S26 & S26.1 - WIPA 2008 - Two Different Gums

At the end of the 2 October 2008 entry, where I first discussed the WIPA 2008 United Nations personalized sheet, I mentioned a report that there are two types of gum on this sheet. Thanks again to Helmut Jörg, we now have confirmation of the cream gum (S26) and the blue-green gum (S26.1). These gums are shown below, and are the back sides of the two WIPA sheets shown above. At least in this case, there are no extreme color differences on the front side. One sheet might appear to be slightly bluer and the other, but this is just the light passing through the blue-green gum.

S25 & S25.1 - Sport for Peace - Beijing Olympics: Two Different Printings

For the past couple of months, I have been receiving reports about two different gum colors on the Sport for Peace, Beijing Olympics 2008 United Nations personalized sheet. As can be seen from these cut pieces of selvage, it is more than the gum that is different, the printed colors on the front of the sheet are also very different! In the scan shown above, the blue-green gum version is on the left and the cream gum version is on the right. UNP has decided to assign S25.1 to the blue-green gum version. It is unknown if one printing is more scarce than the other version, or if one version was printed before another version. But if you enjoy varieties, seek out both versions for your collection! Below is the scan of the gum side for the same two pieces of selvage.


I want to thank Dieter Wolke for the earliest report of the two gum colors and Helmut Jörg for supplying the selvage samples.