New imperf error of 2023 Freedom U.S. Flag coil first announced in Linn’s ad

By Charles Snee

A heretofore unreported imperforate error of a United States coil stamp issued earlier this year was offered by New York dealer Steve Malack in his advertisement published in the July 17 issue of Linn’s Stamp News.

The new error occurs on the nondenominated (63¢) Freedom U.S. Flag coil (Scott 5789) printed in rolls of 100 by Banknote Corporation of America of Browns Summit, N.C.

In a July 10 phone conversation, Malack, who operates his business in Endicott, N.Y., told Linn’s that he purchased 20 rolls of the error from a dealer who specializes in plate number coil stamps.

“[The dealer] reached out to me in mid-June,” Malack said. “He didn’t tell me how many rolls he found.”

It didn’t take long for the new error to show up in lots being offered on eBay, the behemoth internet commerce website.

On July 10, Linn’s found two dealers in addition to Malack who were offering pairs and strips of the new error: Craig Selig of Indiana and Dave Andrews of Minnesota. Both Selig and Andrews were selling imperf pairs at a buy-it-now price of $12.95.

In addition to imperf pairs, Malack also was offering a plate number strip of five with a buy-it-now price of $218.90, almost $20 more than the $199 price quoted in his July 17 Linn’s ad.

Selig was selling a plate number strip of seven at a buy-it-now price of $149.50.

Linn’s contacted both Andrews and Selig for comment.

“On June 16, 2023 I believe I was the first to offer these for sale [on eBay],” Selig said.

Selig told Linn’s that he bought a quantity of the new error from the same dealer who supplied Malack.

Malack said he would send an imperforate pair for Linn’s and Scott catalog editors to examine.

Linn’s had not received a reply from Andrews by the time the July 31 digital-only issue was published on Linn’s website.

The new error likely will be listed in the 2024 edition of the Scott Specialized Catalogue of United States Stamps and Covers to be published in October.

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