New color-omitted error of U.S. 1996 32¢ James Dean stamp discovered

By Charles Snee

Illustrated nearby is a complete pane of 20 of the United States 1996 32¢ James Dean stamp (Scott 3082) with the red omitted from the “USA 32” inscription in the bottom right corner of each stamp.

Stamp dealer Stuart Katz of Hampton, N.H., notified Linn’s Stamp News April 11 of his find, which had been lurking in his stock.

Shortly after discovering the color-omitted James Dean pane, Katz submitted it to the Philatelic Foundation in New York City for expertization.

On March 5, the Foundation issued certificate No. 610550 stating that, in the Foundation’s opinion, the pane is “genuine, never hinged with a horizontal crease in the top right of the pane description.”

“I am not sure how long I have had it, but it came in a postage lot perhaps years ago,” Katz told Linn’s via email. “I just now had the time to start liquidating some sheets and came across it.”

“Without question my best discovery in my 50 years of dealing in stamps and such a thrill!” Katz said.

Katz said he most likely will break the pane into four plate number blocks and four singles.

Scott catalog editor-in-chief Jay Bigalke confirmed that the new error will be listed as Scott 3082f, “as No. 3082, red (USA 32c) omitted” with a dash for the unused value column.

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