Tagging-omitted error of U.S. 2023 Freedom Flag coil discovered in mixture

By Charles Snee

A newly discovered tagging-omitted error of a United States 2023 Freedom Flag coil stamp was reported to Linn’s Stamp News in late June.

Specifically, the error stamp is an example of the Freedom Flag coil stamp (Scott 5789A) printed by Banknote Corporation of America in rolls of 100. The new error, which is tied on piece, is pictured on this page.

A microprinted “USPS” appears immediately to the right of the lowest red stripe of the flag.

Robert Thompson of Texas, a specialist in modern U.S. coil stamps, told Linn’s he obtained the new tagging-omitted error from another collector who found it in a mixture and believed the stamp was a counterfeit because it lacked tagging. Many modern U.S. counterfeit stamps are not tagged.

Thompson subsequently submitted the stamp to the Philatelic Foundation, which issued an expertizing certificate on June 17 stating the stamp is genuine and is “used, untagged on piece, wavy line machine cancel.”

The Scott editors determined that the new error will be listed as No. 5789Ac in the 2025 Scott Specialized Catalogue of United States Stamps and Covers to be published in early October.

In the Feb. 12 issue, Linn’s reported the discovery of a tagging-omitted error on the U.S. 1981 nondenominated (18¢) B-rate Eagle booklet stamp (Scott 1819).

The new listing for Scott 1819b in the 2025 Scott U.S. Specialized catalog will read, “Block of 8, tagging omitted” along with a footnote stating, “No. 1819b is found on an Artmaster cacheted cover with a first-day postmark.”

In the Aug. 8, 2022, issue, Linn’s announced the discovery of a tagging-omitted error on the U.S. 1991 29¢ Comedians booklet stamp (Scott 2562) honoring Laurel and Hardy that came from a booklet pane of 10 containing two each of the five different 29¢ Comedians stamps (2562-2566).

In addition to the aforementioned Laurel and Hardy stamp, during the past two years, Linn’s has reported tagging-omitted errors of the 2017 nondenominated (47¢) Love stamp (Scott 5155), 2022 nondenominated (58¢) Flags coil stamp printed by Banknote Corporation of America (5656), 2019 nondenominated (55¢) Flag coil stamp printed by Banknote Corporation of America (5343), 2022 nondenominated (58¢) pink Love stamp (5661), two of the four 2022 Mountain Flora stamps (5676 and 5677), and one of the four 1986 22¢ Ameripex ’86 panes of nine (2219).

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