Kansas City roulette

The Kansas City roulette was a type used in Kansas City, Missouri on then-current 1¢ and 2¢ Washington-Franklin imperf stamps. These stamps were created and used from late 1914 until 14 January 1915 when they were taken off sale.

Due to a large supply of imperfs on hand, the postmaster of Kansas City bought sewing/quilting/dressmaking pounce/tracing wheels. Because 14 such tools were used, there is some variation in the improvised rouletting.

Obviously, this makes it difficult to separate genuine from any forgeries. At the time, collector William C. Michaels made a small handstamp reading "W.C.M" to sign genuine Kansas City roulettes. This remains the gold standard to confirm genuine roulettes.

Stamps have been collected in blocks of four to better show the rouletting. Covers are rare, probably indicating how many Kansas City roulettes ended up in philatelists' hands.  File:US Kans City roul.jpg|1¢ block of 4; genuine? One stamp has been signed "ERW" and handstamped "WW" (Wilson Wood). 

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