Canal Zone 50¢ Blackburn Official stamp offers both international and U.S. appeal

Tip of the Week — By Henry Gitner and Rick Miller

The Canal Zone was a United States administered territory that lay on either side of the Panama Canal. The Canal Zone Postal Service was in operation from June 24, 1904, to Sept. 30, 1979. Many United States collectors are interested in Canal Zone stamps.

On March 31, 1941, Canal Zone postal authorities issued a set of eight Official stamps produced by overprinting “Official Panama Canal” on definitive stamps of the 1928-40 series. The overprints were in two types: Type 1 in three lines, and Type 2 with “Official” on the top line and “Panama Canal” on the second line.

The 50¢ Joseph Clay Styles Blackburn Official stamp was produced in two colors: lilac (Scott O7) and rose lilac (O8).

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The main difference in the two stamps is not the color but the shorter 9-millimeter (Type 1a) overprint on Scott O8 compared with the 10mm overprint (Type 1) on Scott O7.

Only 1,000 of the rose-lilac stamps were issued. The 2017 Scott Specialized Catalogue of United States Stamps and Covers does not value the stamp in unused condition or mint condition, because it is only known used. It is valued in used condition at $550.

Although only 1,000 were issued, most of the printing probably went to collectors, so we suspect the survival rate is high. Nevertheless, it is one of the key stamps for a Canal Zone collection.

We think this stamp is a great buy in very fine grade at 65 percent to 80 percent of Scott catalog value. In the grade of fine-very fine, it is a good buy at 50 percent to 65 percent of Scott catalog value. Used on cover would be a great rarity, if in fact it exists.