Today in History - 1900

The two cent stamp was first issued in booklets. It was of what is officially designated as the "Series of 1894," but known to collectors as the issue of 1898. Not quite 50,000,000 leaflets were issued, but this stamp is scarcer than the first one cent, of which only about a half as many were delivered. When the stamp was issued, 240 were hand-stamped, together with their cover, "Specimen." These are scarce. The discovery of forged overprints has recently been announced by a philatelist, who says they may be detected by the cover, which is of a later date than that of the original. Other booklets were overprinted 'Philippines' for use in those islands. The writer does not know how many were issued. This stamp was printed from twenty plates and bound in all three priced books 25, 49, and 97 cents as were all the following 2 cents.