In collecting mass-produced items, particularly those that are printed, collectors often distinguish among varieties of seemingly identical items. A "variety" will exhibit a difference (considered significant) from a similar item.

A variety is an item that varies in some way from its standard or original form. It was probably meant by its manufacturer to be considered identical to its fellows, but it contains certain distinctive characteristics which set it apart from other items to which it is ostensibly identical. Differences which cause an item to be termed a "variety" include missing colors, slight changes in ink or paper, and differences in printing method or in format.

For example, a stamp that is printed in red ink in one example and printed in black ink in another example would probably not be considered a variety, because the issuing body made a conscious decision to alter the color of the ink in a way that would be objectively obvious to users. Likewise, if one example of a stamp is identical to another in every way except that the first is denominated 37 cents and the second 39 cents, they are considered separate issues, not varieties.

However, a stamp that is perforated twelve times on its vertical edge in one example and 14 times in another is considered a variety, because to most users (indeed, for most uses), this distinction is meaningless--if it is at all notable. Likewise, a stamp that is light blue in one example and aquamarine in another might be considered a variety, because the two colors are so similar that it is probable the difference occurred not because of a conscious decision on the part of the issuer that the two be distinguished as separate among consumers but because exigencies required a slight variation be made; for example, light blue ink is not available in sufficient quantity for a press run, but enough aquamarine exists that the press run can be completed. In the case of the perforation, two contracts may have been awarded, one to a company whose machines perforated twelve holes to the inch and one whose machines perforated 14 to the inch.

Of course, over a the course of a press run, colors might diminish in intensity; likewise, a slightly different shade of ink might be used because of variations in the production process. Examples exhibiting these slight differences would not be considered a variety, because the difference would not be considered significant.

As you can see, distinguishing an item as a variety can be highly subjective. Whether or not a variant attribute is considered "significant" requires a decision subject to the view of an individual or a group of individuals. There is nothing "scientific" about what constitutes a variety.

I have attempted to be highly conservative in my estimation of whether or not one of my postcards is a variety of another. My main consideration in distiguishing whether an item is a variety or a distinct example is the picture on the face (I define the face as that side of the card with the largest, most distinctive picture on it; alternatively, one may say it is the side not intended to contain the address. Again, these may at times be subjective decisions.) If the picture is cropped identically, colored similarly (I don't distinguish among very close colors; for example, I would consider pink and magenta similar enough [in most circumstances] that the manufacturer of the card did not intend consumers to distinguish among them). However, I am logocentric to the point that most variations in the text present on the face or the reverse of the card indicates a variety.

Let me first offer an example of what is not a varitey.  I do not consider 0027 and 0028 varieties, even though they are highly similar.  The picture on the face is the same; even the reverse sides of the cards are highly similar.  However, 0027  is moreorless monochromatic while 0028 is colored and there is a border of gold.  That these differences are considered significant by the publisher is indicated by the text on the reverse.  In each example, the text identifies the cards by different names, indicating that they are supposed to be distinctive. Thus 0027 & 0028 are separate issues.

I would, on the other hand, consider 0013, 0014, and 0015 varieties of the same design.  They are a great example because their varieties are several.  Between 0013 and 0014, the variety is to be determined by the reverse: 1) the copyright notice on the left side of 0013 is missing on 0014; 2) the central, vertical text "MADE IN USA" is in a different font; 3) the text "POST CARD" and "THIS SIDE IS FOR THE ADDRESS" is in different locations; 4) "THIS SPACE FOR WRITING" is on 0014 but not on 0013; and 5) the logo for the Manhattan Post Card Publishing Co., Inc., is altered and place differently on the two cards.

The reverses of 0013 and 0015 appear to be identical; however, on the face, 0013 says "146.-BRYANT PARK, PUBLIC LIBRARY, 5TH AVENUE AND 42ND STREET, NEW YORK." while 0015 says "157.-BRYANT PARK, PUBLIC LIBRARY, 5TH AVENUE AND 42ND STREET, NEW YORK."  Presumably 146 and 157 are some sort of inventory numbers, and the casual consumer would not distinguish between them; thus I consider this a variety.

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