1978 15c Prominent Americans: Oliver W. Holmes, Imperf. Between Error

U.S. #1305Eh
15¢ Oliver W. Holmes, Imperforate Between Pair
Prominent Americans Series Coil

Issue Date: June 14, 1978
City: Boston, MA
Printed By: Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Printing Method: Rotary Press
Color: Magent...  more

U.S. #1305Eh
15¢ Oliver W. Holmes, Imperforate Between Pair
Prominent Americans Series Coil

Issue Date: June 14, 1978
City: Boston, MA
Printed By: Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Printing Method: Rotary Press
Color: Magenta

This coil pair was intended to be perforated vertically with 10-gauge perforations.  Because of a production error, some of the perforations are missing, while others are intact. Now you can add this error stamp to your collection. 
The 15¢ Oliver W. Holmes stamp was originally issued in 1968 in sheet format (US #1288).  Ten years later, the domestic First-Class mail rate was increased to 15¢, and the demand for this stamp increased significantly.  A smaller version was produced in booklets (US #1288B), and the original plates were re-engraved.  The new image was then used to produce additional sheet stamps and horizontal coil stamps. (U.S. #1305E).  The coil stamp exists with both shiny and dull gum.
Three types of this stamp have been found.  This stamp is a Type I.  The difference can be found on Holmes’s necktie.  On a Type I stamp, the end of the tie touches the coat (Type II doesn’t touch).  The crosshatching is darker on the Type I stamp. 

Oliver Wendell Holmes was one of the best known American judges and served as a member of the Supreme Court for 30 years.  Known as the "Great Dissenter," he insisted laws be viewed in light of a changing society, rather than as old formulas to be adhered to.
In 1881, Holmes wrote, "The life of the law has not been logic: it has been experience...the law embodies the story of a nation's development through many centuries, and it cannot be dealt with as if it contained only the axioms and corollaries of a book of mathematics."

Prominent Americans Series

The Prominent Americans Series recognizes people who played important roles in U.S. history. Officials originally planned to honor 18 individuals but later added seven others.  The Prominent Americans Series began with the 4¢ Lincoln stamp, which was issued on November 10, 1965. 
A number of technological changes developed during the course of producing the series, resulting in a number of varieties due to gum, luminescence, precancels and perforations plus sheet, coil and booklet formats. Additionally, seven rate changes occurred while the Prominent Americans Series was current, giving collectors who specialize in first and last day of issue covers an abundance of collecting opportunities.