Saturday 20 June 2015

Stamps with Hidden image - Update

Category - Sight
Subcategory - Stamps with Hidden image/Stamps with Holes/Design Perforations/Cut Outs

The US Postal Service produced some stamps with a hidden image from the years 1997 to 2004. These hidden images/messages could only be viewed through a special device called the "Stamp Decoder".

The Stamp decoder is an optical lens manufactured for reading hidden images and symbols on selected US Stamp issues. Each decoder lens comprises thousands of tiny elongated lenses called lenticules.

On most of the stamps issues, the decoder needs to be placed horizontally (with the printed wording on the decoder facing up) to view the images while other stamps may require turning the decoder to a 15 degree angle to view them. 

The first US Stamp decoder was issued in 1997, reissued in 1998 in a different packing and finally in 2005 in the below packaging.


Front

Back


USA 1997 Mars Pathfinder Miniature sheet with USA perforation and a hidden image

Issue date 10 December 1997

In 1997, the Mars Pathfinder souvenir sheet was issued by US Postal Service picturing the Mars Rover Sojourner. 


Front Back



The perforations on the Souvenir Sheet have a special "USA" perforation. 




The reverse of the souvenir sheet has the facts of the Mars Pathfinder mission.

Hidden Image seen with a US Stamp decoder lens : “•MARS PATHFINDER•JULY 4,1997", "•USPS" (repeating)




To view other stamps in this category click on the following link - 
Stamps with Hidden image
Stamps with Holes/Design Perforations/Cut Outs

Disclaimer - Information about the stamp issues on this page has been taken from the net and are for informational purposes only. No copyright claim is made for the above mentioned information/pictures.

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