25c Deep Green Special Handling; "At" Joined At Top

In 1984, I purchased a set of MNH special handling stamps in blocks of 4 (two had plate numbers). Because I already had a set of singles in my album, these went into a stockbook and have remained there since then.

Today, as I was contemplating breaking down the blocks to post a set of singles for auction on SCF, I "discovered" that my 25c block was from plate 17103 and the stamps had the "A" and second "T" of "States" joined at top.





Things like this make me wonder how many other "finds" remain buried in my albums and/or stockbooks due to my ignorance or inattention.

Now that has to be listed in at least the specialized catalog. Can't say it was build up or anomli with all 4 being same. Hate finding a single with issues that because its not listed its just not considered much of anything. So I'll start the bidding at $1 for the block!

It is in the Specialized. The 2011 CV for a normal MNH single was $37.50; the AT joined version cataloged at $120. Had the "T" and "A" in "Postage" been joined as well (also plate 17103), the single MNH CV would have been $190.

In other words, don't break them up. Leave them as a plate block of 4. Remember, you can always split them up later should there be a reason to do so, but once separated they can never be put back in their original state.

Also, what's with the third stamp (i.e. first stamp in second row) of that plate block -- between the "IN" in "HANDLING"? Is that another printing anomaly or is it debris that was inadvertently included on the scan?

Your "progressive plate break" is illustrated on Page 334 in the "Encyclopedia of Plate Varieties on US Bureau-Printed Postage Stamps" by Loran C. French copyrighted in 1977 by the Bureau Issues Association




This should help.

Hal

wt1, that is a perf hole adhering to the face of the stamp.

Hal, thanks. Looks like an interesting reference book.

I found a similar one in my collection, just by chance. Similar to yours, but an extra line thrown in. It pays to keep up with the activities on this board, doesn't it?