The Liberty Series coil stamps were produced for vending machines at a time when automated postal equipment was expanding rapidly across the country, making this 2¢ Jefferson one of the workhorses of mid-1950s American mail.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Catalog Number: Scott #1055

• Denomination: 2 cents (2¢)

• Date of Issue: October 22, 1954

• Printing Method: Rotary Press, Dry Printing (Bureau of Engraving and Printing)

• Perforation: 10 Vertically (Coil — straight edges top and bottom)

• Color: Carmine Rose

• Subject: Portrait of Thomas Jefferson, 3rd President of the United States

CONDITION ANALYSIS (Seller-Assessed)

• Status: Used

• Grading: Very Fine

• Postmark: Moderate, falling cleanly without obscuring the portrait or principal design elements.

• Obverse: Design is clear and fully legible. Minor surface marks and light handling signs present but do not significantly affect the portrait.

• Reverse: No original gum present. Back is clean with no visible tears, thinning, or repairs.

• Centering / Margins: Perforations clear of the design frame on all sides.

• Perforations: Vertical perforations on left and right sides only, consistent with coil format. Minor edge roughness along side perforations typical of coil issues. No missing perforations observed.

HISTORY

The Liberty Series ran from 1954 to 1961, replacing the Presidential Series of 1938 with a broader range of subjects: presidents, statesmen, and national symbols associated with American freedom. Thomas Jefferson appeared on the 2¢ denomination, issued in both sheet and coil formats. Scott #1055 is the coil version, identifiable by its vertical-only perforations and straight-cut top and bottom edges, issued October 22, 1954 for use in vending and affixing machines.

The dry printing method used on this issue was a significant technical development for the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Earlier rotary press stamps had used a wet printing process that caused paper to shrink slightly after printing, affecting stamp dimensions. The dry printing method stabilized dimensions and improved registration consistency, and the Liberty Series was among the first to adopt it systematically across its range of denominations.

Jefferson's presence on the 2¢ denomination continued a long pattern of placing him on lower-rate definitives. His authorship of the Declaration of Independence, his role in the Louisiana Purchase, and his founding of the University of Virginia gave him an enduring place in American postal iconography that stretched from the earliest definitive series through the mid-20th century.

STEVEN SAYS

The dry printing process is worth knowing about for Liberty Series collectors. It changed the physical dimensions slightly compared to earlier wet-print issues, and it's one of the things that makes the Liberty Series technically interesting beyond just the subjects.