SC #10 Or 11? Can It Be Done By Plating It Vs Color?

Color on this issue is not my strong suit so I am trying to decide #10 or #11 based on plating.

Per my reading of Carroll Chase, all of the plates (4,6,7,8) used for Scott #11 had at least 3 of 4 frame lines redrawn. The right frame line of this stamp is more doubled than redrawn and the left is obviously faint. Does this then make it a #10? Any help is really appreciated.

By definition, a 10/10A is a stamp from Plate 0, 1E, 1i, 2E, or 5E. So, yes, a stamp can be identified solely on the basis of plating. However, this stamp is not a #10 it is an #11 from Plate 4.

Thank you sinclaire2010. Found it on Steven Rueckers plating website. There's also a rendering in Chase's book pg 116 (1942 ed.) ... 69R4. I read the paragraph where Chase states, "the four frame lines were always recut..." but not the paragraph below it where it refers to this stamp! Again thanks...I really wanted to plate this one!

Caper,

Nice stamp. Appears to be a deep claret color, but I can't be certain from your images.

At the Stamp Smarter links below, you'll find a newer plating initiative with larger images built by Stamp Community Forum members. Just enter the number 4 in the "Plate" box at the top, then get to the right pane by clicking on the "2" button above, and you'll find another example of 69R4. Just click on the thumbnail:

http://www.stampsmarter.com/index.html

Caper,


Your stamp is a good example of the plate 4 showing the bottom frame line being recut rather heavily.

If you go to the stampsmarter plate images (see Classic Coins post), click on a few random plate 4 images.
Compare to plate 6 images, the difference is telling.

Disclaimer alert: there are exceptions I'm sure, this is generalized information.

Actually the 3¢ 1851-57 Plating Initiative (and all other Stamp Smarter SQL databases) were all upgraded a few weeks ago.

To access Plate 4 simply drop the box down and select it from the list as shown below.
Don

PS - Stamp Smarter is undergoing a massive update but most of the efforts are not yet visible. The updates are driven by the need to be a 'responsive' web site (so it displays well on all screens - everything from desktop tops to smart phones). It is costing a ton of money (for new development tools) and there is already more than 300 man-hours in the upgrade. It is about 60% done and I am hoping to roll it out within the next few weeks.

The pull down menu is a tremendous improvement.

Thanks Classic Coins, have used the stampsmarter site and find it very helpful too. I know it will take time to learn (remembering is a whole different issue though) many of the shortcut idiosyncrasies of this class of stamps that will lead me to a correct plating determination. This is half of the fun of this hobby!

Stampcrow, great tip on plates 4/6! I saw what you meant right off when I perused the two plates.

And thanks 51Studebaker for the time to post the helpful web page hints/tools.

All great helpers