New Arrivals

Well, my nice Type Va cover shown in the New Acquistions thread came in today. It was described as a #24 Type Va, #26 pair, on U10 entire. This is a test. Should I complain, continue to be happy, or be elated? Shown below is a better scan.

The image quality is not very good. I am not sure if I can put a link in for the photobucket image but let me try.
http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums...711e7ed1.jpg

I don't understand it but the image is much larger when I look at it in photobucket...

When I click on the image here it opens up a new window with the image at the same size as the Photobucket version.

And what I think I am seeing is a type IV on that 3c pair (discontinuous vert frame lines). I would need a lot more magnification to be sure, but there is a hefty cat difference between #26 and 26A.

Is that what you're seeing?

Winston,
Pretty cool.
Replaces the pair of 26A I bought from you earlier this week. Nice find!!

Ray

Let's see if this helps. Left stamp first.

Nice pick up! I have a weakness for the 1c Franklin's so either way I love it!

Type III, right frame line double ?

Thanks for the responses but I want to see more than three before I comment. However, I will say an answer that is 100% correct has not been given so far....

Okay, the vert outer frame lines do extend beyond the horiz out frame lines slightly, but for left stamp on right, the line is not broken by perf, but is discontinuous.
Right stamp the line ends just short of the perf hole on both sides.

Hence: type IV

Also, the left stamp shows a recut inner frame line on right. Cannot tell about left side.
Right stamp does not show inner frame line recutting.

So Scott #26A horiz combo pair one with and one without inner frame line recutting.

That said, I would take a very hard look at the continuity of the outer frame lines in relation to the horiz perfs to be sure they are actually discontinuous and not interrupted.

I am no expert whatsoever, but what is it about the right stamp? The outer line on the right that starts very far from the stamp at the top, seems to creep in very closely to the design at the bottom, pretty much ending up where the inner line should be. Is this some type of indication of a recut?

I guess I have waited long enough. Essayk is correct that the pair of stamps is a pair of Type IV, Scott #26A, postions 24-25L10E. The left stamp has the inner frameline recut at right. There were 18 positions with inner line recutting on the Type IV plates, Plates 10 and 11. Since only 18 out 400 stamps were thusly recut, they are scarce - even harder to find in a pair. So, to answer my question, I should be and am elated. It is a magnificent cover due to the incredible franking of scarce to rare 1857 issue stamps.

There is only one position on the Type III plates known to have an inner line recut. It is known as Recut Q and is rare. So, when you come across a 3c 1857 with a recut inner line that is not a Type II, it is almost certainly a Type IV, Scott #26A.

Partime,

With very few exceptions, all of the framelines on all of the 3c plates from 1851-61 were recut on the plate whether they are orange brown, dull red, or a Type I, II, III, or IV. The framelines simply did not transfer to the plate from the transfer roll very well.