An esssential reference for the US stamp collector
Max G. Johl?s United States Commemorative Stamps of the 20th Century 1902- 1947 is a seminal work of philatelic scholarship. His work was originally published in the 1930s by Quarterman Press as a 4 volume set entitled The United States Postage Stamps of the Twentieth Century. His work was updated and published in 1947 by H. L. Lindquist in this 2 volume set to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the issuance of the first United States postage stamp. The updated 1947 editions are of better quality and include many more photographs and illustrations, but they cover only the commemorative issues of the period. You must obtain the original 4-volume set of the 1930s to read Johl?s treatment of the regular issues.
Most philatelists consider these books essential for developing an understanding the commemorative stamps of the era. Johl describes the elements of every stamp in detail: from the commissioning of the stamp, to the design of the vignette, all the way through the production process. He also illustrates the errors and design flaws discovered after the stamps were issued. You will find data on the printing process, paper, watermarks, quantities issued, perforations, plate numbers, earliest known use (EFO), and the postal cancellations used while the stamp was in service.
All of these works are now out of print and hard to find. I?ve seen them selling for as much as $75 per volume. I highly recommend that you purchase a set if you find them at a price you can afford.