British Plates

Where can I find a cross reference?

An example: I have a Penny Blue with CJ top then JC bottom, Scott number I can't find.

The same groups of plate letters were used on all stamps with that feature, so there is no cross-reference, so to speak. There are mis-shapen letters that appear on certain stamps, and are cataloged separately in Scott, but that is not likely to help you any.

Show us the stamp and we'll identify it for you.

I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean by cross-reference.

If you mean a general reference, the standard reference if you want basic information regarding the plates would be the Stanley Gibbons Great Britain Specialised Stamp Catalogue Volume 1: Queen Victoria.

There is no penny blue, so I am assuming you mean the 2d blue. Since you have letters in all 4 corners, it will either be Scott #29 or #30 (thin white lines).

Also, the plate number will be sideways in the border on the left and right sides. Depending on which stamp it is, the possible plate numbers will be 7-9 and 12-15.

In Cross reference I meant to Scott number.
Here are the stamps from an Album I received. I posted about this album before its from 1879 filled with stamps I just trying to go through it and ID the stamps.

I am not aware of a legal Scott-GB cross-reference.

Your 2d blue is Scott #30(1869) from position JC (use the bottom corner numbers to ID position). The plate number is obscured on both sides by the cancel/damage.

bottom left: #98(1884), maybe someone can ID the perfin for you

bottom right: is too beat up (or heavy cancel) for me to make a positive ID. Depending on addition information, it will either be #45, #50, or #51. 2 types, one has "SIX-PENCE" and the other has "SIX PENCE". It is position MH. The plate number will be in the circles just above the lower corner letters -- it looks like 6(?).

khj Thank you, you answered my question, I thought that different plate numbers had different Scott numbers.

Can I get an ID on the other stamps............ Thanks

The Prefin reads "S M & Co"

You're welcome.



Scott only lists/prices the different plate numbers, but does not assign a different catalog number unless there is a design/watermark/paper/perforation/color difference.



Which other stamps?

That would be the perfin for Schill, Modera, and Company.

Yes its plate 6 and reads "SIX-PENCE"

khj thank you for the wealth of info........... This site always has great people wanting to help. Thank you again.

Then it will be one of these 2:

45a if watermark 24 (heraldic emblems)

50(dull violet)/50a(bright violet) if watermark 25 (spray of rose)

S M & Co' Schill Modera & Company, Merchants of Manchester and Glasgow.
The partnership was dissolved on 30th June 1895 on the death of one of the partners, Herman Schill.

It's amazing what the internet can uncover.

Thanks for the background. I didn't know that. Good searching! It's amazing what people using the internet can uncover.