The Two Cent Stamp of the Small Bank Note Issue of 1890 By Richard Morris, 2003, 40p, Spiral bound. $26.50

Most of you know Richard from the marvelous color guides that he has produced over the past several years. What you may not know is that Richard has specialized in collecting the two cent stamp of the 1890 issue for a considerable number of years. At March Party in Cleveland he exhibited his collection and released his latest endeavor a book devoted to the two cent stamp.

The last work published about this issue was done in 1935. Frank E. Stanton, Jr. published an 18 page treatise titled " Relief Breaks on the Two Cent Stamp of 1890". This work has now been updated and expanded into a comprehensive work.

The Morris work includes 11 chapters and new updated color guides for Scott nos. 219D and 220. The chapters include: Contracts and Preparation, Printing the Stamp, Terminology, Relief Breaks, Papers, Colors and Inks, Shades by Dates, Varieties, Conclusions and finally a Bibliography. The illustrations of the relief breaks are extremely well reproduced. The edition was limited to a press run of 500 copies.

The study of the two cent small bank note stamp provides an excellent opportunity for any collector who is looking for a specialty. The stamp is very inexpensive and plentiful. A marvelous study and collection can be accomplished without having to break the bank.

One specialist known to me has already provided Richard with new relief break information not contained in the current edition. It just proves that there are always new discoveries to be added to the base of knowledge.

A new philatelic tool has hit the market and it is the brainchild of Sonic Imagery Labs of Castro Valley, CA. It is ten measuring devices in one all laid out on a single sheet of laminated plastic. One of the great features is the section for measuring U.S. grilled stamps. It has been over 25 years since Voncorp produced it’s Grill-a-vue product. So once again we have a product for measuring grills. The other nine measuring devices include:

• Standard millimeter scale

• Go-NoGo Shermack Type III gauge

• Go-NoGo Design size millimeter gauge

• Parallel line millimeter gauge

• Large hole, small hole gauge for the 1954 Liberty Series

• Cancellation diameter gauge

• Grill pattern gauge

• Standard analog perforation gauge Specialty perforation gauge for Bureau Issues ( a knock off of the Kiusalas gauge)

This is a wonderful new tool and very reasonably priced for what you get. My only criticism of it is the grill patterns could be lighter.