Plate number strips of 13 of U.S. 2015 Eagle coil stamps in demand

Stamp Market Tips by Henry Gitner and Rick Miller

Sometimes relatively recent U.S. stamp issues are overlooked by stamp dealers and collectors at the time they were issued. This results in increasing demand for these issues in the aftermarket.

A good example is the set of six nondenominated (25¢) Eagle coil stamps (Scott 5013-5018) issued Sept. 2, 2015. The stamps were issued to pay the presorted first-class letter rate.

The untagged self-adhesive stamps were designed by Ethel Kessler and were printed by Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. They were printed by lithography and have gauge 10¼ vertical serpentine die cuts. All six stamps have the same Eagle design but different background colors: green, blue green, blue, red violet, orange and yellow orange.

The Scott Specialized Catalogue of United States Stamps and Covers values a mint coil strip of six at $3 (double face value, the Scott catalog standard value for mint new issues) against a postage value of $1.50. A mint plate number strip of 13 is valued at $9. Mint plate number strips of 13 are selling for as much as $25 on eBay. A strip of 13 is a good buy at $16 or less if you find it offered.

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