United States, Scott #2282, used (o) booklet definitive, 1988, View of the Earth, fifth alphabetical rate change stamp ‘E’ (fifth letter), issued in anticipation of the postal rate increase from 22 cents to 25 cents; in the 1970s as postal costs increased, the Post Office would naturally have to raise the issue value for postage stamps, however, postal rate changes had to be submitted to the Postal Rate Commission, a time-consuming process with an uncertain outcome; but, if the rate increase was approved, the post office then had to rush to design and produce stamps with the new value; to overcome this dilemma, in 1978, the post office printed a new, non-denominal stamp that would be ready and waiting for the next rate change; it was decided that a letter of the alphabet would be used to represent the new, unknown, rate so that stamps could meet the customer demand until new definitives, bearing the new actual rate, were printed; so an ‘A’ was chosen, the first four in this rate change series used the American eagle as its visual theme, beginning with this stamp, the post officed decided to link the visual image on the stamp with the letter used for the rate change - thus ‘E’ and Earth, the next had a Flower visual for ‘F’, then a Old Glory flag for ‘G’, and lastly, Uncle Sam's Hat for ‘H’ as the last of the ‘Alphabet’ stamps as the new ‘Forever’ stamps were being issued which served the same purpose; issued at a counter value of (25¢), photogravure printed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP), perforated: 10, multicolored, Scott 2019 Catalog Value: 25¢, slightly off-centered which is usual for a booklet stamp, light, quarter circular, black-inked, possibly single-rimmed, socked-on-the-nose corner cancellation at the lower left and welly clear of the main image, sound back, hinge remnant, stamp occupies a right side middle stamp position in the booklet, therefore an imperforated right edge and customer torn perforations on the remaining three sides {PIPP}, one of the four of ten in the booklet, good perforations; centering, image-free cancellation and four of ten perforation configuration warrants a selling price premium. This is not a 'bait-and-switch;' the stamp you see will be the one you receive.
Please review my terms of sale. If you are not ordering from the United States, there is a $US1.50 additional postage expense that needs to be added to the price of the stamp. If you are ordering from the United States, there is only a $US0.66 added postage expense. Also, if you make additional purchases from my offerings, they can all go in one mailing at no extra shipping expense for the added purchases. I will send the purchase by US first class mail, since the relatively low value of the stamp does not warrant signature or tracking mail. Hence the buyer assumes risk of loss or non-delivery. I will keep a scan of my mailing to verify that the correct mailing address was used. If not satisfied, return the stamp to me at your own expense, and I will refund the cost, but not my postage to you. If the stamp is not as described, I will refund the cost and reimburse you for postage both ways.
By way of reference, I am an American Philatelic Society member (195176) and an American Stamp Dealers Association (ASDA) member. Thank you for looking, and I hope this is the perfect stamp to fill that gap in your collection.
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