There is one single solo on first day cover—overprint: red, June 21 in error (Figure 70). This is the "three strikes" cover, because there is an error in the cachet essay, an error on the stamp, and an error on the overprint--the only Neopost first day cover with this combination. There is another combination first day cover which shows the interesting blot variety near the "2" of the cancel (Figure 71).

201. $6000. First Design 7.40 set. The first sheet showing overprints on 7 stamps (the missing stamps are on FDC). Includes the "three strikes" stamp. Superb.

Variety h1 (Figure 72) corrects the above errors, but omits the "M." There is one $7.40 set. One top right stamp shows white line in stars variety.

204. $2500. Variety h2 $11.10 set, all but four stamps missing (on FDC), but all four stamps overprinted. Superb.

There is a suite of four first day covers, which were designed to embody the maximum number of rarity features available on the day they were created. Fortunately, they occurred on the day the Audubon stamp was issued in Santa Clara, California, near the Hayward Neopost headquarters, so it was possible to incorporate official first day covers into the plan for rare usages during the 34-cent rate; it proved to be a spectacular success, one of interest as much to bird topicalists (one of the most popular collecting specialties) as to CVP specialists. The first cover shows a variety h2 single, red overprint double, in "Neopost-combination" (stamps from different Neopost kiosks or with other Neopost formats) with a variety n and a variety x single (Figure 74). This cover is the masterpiece of the Neopost webenabled stamps, primarily because it is not only the first webenabled stamp of the 37-cent rate in combination with regular U.S. postage stamps, but also because it is the first ten-stamp sheet stamp in combination with regular U.S. stamps. It is also the only first day cover in combination with regular U.S. stamps, the only one in combination with a Neopost stamp from a different kiosk, and the only one in combination with two Neopost stamps from a different kiosk or in a different format. The second cover is a double first day, showing a first day (official first day handstamp cancel) of an Audubon plate block in combination with a variety n single, plus a variety h2 single in first day combination with a variety x single; of course, there are canceled stamps from June 27 and June 30, but the stamp on the left is the only Neopost stamp bearing this combination of cancels. The third cover is an Audubon plate block of three in first day combination with variety n and variety x singles (the stamps for this suite come from one sheet each of these two varieties, backing affixed with archival adhesive) and the blank label discussed earlier-—the only example of a Neopost blank label on cover during the 34-cent rate. It is doubly rare in that it is the only blue2 on cover. (The overprinted blank is the only overprint on blue2.) It is also the only example of the dull gloss over tagging on cover during the 34-cent rate--which may turn out to be its chief claim to distinction, since examples of blue2 on cover will likely come to light. The fourth cover bears the first overprint United States CVP stamp ever used on cover. It shows an Audubon plate pair in first day combination with variety n and variety x singles; the variety n single shows June 30 red overprint, the only test overprint on cover during the 34-cent rate and, with variety t, the first U.S. CVP ever overprinted. This cover also shows the only Neopost cover in combination with two different regular stamps during the 34-cent rate. The second, third and fourth covers are the only Neopost-regular stamp combination covers of the 34-cent rate, as well as the last usages of the four-stamp sheet stamps during the 34-cent rate. The first and fourth covers are the first examples of the use of four-stamp sheet stamps during the 37-cent rate era. These four covers are the only combination covers showing both regular and right i shift microprint. Note that there are no combination usages of four-stamp sheet stamps and ten-stamp sheet stamps during the 34-cent rate era--for a particular reason. A great philatelic suite, this group of covers is a prime example of a Neopost items in danger of going their separate ways. (It should be noted here that these are not the only covers showing usages from two kiosks during the 34-cent rate: there is a domestic certified mail cover and a cover to Germany showing such a combination [Hayward plus Baltimore and in different shades] along with USPS meter strip--these are philatelic but also very important covers among the few Neopost covers during the 34-cent rate; the Baltimore stamps are light blue.)

There are another 23 variety h2singles solo on first day cover. They show overprints. Black: four, one double, one over violet June 21 in error (violet part omitted); red: one, not touching flag, on a white line in stars variety—one of two first day covers showing this white line variety; green: one, inverted, part omitted. The June 30/June 21 "correction" cover is the second most important FDC, after the "three strikes" cover. There is one sheet of the $11.10 set, retaining one single, with the backing affixed, in combination with a variety ll single. There are only four variety h2 mint stamps and all show overprints. Black: one; red: one, June 21 in error; green: two. Variety h2a corrects the white line, but is fast clock. There is one $7.40 set.

212. $600. Variety h2a 7.40 set. Superb.

Prior to July 2004, it was believed that the 60-cent and 70-cent stamps were available beginning June 21, but none were printed until June 30, which became their first day. The 60-cent stamp, however, turns out to have been first issued on June 25 (no first day covers). This is a new variety, variety fd-h3. Variety h3, shows a June 30 set, the only one produced on that date (Figure 75). This shows overprints, which are errors, the only overprint errors which are errors as to date. Black: one, doubled; red: one, partly omitted; violet: one, not touching flag; green: one. The top right stamp (not overprinted) shows white line in stars variety. There is one single solo on first day cover, the only first day cover error as to date.

213. $6000. Variety h3 6.00 set. Two bottom stamps missing (on error FDC), four stamps overprinted.

In variety h3a, the white line has been corrected but the stamps are fast clock with M Missing; there is one $6.00 set. There is one first-day $6.00 set of variety h3A, the 60-cent foreign mail stamp.

215. $3500. Variety h3A 6.00 set. Superb.

There is one first day stamp of the new Priority rate, variety h4 (Figure 76). The sheet shows the only overprint on blank label; the overprinted blank--the only "mint" example--is the third most important overprinted stamp. There are no first day covers. Another unique stamp, and the sixth most important single Neopost stamp; it is the first regular denominated $3.85 stamp ever issued in the United States (the United States issued its own $3.85 stamp on July 30) and the first of these "forerunner" stamps issued by Neopost before they were issued by the United States. It is extremely rare, if not otherwise unheard of, to be able to trace a denominated stamp to its first issued example. The closest thing in U.S. philately appears to be the "first sheets" of Scott 300/313, so inscribed by the Director of the B.E.P., which turned up in the 2002 auction of the Brody collection--and even these staps must be considered, by virtue of the printing method, to be the simultaneous first hundred of each denomination.

216. $7000. Variety h4 3.85 set. This is the first regular denominated 3.85 stamp ever issued. Void stamp beneath overprinted. Superb. Forerunner.

Variety h4a is fast clock with M missing; there is one $3.85 "set."Varieties h4-h4a and b8-b8a are the only regular denominated $3.85 United States stamps issued before the U.S. issued its own $3.85 stamp on July 30.

217. $3000. Variety h4a 3.85 set. Forerunner. Superb.

continue...

or

CONTENTS