Why Is There A Difference Between A Regular Blk And A Plate

Does one collect only plate blocks verses a regular blocks of 4 or 6?
Is there a significant monetary value between the 2? If so, why?

Just a newbie question

Four to eight decades ago, plate blocks were very much in demand. They were one of the three basic U.S. "formats," mint singles, first day covers, and plate blocks. Most collectors of the 1930s through the 1950s felt they needed strong exposure and active acquisition of each of these segments of the U.S. market. Mint sheets were also very popular, although their relatively high cost and problems of storage always limited demand.

This has changed to the point that postWar plate blocks (and sheets) are overwhelmingly little more than discount postage; only a few retain their retail (and catalog) value. In the end, supply simply outran demand. I'm not sure there's a reason you can point to, without generating lots of debate.

As far as format is concerned the printing format determines that. If the printing format places the plate number in the middle of the margin, then six stamps may be necessary to be removed to form a whole block. If the plate number is just in the corner of the plate, then only four stamps need be in a plate block. Some plate blocks require the use of the whole sheet. Others may require a block of 8-12 stamps.

The US Postal Service ruined plate block collecting for the average collector due to their greed. It first started in the 1970s when plate blocks of stamps moved from a typical block of four to plate number strips of 8, 12 or even 20 stamps. It became too expensive for most collectors and a lot of collectors moved away from that collecting discipline as a result.

Fast forward into the next decade and stamps were being printed by outside firms, with plate numbers being virtually unnecessary but were retained for collector interest only. Then stamp panes were reduced in size from the typical 50 or 100 count pane to panes of 20 or less stamps, with post offices often requiring collectors to purchase the entire pane to obtain a plate block. Further, many current issues now have plate numbers in all four corners, which essentially flooded the market with a vast number of so-called "plate blocks". Then the USPS decided that certain issues need not have plate numbers at all, which further ruined the hobby for those specialists.

Due to the fact that current stamps are often printed in multiple (sometimes 5 or more) designs with plate blocks at all four corners, it effectively makes the ability to collect a plate "block" no longer possible.

As a result, a number of collectors have migrated to collecting Plate Number Singles, especially since many current definitive issues are printed by various printers with different plate number prefixes to collect, but even that hobby has limited appeal unless one is interested in those details.

I have a lot of 1930-50's plate blks and regular blks of 4 or 6 from my grandfather and was just curious to know if there was any significant difference between the 2.

The plate # blocks will typically be valued higher than the blocks.

I would say that for the stamps of the 1930's-90's plate blocks can be easy to acquire and when purchased in bulk can be acquired at a discount to their face value. They can be fun to collect, but they will never be an investment or a means to make money.

I frequently receive plate blocks from the 1940s and '50s on mail from stamp sellers.

Consider that a plate block is absolutely identifiable by position. A plain block of four, without more, could come from any number of places within a sheet, so in theory they could be far more common.

Over the years I've bought hundreds of plate blocks at face value, and many at something less than face.

My local counter clerks are interested to see old stamps and blocks on envelopes, but I know that feeling isn't shared universally among clerks.

Generally for U.S. stamps, plate blocks of 6 stamps with plate number in the middle were for flat plate printed stamps and plate blocks of 4 stamps with plate number in the corner were for rotary press printed stamps.

You can access Mystic's free online stamp catalog to see relative valuations; the prices are outrageous, but the price ratios should remain accurate. For instance, if a plate block of 4 of the 3c Olympics of 1932 is $3, and a regular block is $1.50, then you have some idea of relative valuations. Pay close attention to centering and hinged/never hinged when you are doing comparisons.

Mystic's prices are not attainable by ordinary mortals.

Here is a sample page (with 1909 issues)--
http://www.mysticstampcatalog.com/l...g/2013_Vol_1

Collecting plate blocks was popular until the 70's or early 80's.

Collectors tried to get all the plate numbers associated with a particular stamp as well as all four postions, upper left and right and lower left and right.

With the introduction of the Huck Press, each color had its own plate number. As mentioned earlier, it was then necessary to collect strips of up to 20+ stamps. They were difficult to store and, with the inflation during that period,expensive.

Many collectors, including myself, abandoned collecting plate blocks.

It can still be fun to collect the old plate blocks.

Dan

If Mystic's prices are way out of line, what price guide is closer to what people might pay? I have looked at ebay for realized prices, but a book or site would be helpful.

What's good about Mystic is the accuracy and the completeness, and the rendering of colors. It's the prices that spoil the deal.

As a general guide if the price is more than face value, it's probably not a good price.

The same can be said for singles of this era not just plate blocks.

If you want to price the plate blocks of 1930's-50's versus regular blocks, I would use the Scott US specialized catalog. The value for the block without a plate# unless specifically mentioned is the single stamp value multiplied by the number of copies in the block. At least that's how I value them. I don't know if plate block values are in the regular US catalog or not.