Reading Perforations

i did a search to see if it was discussed. I found a couple of threads but, the way it was explained by the different people, was not simple.

i think it's pretty simple....how do you read perforations?

there is a top/bottom...and two sides.
some stamps have the same perf's on all 4 sides...some dont.
10x10 is the same all sides...simple enough.
10x11...is not.

what side do you read first? the top/bottom...or the sides?

it is my understanding that...the top/bottom represents the first # (the 10)
then the next # (the 11) represents the sides.

horizontal x vertical (10x11)

that is correct, yes?

in one post I read explaining how to read the numbers/perfs...the poster said...quote:





please explain how and when the first number becomes the vertical, instead of the horizontal?
i thought...the first number, regardless if its "larger" than the second number, always represents the horizontal (top/bottom).

can someone explain that in "simple" terms?
or was the poster wrong in explaining it?

Disregard the quote -- it is either a typo or a cut/paste error by the poster.

For compound perforations (i.e., a stamp that does not have the same perforation measurement on every side) the standard way of giving perforation measurements is to have the stamp in the proper upright orientation -- then listing the perforation starting from the top, and then moving in a clockwise orientation

So, a rectangular stamp with perforation 12x9 would have perforation 12 at top (and bottom), and perforation 9 at right (and left).

A rectangular stamp with perforation 12x9x10 would have perforation 12 at top, perforation 9 at right (and left), and perforation 10 at bottom.

Hope that helps.

yes, that helps. and simply said.
thank you for clarifying the direction of reading the numbers.