Question On Coil Lengths And PNCs

Happy Fourth, All!

I have a question. What is the common length/count for collecting coil stamps? My software program has categories for:
1. Strip of 3
2. Strip of 4
3. Strip of 5
4. PNC strip of 3
5. PNC strip of 5

Is there value for having longer strips?

For example, I have a Scott #1903 in a strip of 10. The PN is on stamp 4. Should I leave the strip alone, or break it up? If I should break it up, how should I do it?

Others in need of suggestion (please!):

#2127 in a strip of 15. No PN.
#2130 in a strip of 8. PN on stamp 3.
#2157 in a strip of 21. No PN.
#1904 in a strip of 10. PN on stamp 2.

Thanks for your time and replies!

Stay safe this holiday. Remember, light quickly and retreat!

Cardinal Bass.

Earlier stamps were collected as PNC's in strips of 3, but in today's market most collectors opt for PNC (plate number coils) of 5 stamps, with the plate number on the center stamp and two stamps without plate numbers on either side of it. There are exceptions, when multiple designs are involved, but the conventional wisdom is that the plate number should appear on the center stamp in any strip in order that the piece looks "balanced" in appearance.

Although there is nothing wrong with collecting larger strips (with or without plate numbers), since most collectors don't want the strips folded in any way, you would be hard pressed to find many who collect larger strips as they become more of a problem for long term storage and display.

CardinalBass,

In the early years of PNC strips of 3 was the rule then strips of 5.
For the most part, there is not much value other than face value for strips longer than 5, assuming the plate number is in the middle of the 5. I think if you have strips longer than 5 you may want to use them for postage. But, like WT1 mentioned, it all depends on the stamp. If a strip has no number then I would still keep a strip of 5 until you can replace it, then use that for postage. Typically, without a plate number the value is face. Check out your specialized for value w/o the number and see what I mean.

Art

Without plate numbers they are commonly collected as pairs or singles, with plate number they most poular length is a strip of 5 with the number in the middle.

Does anyone know why collecting PNC strips of 3 evolved into strips of 5?? That seems as odd as collecting line strips of 4 rather than line pairs. I am collecting the PNC's as strips of 5 because I know that's what others will want if I ever get rid of the collection, but I have wondered how that "standard" came to be.

Although all collectors are "free" to collect PNC's in any format they want, here's one explanation/theory dating back to 1986 as to why they evolved from strips of 3 to strips of 5 or more:

http://www.pnc3.us/pnc3.org/TPN/198...ripex-86.pdf

Munroe,
It was the precancel gap specialists that drove the migration to strips of 5. The precancels on the coils back then consisted of 2 horizontal lines with wording between the lines, but the mats that printed them were only 12 stamps wide, and they produced a break (gap) in the lines every 12 stamps. The BEP wasn't particular about how they placed the mats on the press (other than to make sure the wording centered on the stamps, which put the gap centered on the perfs) and the gap could appear at any perf location, and when they did any additional reprinting of a coil, that location could change from the last location. By going to strips of 5, more gap locations could be collected. (sure even longer strips could encompass even more locations and some did save longer strips, but most stopped at 5)

Remember, too, that it's only been in recent years that the USPS has issued multi-design issues in coil format. Take for example, the Spectrum Eagle Presort Stamp or the Aloha Shirts Postcard Rate Stamp. Five (5) designs on each side of a plate number in the center would dictate a minimum strip of 11 stamps in those formats. However, most albums and stockbooks are not prepared to house a strip that large (unless it's folded) so it requires yet another storage medium to deal with these sort of issues.

They (the US Postal Service) makes nothing "simple" for the average collector.