Scott 599 Line Pair With Plate #? On Cover.

Not sure what plate number this is but I think it has a star at the beginning of the number and I couldn't find anything on that in Durlands catalog. Number maybe 15541?

The 4th number can't be a 4 because the mark is too close to the 3rd number.

Looking at the bottom of the 1st and 5th numbers, I'd say they are ones. That leaves 8, 6, 3 or 0 for the second/third position. I think only a 7 would make the mark found in the 4th position.

from a quick scan, #583 is the only one with a close match to the bottom of the plate numbers that I can find.
PN:18871 (found in Herbert's Plate Number Single Cat.)

Added: But I know 583 is not a coil...

Hi Jconey okay Not a 5 for the middle ones? but is that a star tip I see at the front of the numbers?

FYI, you can easily do a 'reverse' lookup (type in plate number and it will return which catalog numbers the stamp might be) for plate numbers for any US stamp here https://www.stampsmarter.org/featur...ockHome.html , click on the 'Search By Plate Number' tab.

Yes, the above is a star plate.
Don

Yeah. it could be a 5. I found it. 15871 (Maybe)

The only two other plate numbers I see that might resemble that on a #599 would be 18071 and 19971

I was so focused on the numbers. Didn't even notice the Star.

Thanks Guys! How can I find out if 15871 is a star plate? Or that was the only way the plate number was made?

I don't have a good reference that lists all star plates, as such. Herbert's and Durland's cats don't really help.

If you find one let me know, I'd like to add it to my repository too.
15871, 18071, 19971 all give the same lower profile.

Didn't star plates have the wider vertical margins towards the outside of the plate? The joint line would make that the edges of the two plates.

revcollector: That was my understanding as well.

So we are left at trying to determine what plate numbers are star numbers.

Downward pointing stars appear to have been used on plate numbers between 18000 and 20799. Upright stars are on 14000-15000 plate numbers. The number here appears to be 19971.

To this question:
"Didn't star plates have the wider vertical margins towards the outside of the plate? The joint line would make that the edges of the two plates."

For sidewise rotary press coils, the star and top plate number appear above position 1, and the plate number alone appears below position 170.

They appear to have started using the downward pointing star around plate number 18000 on the 1-1/2¢, 2¢ and 3¢ denominations. I have only seen upright stars on the 1¢ coil. I have never seen a star on the higher denomination 4¢, 5¢ and 10¢ coils, all of which have plate numbers below 18000. Highest plate for 4¢ = 17940, for 5¢ = 17948, for 10¢ = 17964.

The practice must have been discontinued by the end of the 2¢ run, highest plate 20799. The later 6¢ coils used plates 20968 and 20969 and I have not seen an example with a star.

Reb608 - Great stuff! I just learned something. Thank you.