Red Streak In This C11 Airmail

In checking out this block of NH stamps I noticed a red streak in this one that appears to be the same color as the red of the border. Is this a known feature? Anything worthy of note? (light red streak running vertically from under the A in postage down to the base of the tower)

Very interesting. Possibly a fiber on the plate during the red print run? I don't recall mention of a red plate variety like that, but there is a blue moon constant variety! I'll check my copy of United States The 5C Beacon Air Mail Stamp of 1928 tomorrow.

WIll be interested to see what you find. Here's the whole block with plate numbers if that helps. Double Top variety makes it interesting already. The red streak is in the bottom middle stamp.

The author, Henny H. Goodkind first reminds us that Max G. Johl devoted 10 pages to this stamp in Vol III of The 20th Century Stamps of the United States which I do not have. He does discuss the three Plate errors, the Double Top, the Misplaced F and the Missing top.
"Plate Varieties:
Many problems arose with the printing of the 5c Beacon air mail. One of the chief difficulties was caused by the red ink, which wore out the plates much faster than did the blue ink, probably because the former had a greater acid content.
The Plate wear is most evident on the onramation at the left side between the numeral 5 and the label with the word AIR.
When this plate wear was noticed, the frame plates were not discarded but repaired. This work is called recutting.
Seventeen different recuts are described in great detail and illustrated in Johl's book and the writer sees no point in repeating that information here.
There are a few other plate varieties that are very minor. Some of the plates were scratched and thus the printed stamps evidence a few extra marks."

He then describes the named varieties. Blue Moon, Open Door, Worn Tower. Also discusses printing freaks, ink spots some of which look like bombs or rockets.

You can download Johl's Vol III of The 20th Century Stamps of the United States here
http://www.stampsmarter.com/learnin...earning.html

The info starts on page 213.
Don

Thank you Don, I knew I'd seen an available download somewhere, and forgot to look on your site.

WOW, Don, that's an incredible library right there. Had no idea you'd done all that. Looks fantastic and can't wait to dig in.

Thank you!

Thanks. I looked at the Johl document as well. Sounds like this comes under the category of some random plate scratches. This block was in a collection of twelve air mail plate blocks that I should be selling, but I quite like the look of this one. Might decide to keep it :)

Rick