Obscure Perfin?

I have always understood that perfins were used as a security measure on older stamps. Typically, they took the form of a logo or letter (or series of letters) to make up an abbreviation for the company using them.

Of all of them I have, however, this is the only one that has no identifiable letters but just a series of obscure dots. Am I missing something? Did someone put their ID in code or is it just that I am looking at only a partial perfin? I've scanned both front and back to make it easier see the perfin:





Any ideas?

Some perfins were designs rather than initials and some perfins were punched with damaged devices or broken pins. I have no idea beyond that.

Edit typo

This one is missing a number of pins which will make it near impossible to id. Some perfin specialists who work with them all the time might be able to psyche it out - but not me!

Looks like perfin target practice.




Butch

So that explains it! I figured the perfin probably wasn't intended to be that obscure.

I'll call it a "UPS" (unidentified perfin stamp).

Does the cancel say New York? Maybe that is a clue as to the company / govt dept ?

Yes, could be inscription rather than initials. Looks like initials somehow though.

Play connect the dots?

"Typically, they took the form of a logo or letter (or series of letters) to make up an abbreviation for the company using them."

Why restrict your search to "English" alphanumeric. There are large Chinese and Japanese business communities in many US cities and companies could have used a character from their language as a perfin security measure.

That looks like Orion the constellation to me..
Edit: But not as much when I compare it to the actual stars.

Braille?

Very similar perfin from Germany ?

I think it is in braille also.