3cent.........1851-57

Hello everyone.....

Here's a look at my 3cent 1851-57 study. Most were plated by Dr. Chase, probably the most noted specialist of these issues.

one of the few things I've scanned......looks like I need to clean it.

Nice collection of stamps.

Very impressive study! Would you mind explaining the meaning of the plate position notations? It would be very educational.

Hi Tom....

I keep forgetting that not everyone understands or uses my code.

It's fairly standard......starting with the top left:

1......#10.....36R2e = Scott #10 position 36 righthandside plate 2, early impression

2......#10....86L2e...#10 position 86 lefthandside plate 5 early impression.


3......#10....33L1i...#10 position 33 lefthandside plate 1 intermediate impression.

4......#10....85Ro....#10 position 85 righthandside plate 0.

5......#10....5L1i....#10 position 5 lefthandside plate 1 intermediate impression.


11's are from the same plates as #10....position and plates read the same.
early, intermediate or late impressions.

With all the possible plates (28) and positions (100 each left and right)and considering all the combinations of re-cut lines, I have never attempted the unbelievable task of trying to plate these myself.

How does one tell what position a stamp occupies without selvage?

Charles

As I was rereading this post, a stupid thought came into my mind, so please forgive for asking this quest, but don't forget I am a 30 year beginner. How do you do a study and what is the purpose of a study.

quote:

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How does one tell what position a stamp occupies without selvage?

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If the stamps have been plated, you can consult the appropriate reference and find a match for your stamp. If the stamps have not been plated, then
by painstakingly reconstructing the whole plate using pairs, blocks and strips of stamps to conclusively assign stamps to each position in the plate based on the reconstruction.

Hi James.....

A study can be done for any stamp.....most choose something generally available and affordable so that you can gather many examples to look for varieties of print or color.

Reasons for a study......range from just curiosity to in-depth research to just for the fun of it.

Some folks will set up studies for a particular town/city cancel to track alterations, or type of cancel or degradation of a cancel, or even the use of different colors of cancels.

A study can be a great inexpensive side collection, some folks will set up a dozen or more different ones and add to them a little at a time for many years ending up with one or two that turn out to be a great value to the hobby and/or of decent monetary value.

I have to admit I still don't understand how this is done. Are you saying that you can tell where in a plate a stamp was printed by its appearance? How is a stamp plated in the first place?

Charles.