In 1929 the states of Kansas and Nebraska had the postage stamps in their state overprinted Kans. and Nebr.It was thought that this would stop or at least slow down post office robberies. Thieves would periodically rob post offices of stamps and cross state lines to sell the stolen goods. Overprinting the stamps with their respective state abbreviations was a way thought to stop these shenanigans! After just one year it was found that this did not work and the overprinted stamps ceased to be sold!

All to often I run across fake overprints! There is one sure fire way to tell if the over print is fake on a mint stamp. Starting in the 1920s gum breakers were added to the gum of mint sheets to stop the sheets from curling after production. Gum breaker ridges appear as horizontal ridges across the gum of mint stamps. The 1929 Kans./Nebr. issues are perforated 11x10 1/2 and have only 1 gum breaker ridge! The issue can only have two if there is one at the extreme top of the perforations and one at the extreme bottom of the perforations. The 1926-1934 perforated 11x10 1/2 regular issues have two gum breakers ridges .

        Shown below is a 1926-34 regular issue with two gum breaker ridges.

Shown below is a 1929 Nebr. overprinted issue with the standard one gum breaker

Ok, lets review. The 1929 Kans./Nebr. Issue must be perf 11x10 1/2and have only one gum breaker ridge! If the stamp is perf. 11 or has multiple gum breaker ridges the stamp has a FAKE overprint. Yes, some dummies DO apply fake overprints to the wrong perf. variety! If the stamp has no gum breaker ridges the stamp has been regummed or has been regummed and has a fake overprint!

I spend my time and write these guides to help the philatelic community. I feel that my guides can help both buyers and sellers properly identify certain issues that I notice have been often misrepresented at online auction. Even If you personally already are familiar with the information presented in this guide please vote “yes” for helpfulness as it allows me to know that people support my effort to help the philatelic community . I would appreciate any emails with questions or comments on how to better help with any of my guides. If anyone is considering buying a stamp that is mentioned in any of my guides and have doubts about authenticity please email me and I will be glad to help Best regards, Mike