#120 Admiral 50-Cent Plate Variety

Hey Gang,

I've had this #120 plate variety in my collection for a while, but I have never really narrowed down exactly what it is. The most obvious feature is a thickening of the side of the frame, through the centre area. I'm using George C. Marler's The Admiral Issue of Caanada as a reference, but the stamp doesn't appear to match any of his descriptions 100%. Here's the closest bet, I think;




My stamp shows the thickening of the frame and a small trace of a line under the E, and a trace of a mark above the A. However, there is not a mark in the margin near leaf 4. There are three other re-entries/retouches described with similar thickening of the frame, but I think I have ruled out them all.

So let me know what you think. Re-entry or just retouched? Anyone else have access to Marler's book, or any other resource, and want to offer up an opinion?



Showing the thickened frame and the small line under the E.

I interpret the mark leaf 4 as just pointing out where this occurs. It is next to the fourth leaf up from the bottom. Very neat. What is the value of this used and mint please?

Seems to be retouched, because I would think a recut would be more straight and longer along the frame.

Now I have to check my 50c Admiral!

Here's another example with some thickening of the right frame. I believe this one matches pretty closely this description by Marler.




The thickening is not nearly as dramatic, but the white space in the middle of the line is indicative that it is there (I think). But again, although Marler describes the marks in the margin to be 'marginal' I can't seem to make anything out. So another case of close, but not 100%.

Crouse27; the Unitrade 2013 catalogue makes no mention of any retouches or re-entries. So I don't know what the value might be. Both of my examples are from plate 2, which would make them 120a, 120i or 120ii. I can't really tell the difference in the particular shades though.







Edit; Added images.