2008 Finland Moth Stamps... inverted tagging??

[nells250]

Hello all

Recently I was sent some used Finland stamps. I noticed that 2 of them seemed to be a bit "off". They are the 2008 Moth stamps, Scott #1314, and it looks like the tagging/overprinting is inverted. I tried to snap a photo so you can all see what I mean:




I went to the library and looked these stamps up, and I didn't see any info at all regarding any errors, and the overprinting is also not mentioned.

Does anyone into Finland stamps know what's up? Were all of these stamps printed like this?

[FairyFoot]

I'll go and have a look at my Postcrossing postcards from Finland to find out.

[FairyFoot]

Found some

[FairyFoot]

and these

[FairyFoot]

and this one




These are the only ones I have on postcards. I might have some letters somewhere with them on... but those are not to hand.
Hope it is useful

[khj]

The tagging looks normal to me. The tagging is in the shape of a moth. What you see are the left side and right side of the moth on the left and right stamps, respectively. Note, however, that the moths are DIFFERENT -- in other words, the tagging shape (like the stamps) also show different moths. Setenant tagging -- I like that!!! Kudos to Finland for innovative stamp ideas!

If you are not sure about orientation of the tagging, check the moth antennae.

k

[FairyFoot]

just spotted something.... in certain light (angle), there is a overshadow thing....

[FairyFoot]

with half a butterfly/moth spread out across the side view of the moth

[FairyFoot]

Maybe the "overshadow" is the spread out view of the same moth...

[FairyFoot]

(I almost forgot what beautiful stamps Finland has issued....not just Moomins)

[khj]

Just to clarify, what you are seeing is the taggant, not an overprint or "overshadow". Under proper wavelength filtered UV light, the taggant will photoluminesce ("glow"). This is used by the automated cancelling/sorting machinery to detect the presence of the stamp.

It is certainly a nice touch to have the taggant in the shape of a moth, instead of blocks or lines. I like to collect tagging varieties and I didn't know about this particular tagging shape. Thanks for posting!!!

[FairyFoot]

So that's what it is called! At some point, I'll have a look if I have some spare (i.e., not on postcard, or envelope from a penpal) of these moths...

[kacyds]

popcorn

[nells250]

OK, FINALLY! I have my answer. So the tagging is normal. This is what I needed to see, someone else's copies. Mystery solved!