This 1918 stamp, called the inverted jenny, is the most popular misprint in u. This item often transcends the boundary of philately into every day life being written about in books and magazines as well as being featured in television shows. New stamp of the century book explores the inverted jenny stamp. The inverted jenny popularly known as the upsidedown airplane stamp is. The man on the phone said he had one of the most famous stamps in the world, an inverted jenny with oops the airplane upside down. The twoway in 1955, a block of four rare postage stamps was stolen from a display case at a convention. This number block of four inverted jenny stamps was purchased by u.
In fact, the sheet that passed through that postal window would become the most famous sheet of mistakes in collecting history the inverted jenny. Browse the amazon editors picks for the best books of 2019, featuring our. This one has been owned for decades by a family in illinois. Miller, whose inverted jenny stamp was stolen in 1977. The inverted jenny or 1918 24c carmine rose and blue also known as an upside down jenny or jenny invert is a united states postage stamp, regarded as one of the most famous and valuable in the world. S auction house more than half a century after being stolen. The inverted jenny hotline sells all types of antiques and collectibles, but mostly u. Washington the postal service announced today that it printed 100 additional sheets of stamps of the recently issued inverted jenny stamp but with the plane flying rightside up. The curtiss jn4 jenny was one of a series of jn biplanes built by the curtiss aeroplane company of hammondsport, new york, later the curtiss aeroplane and motor company. Her second novel, the presidents lunch, released july 29, and she is currently working on her third. Inverted jenny stamp stolen in 1955 is returned to owner. Watch this short video about the worlds most famous stamp. Usa inverted jenny 1918 24 cents blue and carmine the british. How the 24cent inverted jenny stamp became worth a.
It featured a curtiss jn4 or jenny, the same plane set to deliver the mail the following day, and was printed in carmine rose and. Inverted jenny biplane stamp back in the news lifestyle. To a layman, the inverted jenny is just a 24cent stamp, red with a blue picture of an oldfashioned biplane but oops. Curtiss jenny in 1915 curtiss began production of a new plane that combined features of the earlier j and n models used by the army and navy. In addition to our extensive array of coin books and coin collecting supplies, wizard coin supply can also fulfill your need for stamp collecting books.
Jenny bond is an author, an english teacher and the mother of two boys. It was swiped from a display case at a convention in 1955. How an upsidedown biplane on a 24cent stamp, at the smithsonians national postal museum, seemed to jinx early attempts at carrying the mail by air. Army, the jenny the common nickname derived from jn4, with an opentopped four appearing as a y continued after world war i. Traces the history of the jenny invert, the famous u. And for those of you that have more interest of all the stories of the stamp there are books on the history of the jenny invert. Trace the lines of history through the british librarys comprehensive collection of stamps. Amick puts it, emerged from and in an odd way, symbolized the haste, improvisation. View a short video presentation on the inverted jenny. However, the total mileage and flying time reported by second assistant postmaster general praeger in 1919 for number 37944 was only 550 miles and 7h19m it was omitted.
Celebrate philatelist history with this colorful womens navy blue inverted jenny airmail stamp tshirt. Postal services reprinting of famous stamp error broke. Rare inverted jenny stamp turns up, six decades after. The inverted jenny the stamp was an impressive sight. Her first novel, perfect north, won her a global twobook deal with hachette, one of the worlds biggest publishers of fiction. A copy that has been read, but remains in excellent condition. Millers inverted jenny, position 18 on the sheet, was stolen in 1977 but was recovered in the early 1980s though, unfortunately, the top perforations had been cut off to prevent it from being recognized as the stolen miller stamp. Reference books p the inverted jennybr money, mystery, mania p incredible stories of intrigue surround the worlds best known stamp error, the united states 24 cent airmail stamp of 1918, the legendary upsidedown jenny. Culvers pilots daily report for the philadelphiatonew york flight on 15 may, so it is certain that this plane was used to carry mail. The inverted jenny is a 24 cent united states postage stamp first issued on may 10, 1918. This subject is hot now with the reissue of the jenny by the usps. Stolen in 1955, famous inverted jenny stamp resurfaces april 15, 2016 5.
Worth 24 cents when issued, inverted jenny stamps fetch hundreds of thousands of dollars today. Stamp collecting is one of the worlds most popular hobbies, and at our site youll find everything you need, whether youre just beginning a new hobby or youre an experienced philatelist. Now, six decades later, a rare misprinted stamp known as an inverted jenny has been returned to its owner. The jenny invert became the worlds most famous stamp, and the 100 examples were eagerly sought after by prominent collectors.
Rare inverted jenny stamp turns up, six decades after being stolen in 1955, four stamps with a famously misprinted upsidedown plane were stolen from a convention in virginia. History after hours presentation on the evening of may 2 see below. Okay, the book tour was only two cities, but we made the most of them and we did not make up the rockstar comment. The inverted jenny 24cent air mail stamp came as a result of the flipping of the sheet through the printing process. A book on the inverted jenny, stamp of the century by kellen.
Rare inverted jenny stamp turns up 60 years after theft. On the 23rd of september 20, usps issued a stampsheet with the reprint of the famous 1918 inverted jenny stamp. Twentynine year old william thomas robey was a stamp collector who went to his local post office in washington, d. It was first issued on may 10, 1918 in which the image of the curtiss jn4 airplane in the center of the design was accidentally printed upsidedown. Although the curtiss jn series was originally produced as a training aircraft for the u. Several international stamps have also reproduced the inverted jenny, and i have seen the inverted jenny illustrated on mouse pads, coffee mugs, tshirts, and other memorabilia. Issued on may 10, 1918, the red and blue stamp accidentally shows a curtiss jn4 jenny biplane the model used by. Pages are intact and are not marred by notes or highlighting, but may contain a neat previous owner name.
The inverted jenny how an upsidedown biplane on a 24cent stamp, at the smithsonians national postal museum, seemed to jinx early attempts at carrying the mail by air. The stamp shows a plane called a jenny surrounded by a red border, but thats not whats unusual. Inspired by the upcoming 100th anniversary of robeys famous purchase, authors kellen diamanti and deborah fisher have conceived a work of creative nonfiction that places the stamps on the continuum of history. Nearly a century ago, the purchase of a single pane of u. But what makes the inverted jenny an absolute delight as history is the degree to which the error, as mr. Its not a new book but its a great tool for anyone interested in philatelic history. The jn series initials gave rise to the planes popular nickname jenny. The exciting story of the worlds bestknown stamp error.
Basel dove penny black the whole country is red the hawaiian missionaries tyrian. From the discovery of the sheet of 100 at a washington, d. Stolen in 1955, famous inverted jenny stamp resurfaces. Since then, the inverted jenny has become one of the most soughtafter and alluring stamps in u. These very limited edition stamps were circulated with the recent issue of the most famous. When the man sent a cellphone photo, the foundations curator, lewis kaufman, suspected the stamp was. Aside from having the biplane printed upside down, the inverted jenny has become famous for other reasons as well. Inverted jenny stamp on auction block the stamp which features an upsidedown biplane will be sold this week by the robert siegel auction galleries in new york city. Waterville bookstore owner finds rare upright jenny.
An aviation flop led to stampcollecting history and made the inverted jenny famous the smithsonian national postal museum owns two of the famous inverted jenny stamps, of which there. Although the inverted jenny biplane stamps were issued just over a century ago, together with the initiation of mail delivery with jenny biplanes, mystery continues to shroud the stamps history. Millers inverted jenny, position 18 on the sheet, was stolen. The inverted jenny is 100 years old the washington post. Newyork historical society 170 central park west at richard gilder way 77th street new york, ny 10024. The stamps have been sold, resold, lost, found, stolen, recovered, sued over and cared for by some of historys most unusual characters. National postal museum museum stores smithsonian store. An excellent pastime for anyone, collecting stamps can help kids and adults alike learn about different countries or provide countless fascinating stories throughout history, like the popular tale of the inverted jenny stamp.
This book gives a detailed accounting of the history behind what is probably the most famous mistake in history. Norway celebrates 100 years of aviation to mark the occasion of the centennial of norwegian aviation, norway post issued a three stamp set on may 18, 2012. Issued to commemorate the start of the first regular airmail service in the united states, the original jenny stamp was designed to show a. Stamp collecting books learn how to collect stamps. The stamp of the century, a new book by kellen diamanti and deborah. Stolen inverted jenny discovered after 60year mystery by justcollecting news staff 20160418 an inverted jenny, one of the worlds rarest postage stamps, has been recovered by a u.
How the inverted jenny, a 24cent stamp, came to be worth a fortune mark the centennial of an epic mistake at the national postal museum where several of these worldfamous stamps are on view. The fbi recovered the second of the four stamps, position 75, in 1982. Highresolution images of the stamps are available for media use only by emailing mark. Money, mystery, mania, devoted an entire chapter to mrs. This day in history may 14, 1918 mystic stamp discovery. Stamp of the century inverted jenny aviation history stamps home. Stolen inverted jenny discovered after 60year mystery. While other stamps are rarer, the jenny is one of few that is readily recognized even by noncollectors, eveleth said. Following the stories of inverted jenny owners, the stamp can take the reader as far back as the presidency of george washington. An inverted jenny stamp, with a biplane upside down, is considered one of the most valuable stamps in the world.