Imperforate #65 On Cover ???

DING !!

First,

I can't tell much from that scan. I'll absolutely agree that the top of the stamp looks like pixellation to me.

Now, back to the stamps...

This is what's called a "Straddle Pane" copy. Basically, the way these stamps were printed was on one sheet of 200 stamps and that that sheet was divided into two panes of 100 each. You may read posts on here talking about (Almost exclusively) the 1851 designs and their plat position #s, IE 99R2. The R indicates the right pane of plate 2 and position 99.

If you look at the stamp I posted you'll see a vertical line between the designs, that's a guide line designed for the people who were preparing the stamps to cut them along the line. Sometimes they got it right, sometimes they missed.

So out of 200 subjects on the plate 20 will have straight edges where the panes were separated.

As Kevin correctly pointed out the stamp I posted is position 10L (Of what plate I could not tell you as the 3c 1861 has not been plated nor do I think it is possible to do so) as it has a very strong guide line, a recut one, at the top.

I'm becoming more fascinated by the
day with all I'm reading from all of
the expertise here... and I can tell
from what most of you are stating -
about what a true science it is to
study and learn about plating, sheet
cutting, positions, etc...

Perhaps next year, when I retire, I'll
become more of a student as opposed to
more of a collector... thank you one
and all for the education !

Randall

OK it's not only not an imperf as we learned but I also believe that it didn't even originate on that cover to begin with. Look at where it's "tied" ,and then again in the 200X blow-up; see the white where the old (original) stamp was? Where it's tied don't look convincing enough for me to feel comfortable about it. I also have margin and straddle copies of 114's but same idea.

Faked imperfs of this era are ubiquitous due to the manner in which the stamps were printed.

rev your image links got broken. :(

Hi guys, thanks so much - im fairly new to US material but have collected covers a long time. My attitude is to disbelieve an amazing discovery-esp when in my collection. I look for EVERY reason to doubt it and the experts here have given me plenty of reason to doubt it as genuine. This is the reason I posted it here-to see what YOU think. So I am gratified at the responses, thank you so much!. I will look closely for color differences suggesting a replaced stamp and will rescan at a different angle to be sure about pixillation. I will try a higher res looking just at that area. Will post the results asap but am having major PC power problems at home so it may be a while.

I am really falling in love with 19th century US covers and will continue to post and read/learn from the other postings. a great resource, thanks all so much. (Ps) the cover came 'incognito' in a group of covers so it was never represented to me as #65 imperf on cover... mmm but I had hopes!

ok following disi123, I did some rescanning. first are details of the corner scanned from 3 diff angles, 400 dpi. the first is similar to the initial posting- you can see the straight lines in the printing of the illustrated envelope. I think the other 2 show there is no trace of a perforation in the corner, but I see how the initial scan made it look that way as disi said. I have also recanned the entire cover with a typical perforated stamp lying next to the stamp on the cover to compare relative size. further is a detail of same at 400 dpi. My default is to find ANY reason to doubt a scarcity- they usually are not what you initially think/hope because they ARE scarce. the size of the stamp makes it harder to believe there was room for prior perfs.. I also dont see where previous stamps had been.

Have had a look around the site and the expertise and resources you guys pull out is AMAZING! great site, I will continue to post

Unfortunately 400dpi isn't high enough resolution to really be able to analyze it closely. I would recommend 1200-1600dpi (optical, not interplated) if your scanner supports it. I don't like the way the stamp is tied (barely) to the cover, and as you can see from the examples I posted, these straddle copies are ripe for shenanigans.

Revenue collector is right.

Also, look at the width of the untrimmed straddle pane copy that I posted, they can be quite wide.

Yeah im concerned about the barely-tied on aspect, too. I will have to buy more straddle copies and compare, im sure I have at least one perf straddle on cover. thanks for the input guys. I hope to share some recent covers (just to share) soon.

It's also odd the 3 cent perforated stamp on the cover is foxed but the other is not and the former seems the I have no tie to the cover. It seems to be sitting on top of a postmark.

HungaryForStamps.....
It is just placed there for demonstration
purposes

Lol Kevin, thank heavens I read your reply as I was about to type something very stupid about a 6¢ rate

After I read your reply, I actually went to the original post.