Transportation Coils Line Pair Values

I am using a Scott Specialized 2001 (I quit collecting past year 2000, so never bought a newer Scott's). I notice in the price listings for the transportation coils, there are entries like this: P# strip of 5, line, #1-2 $15.00. I assume the catalog is telling me that the PN strip of 5 with Pl# 1 or 2, or the line pair is valued at $15.00, but I wasn't sure if the $15.00 value was for a PN strip of 5 that included the joint line (since it states "line" not line pair). Can someone clarify?? Thanks

Your assumption is correct. The catalog doesn't use the term "line pair" for this issue, as the plate numbers typically require that it be collected as a P# strip of 3 or P# strip of 5, thus making the term "pair" inaccurate.

Also, current catalog values may be drastically different from 2001, as hoards come on the market, driving prices down, or certain combinations prove to be more elusive that first thought. The overall bias seems to be toward lower prices.

Speaking of coil strips ... Is there some commonly accepted date or issue when most collectors switched from strips of three to strips of five, those being (I think) the most commenly accepted formats to save single image coils.

There was a recent discussion about this very topic at this link:

https://goscf.com/t/25664&SearchTerms=strips,of,3

Thanks ... Missed that one.

Cal,
Note that Scott only specifically lists plate strips of 3 for the issues up thru 2115 - after that there is simply a note below 2122 before 2123 saying PS3 from that point on are generally valued at a PS5 minus the face value of 2 stamps (this is because the dealers by this point in time generally only saved strips of 5 and if someone asked for a strip of 3 they simply removed the 2 end stamps)

edited to fix to typos

Thanks everyone for clarifying the listing issue. There is a note in my Scott Spec after 2231 stating "Joint lines do not appear on Nos. 2225-2231." I assume that joint lines do appear on the rest of the coils in this issue. My album format provides a space for pairs for all coil stamps; I like to put a line-pair in that space when I can get one.

So, based on the post by eyeonwall, it appears the commonly accepted change-over from strips of 3 to strips of 5 occurs in 1985 with Scott 2123. There is, undoubtedly, a change-over point from line pairs (or pairs) to strips of 3. I guess when plate numbers became visible in coil stamps (earlier, I believe, they were trimmed off in the printing process). So ... when was that?

Scott #1891 (Flag and Anthem "...from sea to shining sea...") started it. Interestingly, the Scott Specialized Catalog of US Stamps does not make any reference about it. If you refer to the Postal Service Guide to US Stamps, though, there is this note following the listing of Scott #1891:

Munroe - whether a joint line appears depends on how rhey were printed. The early Transportation coils were printed on a press that produced joint lines. Later ones, including ones other than the 2225-2231 that you mention like the 2252-2266 group) do not carry any lines. Some in the 2123-2136 do, some don't.

Cal - the switch from line pairs to strips of three was not an abrupt one. Collecting plate number coils was not immediately popular and not immediately organized and there were some who saved the early transportation coils as pairs.

I was one of those who collected the early Transportation coils as line pairs. And such a shame. I have #1903 Mail Wagon (non precancel) PNC #5 and #6 in line pairs. Both catalog at a high value for strips of 3 or 5 stamps. An old Lynn's Stamp news with Transportaion PNC values listed these at over $200. Yesterday a #1903 PNC #5 was listed BIN at $124.95.

Does anyone know what Scott 1903 PNC #5 and #6 sell for as line pair or single?

Scott 1903 , used single, plate 5 catalogs for $ 172.50, plate 6 for $ 165.00. On cover both these numbers catalog for $ 200.00 each!
These figures come from the Plate Number Coil Collectors Club ( PNC3 ).

Thanks Petert4522. I really do appreciate the time you took to look them up for me.

And welcome to SCF