1973 10c 50-Star and 13-Star Flags, Blue Omitted Error

U.S. #1509b Blue Omitted
10¢ 50-Star and 13-Star Flags
1973-74 Regular Issue

Issue Date: December 8, 1973
City: San Francisco, California
Quantity: Unknown
Printed By: Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Printing Method: Multicolor Huck Press
Perforations: 11 x 10 ½...  more

U.S. #1509b Blue Omitted
10¢ 50-Star and 13-Star Flags
1973-74 Regular Issue

Issue Date: December 8, 1973
City: San Francisco, California
Quantity: Unknown
Printed By: Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Printing Method: Multicolor Huck Press
Perforations: 11 x 10 ½
Color: Red and blue

The two crossed flags show the current 50-star flag and the 13-star flag of the Revolutionary era. Contrary to popular belief, when the first flag was created there was no specified arrangement for the 13 stars. Although it is most commonly seen with all 13 stars in a circle, some had 12 stars encircling the 13th. However, all carried 13 stripes. As new states came into the Union, a star and stripe were added to the flag for each one. By 1817, the flag had 20 stars and 20 stripes. Congress felt this looked too cluttered and decided to keep just 13 stripes and add only a star for each new state. In 1960, the fiftieth star was added for Hawaii, giving us the flag we still use today.

The printing of this stamp saw several errors – missing perforations, missing ink color, and tagging omitted.  The one offered here is missing the blue ink.  Minor varieties such as this make a neat addition to your US collection. Order today and receive this missing ink minor variety stamp pair.