210 With Vertical Line

Getting back into collecting (Vacation started pre-internet) Went thru a bunch of 210's as the wife enjoys fancy cancels/colors/etc. She actually caught this 210 with a vertical line running up the entire left side ... Is there a story about this line, out of 2500 this was the only one we found. Thanks for your time, so happy to be collecting again.

The sheet divider line where it was separated into panes.

Thank you for the reply, really enjoying this site

The straight edge is on the wrong side for what stallzer is suggesting. However, Edward Willard, in the first of his 2 volume study of this stamp, devotes a fair amount of space to what he calls "The Line Variety." He finds it on at least three different plates, and it is most plentiful and prominent on what he calls plate 1. Baxter thought it was an unburnished layout line, but Willard disagrees. Since it is not entirely parallel to the left edge of the design, I would go along with Willard.

He provides a key to plating the variety, for a line that runs at a slight angle the entire vertical length of the plate on the left side of stamps from the left pane with straight edge right (positions 10L-100L). You might want to consult that for specific details of the position for your stamp.

Here's a reference: Edward L. Willard, The United States Two Cent Red Brown of 1883-1887, v.1 (New York: Lindquist, 1970) 99-107.

Very interesting Essayk, did not know there was 2 volumes of information on this stamp. I checked a block of 15 that I have and no such line.

Okay very interesting and way over my expertise. I see both books for $60 on ebay, might have to think about it. Was there an estimate on how many of this variety may exist.

You might take the title and author info to your local library and see if they can locate a copy for you to borrow. Many libraries across the country make these books available to all branches.
Best of luck!

If you have an APS membership you may borrow the books from the APRL directly, or, if not, you may get them via interlibrary loan. But you can find the APRL policy and procedures at the APS website.

I was aware of the book but didn't know it was both volumes and never thought about the Library exchange system! That's brilliant actually!

If it was a cutting line then it would be imperforate straight edge on that side as essayk said above and also it would be more centered between two stamps and not so close to the side of the stamp design on the left.

I don't think you will find a "sheet divider line" on any of the large banknotes.

I may have just found a #213 with a complete line. I will keep looking...

I checked the 200-300 #210s I have and did not find any with the line. I did stumble across this 'imperf' 210.


Here a couple of other unusual Bank Notes

Don

So I ended up buying both Volume 1&2 "The United States Two Cent Brown of 1883-1887" by Edward L. Willard 1970 --- Page 100 states an estimation of finding this variety at 1 in 10,000 of unsearched stamps. With an estimate of 500 copies saved! I was lucky enough to get my hands on around 8,000 210s bundled many years ago. I am either very lucky or the 500 estimate is low as I found my self two more. Including a plate position 100l(right stamp) with an "A" for American? Of note the book states only one known 100l variety copy.

Thoughts? Am I crazy to even continue this search?

No, of course you are not crazy to do this. Many collectors do this type of thing; not all of the same stamp of course. Studies like this only increase our knowledge of these stamps! Keep up the good work!

Peter

Almost missed the return of this thread. Congrats on finding more examples of this anomaly, and huzzah that you got the Willard books. Others have added or modified information in those books, but they are still the best place to start for a study of this stamp and its varieties.




Could you show us a closeup of the one you think has a partial American imprint capture showing this line? The location of the imprint on a normal plate would not have the letter "A" so close to the center gutter where the cut was made. So a natural right straight edge would not show a letter.

essayk and I almost missed your reply .. away from home right now but will get a pic up Friday night (earlier if I can get the wife todo it). I was so convinced that it was an "A" that I might be wrong with plate pos 100l and will have to measure. I can't thank you enough for your guidance and knowledge