The jennys frame was made of spruce and covered with a fabric that was doped with a waterproofing material. How the inverted jenny, a 24cent stamp, came to be worth a fortune mark the centennial of an epic mistake at the national postal museum where several of these worldfamous stamps are on view. Stamp of the century inverted jenny aviation history. Ken, a retired analytical chemist and sweetly obsessed stamp collector, was delighted to submit to countless interviews. One mistake and 100 years of history south whidbey record. Usa inverted jenny 1918 24 cents blue and carmine the british. Miller, one of the early inverted jenny buyers, obtained a single, position 18, from the sheet of one hundred. The jenniesmilitary biplaneswere modified for government airmail service with extra fuel tanks, a different engine, and a. Only one pane of 100 of the invert stamps was ever found, making this error one of the most prized in all philately. The inverted jenny prices quickly soared, and miller eagerly sought other stamps before their values skyrocketed as well. Issued to commemorate the start of the first regular airmail service in the united states, the original jenny stamp was designed to show a curtiss jn4h, or jenny.
Help us present groundbreaking exhibitions and develop educational programs about our nations history for more than 200,000 schoolchildren annually. This 1918 stamp, called the inverted jenny, is the most popular misprint in u. Webbs jenny came into view at belmont airfield at 2. Well soon be announcing details of the publishing plan. How the inverted jenny, a 24cent stamp, came to be worth a. Inverted jenny biplane stamp back in the news lifestyle. May 01, 2018 a centuryold mistake is leading to newfound fame for two whidbey island authors. Order stamps, shipping supplies, and unique items only available from the united states postal service. At approximately 43 feet, the upper wing of the biplane was wider than the lower, and the length from propeller to tail was approximately 27 feet. The inverted jenny popularly known as the upsidedown airplane stamp is.
New stamp of the century book explores the inverted jenny. The inverted jenny is a 24 cent united states postage stamp first issued on may 10, 1918, in which the image of the curtiss jn4 airplane in the center of the design is printed upsidedown. Robey on 14 may 1918, the first day the stamps went on sale in all three principal airmail route cities. This stamp has the special honor of being one of the most wellknown rare stamps in the world. New stamp of the century book explores the inverted.
To a layman, the inverted jenny is just a 24cent stamp, red with a blue picture of an oldfashioned biplane but oops. No book without ken stamp of the century inverted jenny. Its not a new book but its a great tool for anyone interested in philatelic history. How the inverted jenny, a 24cent stamp, came to be worth. If you want to get to know me on a personal level, check my true life book and see what challenges i. In fact, the sheet that passed through that postal window would become the most famous sheet of mistakes in collecting history the inverted jenny. For the past year, weve been working under an agreement with the smithsonian national postal museum and the american philatelic society to publish stamp of the century in time to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the inverted jenny and and the advent of airmail in may, 2018.
Donate today collections luce center inverted jenny stamp. The covers for the box and the book are shown in figure 1. This subject is hot now with the reissue of the jenny by the usps. Stamp of the century inverted jenny aviation history stamps. We also tell the story of the development of commercial aviation that started with the post office departments airmail service. Nov 09, 2015 waterville bookstore owner finds rare upright jenny stamps. On the 23rd of september 20, usps issued a stampsheet with the reprint of the famous 1918 inverted jenny stamp.
Millers inverted jenny was stolen in 1977 and recovered in the early 1980s. He immediately contacted washington stamp dealer hamilton f. It was swiped from a display case at a convention in 1955. The unique united states inverted jenny 1918 postage stamp in may 1918, the u. Webb flew north on 16 may must be 38278, the plane located at bustleton at the end of the first day of flights. The inverted jenny popularly known as the upsidedown airplane stamp is the united states most famous postage stamp. The inverted jenny is a 24 cent united states postage stamp first issued on may 10, 1918. The story about giving away a c3a inverted jenny belongs on this page, because it is the single most expensive stamp ever given away, and is a major philatelic event, even more so than the plate block swap. It featured a curtiss jn4 or jenny, the same plane set to deliver the mail the following day, and was printed in carmine rose and. Robey seeks a buyer for the inverted jenny sheet robeys actions in the hours following his purchase of the inverted jenny sheet suggest he never intended to keep the stamps. Inverted jenny offered at unreserved public auction on behalf of a virginia collector. It flies in the same direction as the c3a, inverted jenny, but it is not inverted.
Twentynine year old william thomas robey was a stamp collector who went to his local post office in washington, d. May 12, 2016 history of the 24c inverted jenny postage stamp usa c3a duration. May 15, 2018 how the inverted jenny, a 24cent stamp, came to be worth a fortune mark the centennial of an epic mistake at the national postal museum where several of these worldfamous stamps are on view. Newton the famed 1918 inverted jenny biplane stamp, viewed as one of the most unique and valuable stamps in the world, has once again made headlines. The original sheet of one hundred inverted jenny errors was purchased by william t. Issued on may 10, 1918, the red and blue stamp accidentally shows a curtiss jn4 jenny biplane the model used by the usps to deliver mail at the time. The stamp of the century, a new book by kellen diamanti and deborah. How an upsidedown biplane on a 24cent stamp, at the smithsonians national postal museum, seemed to jinx early attempts at carrying the mail by air. How the 24cent inverted jenny stamp became worth a. Very nice reading, bout a gentleman to walks into a local p. Waterville bookstore owner finds rare upright jenny stamps. The jenny invert became the worlds most famous stamp, and the 100 examples were eagerly sought after by prominent collectors. Apr 12, 2018 the fifthgrade mind was riveted, and i started reading about the stamp, stumbling on george amicks book about the inverted jenny right away. Stamp of the century tells one hundred years of american history through the eyes of people who have bought, sold, stolen, and recovered the inverted jenny.
The stamp was made in two colors so it had to be printed twice. The inverted jenny the stamp was an impressive sight. The inverted jenny stamp shows two colors printed on white paper. May 16, 2018 an aviation flop led to stampcollecting history and made the inverted jenny famous.
History of the 24c inverted jenny postage stamp usa c3a. Desired by collectors from around the world, the little red, white and blue stamp has been making news for 100 years now. The twoway in 1955, a block of four rare postage stamps was stolen from a display case at a convention. New stamp of the century book explores the inverted jenny stamp, owners, airmail may 15, 2018, 2 pm a book on the inverted jenny, stamp of the century by kellen diamanti and deborah fisher, was recently published by the american philatelic society.
We love this story so much were writing a book about it. Rare inverted jenny stamp turns up 60 years after theft. From the discovery of the sheet of 100 at a washington, d. An aviation flop led to stampcollecting history and made the inverted jenny famous. The fifthgrade mind was riveted, and i started reading about the stamp, stumbling on george amicks book about the inverted jenny right away. Sep 06, 2018 an inverted jenny stamp, with a biplane upside down, is considered one of the most valuable stamps in the world. Now, six decades later, a rare misprinted stamp known as an inverted jenny has been returned to its owner. Collection of stuart weitzman, on loan to the newyork historical society. Aug 11, 2019 newton the famed 1918 inverted jenny biplane stamp, viewed as one of the most unique and valuable stamps in the world, has once again made headlines. May 15, 2018 new stamp of the century book explores the inverted jenny stamp, owners, airmail may 15, 2018, 2 pm a book on the inverted jenny, stamp of the century by kellen diamanti and deborah fisher, was recently published by the american philatelic society. Rare inverted jenny stamp featuring an upside down plane. Chad 2019 famous stamps penny black, inverted jenny 4 stamp sheet 3b662. May 12, 2014 on the 23rd of september 20, usps issued a stampsheet with the reprint of the famous 1918 inverted jenny stamp. The inverted jenny is 100 years old the washington post.
Norway celebrates 100 years of aviation to mark the occasion of the centennial of norwegian aviation, norway post issued a three stamp set on may 18, 2012. This one has been owned for decades by a family in illinois. A book on the inverted jenny, stamp of the century by kellen diamanti and deborah fisher, was recently published by the american philatelic society. The remarkable history of the 1933 double eagle has inspired four books, a documentary produced for the smithsonian channel, and an episode of the popular tv show the closer.
The stamps have been sold, resold, lost, found, stolen, recovered, sued over and cared for by some of history s most unusual characters. Membership requires documentation of past or present ownership of a genuine inverted jenny. Philatelic foreword by jay bigalke there is no shortage of reference material for the united states most famous, or infamous, stamp error. Apr 15, 2016 rare inverted jenny stamp turns up 60 years after theft. Amick puts it, emerged from and in an odd way, symbolized the haste, improvisation. Postal service released a stamp to celebrate the nations first airmail flight. Apr 19, 2011 it goes by the odd name inverted jenny. Writing our book about the inverts was deborahs idea. The inverted jenny hotline sells all types of antiques and collectibles, but mostly u.
It was widely used during world war i to train beginning pilots, with an estimated 95% of all trainees having flown a jn4. The uninverted jenny freestampmagazine stamp collecting blog. The inverted jenny how an upsidedown biplane on a 24cent stamp, at the smithsonian s national postal museum, seemed to jinx early attempts at carrying the mail by air. On the 100th anniversary of the misprinted stamp known as the inverted jenny, deborah fisher and kellen diamanti released their book, stamp of the century, during a ceremony at the smithsonian national postal museum tuesday. Postal services reprinting of famous stamp error broke.
This day in history may 14, 1918 mystic stamp discovery center. Waterville bookstore owner finds rare upright jenny. The inverted jenny 24cent air mail stamp came as a result of the flipping of the sheet through the printing process. Okay, the book tour was only two cities, but we made the most of them and we did not make up the rockstar comment. Trace the lines of history through the british librarys comprehensive collection of stamps. New details arise on upright jenny invert distribution. To a pilot it pictures an ancient curtiss jn4, or jenny, apparently at the top of a loop or in the middle of a slow roll. The last one shows the jenny flying in the wrong direction, when compared to the c3. When the man sent a cellphone photo, the foundations curator, lewis kaufman, suspected the stamp was an inverted jenny that disappeared from sight soon after it was printed in 1918. Issued to commemorate the start of the first regular airmail service in the united states, the original jenny stamp was designed to show a curtiss jn4h, or jenny, the biplane used to deliver the mail. An inverted jenny stamp, with a biplane upside down, is considered one of the most valuable stamps in the world. Inspired by the upcoming 100th anniversary of robeys famous purchase, authors kellen diamanti and deborah fisher have conceived a work of creative nonfiction that places the stamps on the continuum of history. Researching a book as eclectic as stamp of the century gives one a good, friendly reason to look up interesting.
This book gives a detailed accounting of the history behind what is probably the most famous mistake in history. Following the stories of inverted jenny owners, the stamp can take the reader as far back as the presidency of george washington. Millers inverted jenny, position 18 on the sheet, was stolen in 1977 but was recovered in the early 1980s though, unfortunately. Even new collectors have probably heard of the inverted jenny. Nearly a century ago, the purchase of a single pane of u. History after hours presentation on the evening of may 2 see below. Merging past with present, the limitedquantity inverted jenny collectors edition item 580027 pictured above pays tribute to the beloved stamp, taking collectors up close to the intaglio printing process behind the 20 stamp collecting. A book on the inverted jenny, stamp of the century by kellen. The certificate of authenticity for the set is pictured in figure 2. Aside from having the biplane printed upside down, the inverted jenny has become famous for other reasons as well. The curtiss jn4 is possibly north americas most famous world war i aircraft. In this first installment of an inverted jenny series, lets look into the fascinating origin of the inverted jenny stamp and its place in history. Issued on may 10, 1918, the red and blue stamp accidentally shows a curtiss jn4 jenny biplane the model used by. A 1986 book that tracked each of the 100 jennies had this entry for no.
Aps and smithsonians national postal museum release new book. How the 24cent inverted jenny stamp became worth a small. If you want to get to know me on a personal level, check my true life book and see what challenges i had to overcome as an adult some 42 year ago. But what makes the inverted jenny an absolute delight as history is the degree to which the error, as mr. New stamp of the century book explores the inverted jenny stamp. Stamp of the century inverted jenny aviation history stamps home.
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