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5¢ Washington Color Error (#467 and 505)
In April 1917, a postmaster in a small Virginia post office opened a pad of new 2¢ Washington sheets. On each sheet he found 5¢ Washington stamps of the identical design and color (the correct 5¢ was supposed to be blue)!
He wasted no time in returning the sheets to the Postmaster General, complaining that he "already had enough trouble keeping his accounts straight" without having to worry about mixed denominations on the same sheet.
The printing error was caused when a 5¢ transfer roll was used to correct an engraving plate instead of the roll from the 2¢ die.
5¢ Error flanked on both sides by correct 2¢ Washington issues
#467 - 5¢ Washington - carmine error, perf. 10
#505 - 5¢ Washington - rose error, perf. 11
