Kennedy Memorial

1964, 15 January

Printer: Helio Electronic Press
Designer Paul Koroleff
Sheet Size: 10 x 10
Perf.: 12 and Imperforate

Dubai holds the distinction of being the first nation to issue stamps honoring President John F. Kennedy, after his assassination. The three stamps were prepared with a common design but different values and colors. A souvenir sheet was also made with the same design. Essays of earlier proposed designs for this occasion were printed and sold in the philatleic market, as were endless varieties of created errors and varieties for the issued set.
 

Due to the popularity of the Kennedy theme and the stamps, the set was reprinted. Mr Stephan stated there were 70,000 sets (two impressions). He would never clarify if he meant a total of 70,000 sets or if there were 140,000 sets. Due to their popularity it seems more likely that the final number should be 140,000 sets. As with the 22 NOVEMBER stamp, the first printing had guidelines in the margins, whereas the second printing did not. From the total he claimed 10,000 perforated and 2,000 imperforated sets were later overprinted "May 29".
 

There are at least four shades of gray for the for 1 1/4Rs value, but it does not seem possible to tie them to any particular printing.

Set of 3 plus a souvenir sheet

• ABOVE: First Day covers of the perforate and imperforate sets and the souvenir sheet.

• TOP: One of the larger envelope that was most likely prepared for the souvenir sheet. The set of three stamps is cancelled on the first day of issue date, but with the regular canceler, not the commemorative canceler. The cover was sent through the mails to Jerusalem, Jordan. MIDDLE: A large envelope with the souvenir sheet applied to it.

• This is the larger sized envelope that was not consistantly used for the Kennedy issue. It could have been made for the SS of the set, but once they realized the envelope used for the set of stamps would do, decided not to use it. It certainly would make it easier to handle the covers as they would have all been the same size. The line across the writing at the bottom, indicating it was a FDC, in black across the writing at the bottom was most likey done so the envelope could be used to send regular mail and would not be wasted.

Rejected Design

• The above are the perf. and imperf. illustrations of the original colors that were going to be used for the set of stamps. There are two shades of the green. Both of them have a chalky appearance when examined. The green color was later chosen for the 22 NOVEMBER stamp issued later in the year. The gray that was used is a darker gray than this illustration. The dark brown color was never used for a Kennedy stamp.

• Color essays that were not used for the Kennedy Memorial issue. I believe these were the only six colors used and they are found on all of the proposed values.

• This image of Kennedy was rejected, but a similar one with a clearer image was finally the agreed upon center for the Kennedy stamps. The three brown images are a normal image, one with the center slightly shifted, and one with an inverted center. The gray stamp has the Kennedy image slightly shifted. Eventually, the frames were also rejected.

• TOP: A partial sheet of printer's waste with ink smears. There are faint impressions of the centers on the sheet on the left.
  BOTTOM: Reverse of the partial sheet.
  

• Printer's waste of the unaccepted center.

Items Intentionally Created

• Center images on the paper of the 75np and 1R values. This is from the second printing.

• Imperforated top margins with an extremely wide margin. This is from the second printing of the stamps.

• The block of four stamps has the red printing of the 1 1/4Rs writing printed over a normal block of the 1R value. Below the block is a blow-up of one of the stamps to illustrate it better. The pair of 1 1/4Rs has a double printing of the red.

• Souvenir sheet with inverted and misplaced center. The sheet also exista with the images and writing missing. The missing images and writing are printed on the back, gum side of the sheet. Also, panes exist of the normal sheet with multiple copies of the sheet in them. I have seen from three to nine sheets in one pane.

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