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Early U.S. Airmail stamps 1918 issue
Scott C1, 6¢, plate number 9155
Scott C1P4, proof plate number 9155 (Image courtesy of the National Postal Museum)
Scott C2, 16¢, plate number F8900
Scott C2 var, local precancel, plate number F8900
Scott C2P4, proof on card, plate number F8900 (Image courtesy of the National Postal Museum)
Scott C3, 24¢, red plate number 8492
Scott C3, 24¢, blue plate number 8493
Scott C3 var, 24¢ "fast plane," red plate number 8492
Scott C3 var, 24¢ "high and fast plane," blue plate number 8493 and red plate number 8492
Scott C3 var, 24¢ "high plane," red plate number 8492
Scott C3P4 var, proof on card, red plate number 8492, blue plate number 8493 (Images courtesy of the National Postal Museum)
Scott C3a, 24¢ frame inverted error, blue plate number 8493 T A plate number single of this stamp does not actually exist. The sole plate block from the unique sheet has been preserved intact. The above image is a mock-up of what a Scott C3a plate single might look like. It was created by a former APNSS Secretary, the late Tom Yano, and was used as an eye-catcher and as part of the APNSS logo for some years.
Scott C3a, 24¢ frame inverted error, blue plate number 8493, photographically cropped from the unique plate block of 4. No red plate number appeared on the original invert sheet.
1923 issue
Scott C4, 8¢, plate number 14824
Scott C4P4, proof on card, plate number F14824 (Image courtesy of the National Postal Museum)
Scott C5, 16¢, plate number 14828 Scott C5P4, proof on card, plate number 14828 (Image courtesy of the National Postal Museum)
Scott C5 var, 16¢ precancel, plate number 14828
Scott C6, 24¢, plate number 14841
Scott C6P4, proof on card, plate number F14828 erroneously appearing in the left position (Image courtesy of the National Postal Museum) This is why they did proofs. The F was erroneously placed in the left margin of the UL pane -- as if this was a vertical definitive. The incorrect position was noted by crossing out the left F and adding the missing F to its correction before the UR top plate number. The engraving errors were corrected before the plate was sent to press.
1926-27 "Map" issue
Scott C7, 10¢, plate number 18246
Scott C7 var, local precancel, plate number 18247
Scott C7P4, proof on card, plate number F18246 (Image courtesy of the National Postal Museum)
Scott C8, 15¢, plate number 18746
Scott C8P4, proof on card, plate number 18745 (Image courtesy of the National Postal Museum)
Scott C9, 20¢, plate number18898
Scott C9 var, 20¢, Plate Number F18892 B. On this plate, the "F" appeared in both the normal Top Right position as well as inverted in the Lower Left position as in this example.
Scott C9 var, 20¢, misperfed due to paper fold, plate number18893
1927 Lindbergh issue
Scott C10, 10¢, plate number 18999
Scott C10 var, local precancel, plate number 18998
Scott C10a, 10¢ from booklet pane, plate number 19427
1928 Beacon issue
Scott C11, 5¢, red plate number 19570, blue plate number 19546
Scott C11P, proof of vignette, plate number F19548 (Image courtesy of the National Postal Museum)
Scott C11 var, local precancel, plate number F19587
Scott C11 var, overall local precancel in purple, plate number 19569
Scott C11 var, "open door" variety, blue plate number F19666
Scott C11 var, blue vignette shifted to left, red plate number 19701
Scott C11 var, blue vignette shifted to right, blue plate number F19688 (Image courtesy of Bill Langs)
Scott C11 var, blue vignette shifted to top, red plate number 19702
Scott C11 var, blue vignette shifted to bottom, red plate number F19551
Winged Globe issues
Scott C12, 5¢ flat plate issue, plate number 19944
Scott C12 var, 5¢, ghost plate number 20189
Scott C16, 5¢ rotary press issue, plate number 20606
Scott C16 var, 5¢ rotary press issue, ghost plate number 20607
Scott C19, 6¢, plate number 21235
Scott C19 var, local precancel, plate number 21598
Scott C19 var, misperfed vertically, plate number 21234
Scott C17, 8¢, plate number 21030
Scott C17 var, local precancel, plate number 21028
Scott C17 var, 8¢, misperfed horizontally, captured plate number 21031
Scott C24, 30¢, plate number F22384
1930 Zeppelin issue
Scott C13, 65¢, plate number 20077
Scott C14, $1.30, plate number 20085
Scott C15, $2.60, plate number 20092 1933 "Baby Zeppelin" issue
Scott C18, 50¢, plate number 21172
Scott C18P, 50¢, proof plate number 21177 (Image courtesy of the National Postal Museum)
1935-37 China Clipper issues
Scott C20, 25¢, plate number 21476
Scott C21, 20¢ green, plate number 21626
Scott C21 var, 20¢ dark green, plate number 21623
Scott C22, 50¢, plate number 21625
Scott C22 var, 50¢, local precancel, plate number 21625
1935 Bi-colored Eagle issue
Scott C23, 6¢ dark blue & carmine, plate numbers F21847 and 21855
Scott C23 var (formerly C23c), 6¢ ultramarine & carmine error, plate number F21948
Scott C23 var, 6¢, local precancel, plate number 21903
Scott C23 var, 6¢, misperfed horizontally, captured plate number 21853
Scott C23 var, 6¢, misperfed vertically, plate number 21835
Scott C23 var, 6¢ dark blue & carmine, misperfed horizontally, plate numbers 21921 and F21835
Scott C23 var, 6¢ dark blue & carmine, carmine shifted to top, plate number F21844 (Image courtesy of Bill Langs)
Scott C23 var, 6¢ dark blue & carmine, misperfed due to paper fold, carmine shifted to bottom, plate number F21845
Scott C23P var, proof of blue frame, plate number F21838, and of carmine vignette, plate number F21840 Images courtesy of the National Postal Museum
Scott C23a, 6¢ dark blue & carmine, imperforate horizontally error, pair with plate number 21835
1941-44 Transport issue
Scott C25, 6¢, plate number 23253
Scott C25 var, misperfed vertically, plate number 23165 (Image courtesy of Stuart Katz)
Scott C25 var, misperfed horizontally (low), plate number 23348 (Image courtesy of Bill Langs)
Scott C25 var, misperfed horizontally (high), plate number 23348 (Image courtesy of eBay / sheetguy2)
Scott C25 var, 6¢, over-inked, plate number 23253
Scott C25a, 6¢, booklet single with partial plate number 22980
Scott C25a, 6¢, misperfed vertically, plate number 22980 (Image courtesy of Doug D'Avino) A plate number example of C25 with faked R.F. overprint and cancellation is illustrated on the AMG-France page.
Scott C26, 8¢, plate number 23128 Scott C26P var, 8¢, proof in wrong color (olive instead of olive green), plate number 23121 (Image courtesy of the National Postal Museum)
Scott C26 var, 8¢ local precancel, plate number 23121
Scott C27, 10¢, plate number 22757
Scott C27 var, 10¢ local precancel, plate number 22757
Scott C28, 15¢, plate number 22765
Scott C29, 20¢, plate number 22761 Scott C29P, 20¢, proof plate number 22761 (Image courtesy of the National Postal Museum)
Scott C30, 30¢, plate number 22774
Scott C31, 50¢, plate number 22778 Most airmail stamps that picture an airplane use a real plane. For the "Transport" issue, the plane is a mock-up of various features from different planes and manufacturers. The tri-tail, for example, is borrowed from the Lockheed Constellation. 1945 DC-4 Skymaster
Scott C32, 5¢, Large Skymaster, plate number 23488
Scott C32 var, 5¢, misperfed horizontally, plate number 23487 (Image courtesy of Bill Langs)
Scott C33, 5¢ Small Skymaster, plate number 23586
Scott C33 var, 5¢ Small Skymaster, phantom plate number 23532
Scott C37, 5¢ Small Skymaster coil, partial plate number 23717
Scott C39, 6¢ Small Skymaster, wet printing, plate number 24042
Scott C39 var, 6¢ overinked, plate number 23985 (Image courtesy of Bill Langs)
Scott C39 var, 6¢ misperfed vertically to left, plate number 23985
Scott C39 var, 6¢ misperfed vertically to right, plate number 23974 (Image courtesy of Stuart Katz)
Scott C39 var, misperfed horizontally, also dry printing, plate number 23976 (Image courtesy of Stuart Katz)
Scott C39 var, 6¢ misperfed vertically and horizontally, plate number 24031
Scott C39b, 6¢ Small Skymaster, dry printing, plate number 25340
Scott C39a, 6¢ Small DC-4 Skymaster, single from wet printed booklet pane, plate number 24264
Scott C41, 6¢ Small DC-4 Skymaster coil, plate number 24170
1947-49 issues
Scott C34, 10¢ Pan American Union Building, wet printing, plate number 23694
Scott C34, misperfed horizontally, plate number 23693 (Image courtesy of eBay / sheetguy2)
Scott C34a, 10¢ dry printing, plate number 25613
Scott C34 var, 10¢ double paper error, plate number 23693
Scott C35, 15¢ NYC skyline, wet printing, plate number 25940
Scott C35 var, misperfed vertically, captured plate number 24585 (Image courtesy of eBay / sheetguy2)
Scott C35 var, misperfed horizontally, plate numbers 24505 and 25492 (24505 image courtesy of eBay / sheetguy2)
Scott C35 var, 15¢ overinked, plate number 24505
Scott C35 var, 15¢ under-inked, plate number 23685 (Image courtesy of Stuart Katz)
Scott C35b, 15¢ dry printing, plate number 25940
Scott C36, 25¢ Brooklyn Bridge, wet printing, plate number 23668
Scott C36a, 25¢ dry printing, plate number 25615
Scott C38, 5¢ New York City, plate number 23846
Scott C40, 5¢ Alexandria, Virginia, plate number 24088
Scott C40, misperfed vertically, plate number 24088 (Image courtesy of eBay / sheetguy2)
Scott C40 var, under-inked, plate number 24085
Scott C40 var, overinked, plate number 24083
1949 U.P.U. issue
Scott C42, 10¢, plate number 24155
Scott C43, 15¢, plate number 24149
Scott C44, 25¢, plate number 24153
1950-1961 issues
Scott C45, 6¢ Wright Brothers, plate number 24158
Scott C46, 80¢, plate number 24592
Scott C46, 80¢, local precancel, plate number 24593 It seems likely that the local precancel was added long after contemporary usage to create a philatelic curiosity. There are two unincorporated areas named Ninole on the island of Hawaii, but no population figures are available today for either one, much less in 1950. Hawaii was not yet a state when this stamp was issued, and the usual abbreviation for it was T.H. (Territory of Hawaii). The use of the HI abbreviation without a period was not standardized until the advent of ZIP codes, much later. The same eBay seller offered identical precancels of the $5 postage due stamp and recent self-adhesives, among others, a period spanning more than sixty years. Scott C46 var, 80¢, local precancel, plate number 24593 It seems likely that the local precancel was added long after contemporary usage to create a philatelic curiosity. It is doubtful that the Drummond, Montana post office, serving a population of ~500 at the time, had a major need for 80¢ airmail stamps at all, much less precancels. A similar 80¢ airmail precancel supposedly from the unincorporated area of Tuscarora, Maryland is not illustrated here. Tuscorora does not have a ZIP code even today, and has no census records, yet supposedly produced precancels of this airmail stamp to use on high volumes of mail. It was offered on eBay with similar suspect precancels covering a wide period -- including a Tuscarora-"precanceled" Certified Mail stamp -- these were never precanceled, because the mailer had to fill out additional forms and pay the proper fee, in person, at the post office.
Scott C47, 6¢, 50th Anniversary of Flight, plate number 24782
Scott C48, 4¢ Eagle, plate number 25034 This is the lowest denomination U.S. airmail stamp ever issued. It met the airmail postcard rate.
Scott C48 var, 4¢ Eagle, local precancel, plate number 25035
Scott C49, 6¢, 50th Anniversary of Air Force, plate number 25762
Scott C49 var, 6¢, misperfed due to paper fold, plate number 25762
Scott C50, 5¢ Eagle, plate number 26053
Scott C50 var, 5¢ Eagle, local precancel, plate number 26052
Scott C50 var, 5¢ Eagle, probably fake local precancel, plate number 26053 Clues: The multi-colored 8¢ Champions of Liberty stamps issued from 1957 to 1961 were intended to pay an airmail rate. However, there was no specific indication that they were "airmail" stamps, so they were assigned catalog numbers along with regular and commemorative issues. Plate number examples appear on the Champtions of Liberty web page.
Scott C51, 7¢ sheet, plate number 26178
Scott C51 var, probably fake local precancel, plate number 26044 Clues:
Scott C51 var, misperfed horizontally, plate number 26385 (Image courtesy of Stuart Katz)
Scott C51a, 7¢ single from booklet, plate number 26043 (Image courtesy of Doug D'Avino)
Scott C52, 7¢ coil, plate number 26054
Scott C53, 7¢ Alaska statehood, plate number 26225
Scott C53 var, misperfed horizontally, plate number 26227
Scott C54, 7¢ Balloon Jupiter, plate number 26397
Scott C54 var, misperfed vertically, plate number 26391
Scott C55, 7¢ Hawaii statehood, plate number 26432
Scott C56, 10¢ Pan American Games, plate number 26413
Scott C56 var, misperfed horizontally, plate number 26413
Scott C56 var, misperfed both horizontally and vertically, plate number 26414
Scott C57, 10¢ Liberty Bell, plate number 26635
Scott C57P var, proof printed entirely in black, plate number 26637 which never went to press (Image courtesy of the National Postal Museum)
Scott C57 var, misperfed horizontally, plate number 26630 (Image courtesy of Stuart Katz)
Scott C58, 15¢ Statue of Liberty Type I with frame, plate number 26486
Scott C58 var, misperfed vertically, plate number 26482 (Image courtesy of Bill Langs)
Scott C59, 25¢ Lincoln, plate number 26570
Scott C59a, 25¢ Lincoln, tagged, plate number 31604
Scott C60, 7¢ Jet (sheet), carmine, plate number 26444
Scott C60a, 7¢ Jet (booklet pane of 6), carmine, plate number 26459 Scott C61, 7¢ Jet coil: no image available
Scott C62, 13¢ Liberty Bell, plate number 26970
Scott C62a, 13¢ Liberty Bell, tagged, plate number 26965
Scott C63, 15¢ Statue of Liberty Type II without frame, plate number 28645
Scott C63 var, double perfed vertically, plate number 26878 (Image courtesy of Stuart Katz)
Scott C63 var, misperfed horizontally, captured plate numbers 28033 and 28340 (Images courtesy of eBay / sheetguy2)
Scott C63 var, offset with plate number 28033 on reverse
Scott C63b, imperf vertically error, plate number 28340 (Image courtesy of The Philatelic Foundation)
1962-1964 issues
Scott C64, 8¢ Jet over Capitol, untagged, plate number 27681
Scott C64 var, 8¢ Jet over Capitol, untagged local precancel, plate number 28042
Scott C64 var, misperfed vertically, plate number 28423 (Image courtesy of Stuart Katz)
Scott C64 var, misperfed due to foldover, plate number 27366 (Image courtesy of Kelleher Auctions)
Scott C64 var, 8¢, from a complete pane printed without any plate number ("00000") Must be collected as a strip of 10 or 20 or full pane of 100 to prove that the plate number does not appear in another corner. Photographically cropped from a full pane. Image courtesy of The Philatelic Foundation.
Scott C64b, 8¢ single from untagged booklet pane, plate number 24375
Scott C64b var, tab from untagged booklet pane showing plate number 28115
Scott C64bP, booklet pane proof, plate number 27516 with reverse R (Image courtesy of the National Postal Museum)
Scott C64a, 8¢ Jet over Capitol, tagged. plate number 27366 The taggant is evident in the selvage. Scott C64c, 8¢ single from tagged booklet pane, plate number 24375
Scott C64c var, tab from tagged booklet pane showing plate number 28576 Scott C65, 8¢ Jet over Capitol untagged coil: no image available Scott C65a, 8¢ Jet over Capitol tagged coil: no image available
1963-1969 issues Scott C66, 8¢ Montgomery Blair, plate number 27466
Scott C67, 6¢ Eagle, untagged, plate number 27391
Scott C67 var, local precancel, plate number 27390
Scott C67a, 6¢ Eagle, tagged, plate number 27390 (Image courtesy of The Philatelic Foundation)
Scott C68, 8¢ Amelia Earhart, plate number 27548 Amelia Earhart was lost at sea during an around-the-world flight in 1937. At the time this stamp was issued in 1966, she had still not been declared legally dead. Postal regulations prohibit "portraying" a living person on a stamp, thus she is pictured at a distance, in front of her favorite Lockheed Electra, instead of the usual portrait as for most people who are honored with a stamp. Thomas Edison was still living when a stamp in three formats was issued in 1929 to honor the 50th anniversary of his invention of the electric light bulb. These stamps show how this problem was circumvented in an earlier time. Until very recently, postal regulations required that the honoree be deceased for five years before they can be considered for a stamp, with the exception of presidents. Still, there are many occasions when an event is portrayed (such as landing on the moon) where it is obvious who the person must be, even if they are still alive, as well as numerous instances of photographs, models and other images that include living people being used as the basis for stamps. These occurrences are avidly tracked in the philatelic press.
Scott C69, 8¢ Robert H. Goddard, plate number 27860
Scott C70, 8¢ Alaska Purchase, plate number 29022 Scott C71, 20¢ Audubon, plate number 29096
Scott C71 var, 20¢ Audubon, plate number 29086 with rest of plate number printed on the back of the paper fold
Scott C71a, tagging omitted error, plate number 29096 (Image courtesy of Bob Langs) Scott C72, 10¢ Field of 50 stars, plate number 31895
Scott C72 var, 10¢ Field of 50 stars precancel, plate number 29494
Scott C72c, Mail Early single from booklet pane of 5, plate number 29564 (Image courtesy of Doug D'Avino) No plate number examples from the booklet pane of 8, Scott C72b, are known.
Scott C73, 10¢ Field of 50 Stars coil, plate number 29501
Scott C74, 10¢ Airmail Service, plate number 29673
Scott C75, 20¢ USA and Jet, plate number 30510
Scott C75 var, 20¢ USA and Jet, plate number 30602, all three colors offset on back
Scott C76, 10¢ First Man on the Moon, plate number 31392
Scott C76 var, red color shifted to right, yellow color shifted to left, plate number 31387
Scott C76 var, misperfed vertically, plate number 31392 (Image courtesy of eBay / sheetguy2)
Scott C76a, error - red missing from flag patch on astronaut's suit, plate number 31401
Scott C76b, tagging omitted error (unique), plate number 31374 (Image courtesy of William L. Langs)
Proof examples with reverse R The reverse R appears on a number of single color rotary press proof sheets. It is known inverted, as well as sideways with the straight side down (rotated 90º).
Scott C64bP, 8¢ booklet pane proof (Image courtesy of the National Postal Museum)
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This page last updated April 16, 2026.
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