United States Inverted Jenny, 1918

Also known as: Inverted Jenny, 24c Airmail Invert

VerifiedSupported by authoritative primary or institutional sources.

Period

1918

Issuing entity

Twenty-four cent United States airmail stamp of 1918 on which the central vignette of the Curtiss JN-4 aircraft was printed inverted relative to the frame, the result of a sheet fed the wrong way during the second printing pass.

Historical context

The error arose from the two-colour printing process used for the first United States airmail issue. A single sheet is recorded as having reached the public.

Physical characteristics

Denomination: Twenty-four cents

Technical characteristics

Printing: Two-colour, engraved; frame and vignette printed in separate passes
Perforation: Perforated

Design

Design: Curtiss JN-4 biplane within an ornamental frame

Identification

Key feature: The aircraft vignette appears upside down within an upright frame

Catalogue references

No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.

Research required

Catalogue numbers to be transcribed from a verified edition
Recorded census details to be cited to a documented source

Can you source one of these? Submit a reference