Recent Dummy Coils 

 
Dummy  Stamps Intro (click here) Stampsjoann (click here)

 
 
The US Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) and most private sector printers of stamps have long produced dummy/testing material to check out their printing presses and other stamp manufacturing equipment.  Such printings are  primarily intended for internal use and are not regularly available outside the printing facilities. 

Some dummy/testing material is produced for use by the United States Postal Service (USPS) and by commercial firms preparing large mailings.

Early dummy/testing coils were usually unprinted "stamps" produced with the then current perforations and adhesive.

For Testing Purposes Only (FTPO) coils have been printed by the US Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) since approximately 1962. 

These coils are used to set up both postal equipment, such as coil vending machines, and the stamp affixing machines used by companies preparing large mailings. 

These examples were printed on the BEP B Press, are untagged and have dull gum.  Coils were generally available in either rolls of 500 or rolls of 3,000.

 
Smaller mailers and USPS personnel could use rolls of 500 Dummy stamps.

 
These coils, usually available in rolls of 3,000, were used by commercial mailers to set up their stamp affixing machines. 


 
As in all of life, when there are more than a "few" of anything and they are produced over a long period of time, varieties occur.

Similar stamps, but this time with a different label. 


 
Not only a difference in text, but how about a color difference.  How about some blue printing... hey, it's not purple but it's close :)

 
Are you a collector of dummy/testing material?  I sure would appreciate any information you can share.

Are you a collector to whom dummy/testing material is a new adventure?  Drop me an e-mail and I'll happily send you an example of this FTPO coil.
 

 
Dummy  Stamps Intro (click here) Stampsjoann (click here)