Coil waste

While seemingly identical to normal fully perforated issues (which were printed on flat plate presses), coil waste stamps are distinguishable by their size: their designs are slightly wider or longer than normal because rotary press printing slightly stretches an image.

The stamps removed from coil production in the late teens and early twenties were "discarded as unfit," according to a report from a director of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing "on account of narrow margins, too close perforations, and other reasons.

This, according to Max Johl, had "received the regulation one way [vertical] coil perforation while forming part of the long rolls of stamps printed on the rotary press.

"[1] The rarest coil waste issue from the Washington-Franklin series is another 1¢ Washington stamp produced in 1921 (Scott #544).

The excess production occurred in the coil versions of the 1¢ Franklin and 2¢ Washington stamps (Scott #597 and 599).

Scott #578: top margin block of 6 stamps made from coil waste of Scott #597
Stamps in a 'coil' configuration