1964 US 5-Cent Sam Houston Error (Yellow Omitted)
Color-omitted errors are among the most visually dramatic and collectible varieties in US philately. The 1964 5-cent Sam Houston stamp (Scott #1242), issued January 10, 1964, in honor of the legendary Texas statesman, exists in a rare error version with the yellow color entirely missing. These errors, produced accidentally during Bureau of Engraving and Printing production runs, represent the kind of manufacturing mistake that creates philatelic gold when discovered in an otherwise mundane stamp issue.
The Regular Stamp
The standard 1964 5-cent Sam Houston stamp was printed in large quantities (approximately 125,995,000 copies) and features a portrait of Houston rendered in multiple colors including black for the primary portrait and yellow for background elements. The stamp was issued from Houston, Texas, on January 10, 1964, and commemorated the 100th anniversary of the death of Sam Houston, the general, politician, and governor who played a pivotal role in Texas independence and statehood.
At its base, this is a common, widely available commemorative stamp worth a few cents in used condition. The normal mint single has virtually no premium over face value.
What Makes the Error Significant
During multi-color lithographic printing, stamps pass through the press multiple times, with each pass adding a single color. If a sheet or portion of a sheet fails to receive one color pass (due to a paper jam, mis-feed, or press malfunction), the resulting stamps are missing that color entirely. These are classified as "color-omitted" errors in philatelic terminology.
For the Sam Houston yellow-omitted error, the missing yellow creates a distinctly different-looking stamp. The background color shift makes the portrait appear starker and the overall stamp quite different from the standard printing. This visual difference is what makes the error readily identifiable and collectible.
Color-omitted errors from the Bureau of Engraving and Printing occur when entire sheets or partial sheets of stamps escape quality control checks. They are genuine manufacturing accidents rather than intentional varieties.
Authentication Requirements
For any color-omitted error, expertizing by the Philatelic Foundation (PF) or American Philatelic Expertizing Service (APEX) is essentially mandatory for high-value transactions. Color-omitted errors are one of the most commonly faked stamp varieties, as forgers sometimes chemically remove a color from normal stamps to simulate the error.
Expert examination involves:
UV light testing to detect chemical alteration
Paper analysis to verify no bleaching or chemical treatment
Comparison with authenticated genuine errors
Examination under magnification for printing characteristics
A current expertizing certificate from PF or APEX should accompany any high-value purchase.
Values and Condition Grades
Color-omitted errors are valued based on the specific color missing, how visually dramatic the error is, and the overall condition of the error examples.
| Condition | Approximate Value |
|---|---|
| Used, no certificate | Caution: likely fake or chemically altered |
| Mint NH, no certificate | $300 - $800 (unverified) |
| Mint NH, PF/APEX certificate | $800 - $2,500 |
| Mint NH block of 4, certificate | $3,000 - $8,000 |
| Plate block, certificate | $5,000 - $15,000 |
Values depend on whether it's a genuine error from a documented discovery or lot, and the condition of the stamps. The yellow omitted specifically on this issue is listed in specialized error catalogs and has appeared in major US philatelic auctions.
The Broader Color-Omitted Error Category
The Sam Houston yellow-omitted sits within the broader context of US color-omitted errors from the 1960s-1980s, the classic era of multicolor stamp production at the BEP. Some of the most valuable are from this period, including dramatic missing colors on flag issues and pictorial commemoratives.
Key principles for the entire category:
"Spectacular" omissions (missing the primary color) are most valuable
Single stamps are worth less than blocks or larger multiples
Cancellable used examples exist but are far rarer than mint
Plate blocks (with the plate number in the margin) command strong premiums
Hunting for Errors
Finding color-omitted errors today requires searching unprocessed old dealer stock, estate collections, and dealer "approvals" lots. The era of finding errors in post office vending machines is essentially over. Specialized philatelic auctions through Siegel Auction Galleries, Cherrystone, and H.R. Harmer regularly include US error lots that can surface fine examples.
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