactions (5415-5418) which is the third extant mint ten-stamp sheet sequential complete transactions. Note, of course, that the Baltimore machine imprints encryption on void labels of these high values, whereas the Hayward machine does not. This variety, along with variety b9a and varieties h7-h7b, are the only regular denominated $13.65 stamps issued in the United States before the issuance by the U.S. of its own $13.65 stamp on July 30.

159. $2500. Variety b9 13.65 set. Superb. Forerunner.

165. $600. Variety b1a 4.60 set. Superb.

Variety b1b shows us, for the first time, that the dropped M afflicts this denomination when the afternoon hour has two digits; there are 2 $4.60 sets.

168. $500. Variety b1b 4.60 set. Superb.

The white line has been corrected in variety b2a, of which there is one $2.30 set. The other a varieties also show this correction.

169. $350. Variety b2a 2.30 set. Superb.

However variety b2b shows M missing. There are four $2.30 sets.

170. $350. Variety b2b 2.30 set. Superb.

Variety b3a exists in a sequence of two $18.50 sets and three $7.40 sets, from one of which some stamps are missing.

172. $2500. Variety b3a sequence of two 18.50 sets. Superb.

Variety b3b shows M missing. There are four $7.40 sets.

175. $600. Variety b3b 7.40 set. Superb.

There are four $5.00 set of variety b4a.

177. $600. Variety b4a 5.00 set. Superb.

There is one sequence of two $12.00 sets, and one $6.00 set, of variety b5a. A 5543-54 sequence is the sixth extant mint sequential complete tranactions, and the first after July 3.

180. $600. Variety b5a 6.00 set. Superb.

Variety b5b shows M missing. There are four $6.00 sets.

182. $600. Variety b5b 6.00 set. Superb.

There is one set of variety B5Aa and two sets of variety b5Ab.

184. $600. Variety B5Aa 6.00 set. Superb.

Variety b6a and variety b7a both exist in one one-sheet sets of ten.

187. $600. Variety b6a 7.00 set. Superb.

Varieties b6b and b7b exist in six one-sheet sets of ten, and show M missing.

189. $600. Variety b6b 7.00 set. Superb.

Variety b8a exists in two $3.85 "sets."

193. $1200. Variety b8a 3.85 set. Forerunner. Superb.

Variety b8b exists in four $3.85 "sets" and shows the M missing.

195. $1200. Variety b8b 3.85 set. Forerunner. Superb.

One might have supposed that the "ERROR" would have been corrected on the Express Mail stamp shortly after its first day. But July 11 rolled around--varietyb9a--without that happening. There is a sequence of three $13.65 "sets" (the stamp on the first is missing) and another $13.65 "set."

197. $1200. Variety b9a 13.65 set. Forerunner. Superb.

There is a variety b9a philatelic usage usage on cover dated July 15 (cancel barely missed stamp); this is the only example of a regular denominated $13.65 stamp on cover, apart from the first day covers, before the United States issued its own $13.65 stamp on July 30--one of the greatest of the Neopost covers. The correction was made on variety b9b which, however, shows M missing. There are four $13.65 "sets."

199. $1200. Variety b9b 13.65 set. Forerunner. Superb.

Check the website at http://cvpcollector.tripod.com for a list of the ten-stamp sheets produced by this collector. Of the--now--excessively rare ten-stamp sheets, by far the largest number were produced at Baltimore by the author of that website.

4. CATALOGUING ISSUES

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CONTENTS