Scott #566 - Blue Springfield ILL Precancel on 15¢ Statue of Liberty - Color Variety for Precancel Collectors

Scott #566 - Blue SPRINGFIELD ILL Precancel on 15¢ Statue of Liberty

This 15¢ Statue of Liberty stamp from the Fourth Bureau Issue shows a blue SPRINGFIELD, ILL, town-type precancel, a recognized color-ink variation sought by specialists. Springfield used multiple precancel devices over time, and the blue ink strikes are noticeably less common than their black counterparts. The clear, boldly inked impression pairs well with the BEP engraving, making this an appealing choice for precancel or Fourth Bureau variety collectors.

Key Features

• 15¢ Statue of Liberty definitive

• Scott #566

• Fourth Bureau Definitive Series

• Blue SPRINGFIELD ILL local precancel device

• Town-type precancel with strong color density

• Recognized color-ink variety within precancel collecting

• Clean, legible strike on classic BEP engraving

• Attractive specialty item for Fourth Bureau, regional, or color-variety collections

Technical Details

• Denomination: 15 cents

• Issue year: 1922

• Printer: Bureau of Engraving and Printing

• Printing method: Engraved

• Design subject: Statue of Liberty

• Cancel type: Local Springfield, Illinois town-type precancel in blue ink

• Variety type: Precancel color variety / cataloged town-type variation

• Classification: U.S. precancel specialty variety

• Condition: Sound presentation with intact perforations

Collector Appeal

• Precancel specialists seeking color-ink overprint varieties

• Collectors of Springfield, Illinois, town-type material

• Fourth Bureau Issue specialists tracking precancel device variations

• U.S. definitive series collectors

• Those studying regional ink choices and local precancel device mechanics

• Buyers searching for "blue precancel," "SPRINGFIELD ILL precancel," "town-type precancel variety," or "Fourth Bureau precancel variety."

• Ideal for philatelic study pages documenting color variations among local devices

Blue precancels introduce a distinctive variation within town-type precancel collecting and appear significantly less often than standard black strikes. Their presence in specialized precancel catalogs makes them sought-after additions for collectors building out color-ink, town-type, or Fourth Bureau reference material.

Additional Notes

• Blue SPRINGFIELD ILL strikes are documented in precancel reference works and appear with lower frequency.

• Well-suited for specialized album pages focused on precancel devices, color varieties, or Illinois town-type material

• A strong visual example of a non-standard ink application within early 20th-century local precanceling practices