Scott 554 On Cover With A Straight Line Running The Length Of The Stamp.

This very straight line looks like it is impressed into the stamp but where it goes across an inked area, it seems to have dragged the ink into the white areas. It runs past the full length of the stamp. What could this be from?

Looks to me like their was FOD (foreign object debris) on the plate when it was printed since the paper is scarred as well.

Or, perhaps during handling or canceling.

I would vote for damage during or even well after use. It could have been done recently.

I think this happened during printing when the ink wasn't fully dry. Something in the machinery applying an edge or pressure to it? The paper is deformed at the top, so not just a hair.

How on earth was the ink displaced recently?

My point being that the short time during production versus the long time this stamp existed after leaving the BEP/Post Office. It has been on this cover for 90+ years. The time since the stamp was sold is huge by comparison. And yes, I would bet the scratch was made close to the time of use, but the scratch does not have a date on it.

If I were to attempt to simulate this damage effect today, it would be quite simple to take a very dull knife with a rough edge - or a metal nail file - something which would both indent the paper AND provide some abrasion to grind and drag the ink particles along and deposit them further down the scratch line.

I see zero evidence that this is a production EFO.

Here are couple of more images.

Great scans! Obviously there was a foreign object on the plate or paper while the ink was still wet.

I agree that this was caused after production in the subsequent handling of the cover. It's been around a long time and no one knows the troubles it has seen.

Glad that you agree Rev.

I don't, I think it was simply a case of poor handling. I agree with John Becker.

I admit I may still be on the fence, but my responses so far "go with the odds" - for what data we have been presented.

The images so far "slant" the data significantly. It would be good to have a scan of the entire mail piece, a scan showing the entire stamp to show whether the mark goes beyond the stamp onto the cover, close-up of the scratch/cancel junction and closeup of the scratch crossing any perforation hole. How the scratch/cancel and the scratch/hole meet will be strong evidence of the timeline.

SO great Idea! I will get images of the full front. I am taking pictures with a 3in1 Digital Microscope 1600X. around $20. Nothing great, kind a cheaply made but it does a great job getting digital images.

The two close ups are of the stamp and off on the paper spot but from opposing views to get the best shadow. Then a large area of the issue and the full cover.