Plate Numbers And Singles

I've been trying to figure this out, but I haven't really found anything definitive. I'm sure that this question is too general, but I want to ask it way.

With respect to a single, so we're not discussing plate blocks.

Does a plate number affect the desirability (or value) of a stamp? And if so, does it help or hurt?

Thanks
wp62

Well, a plate 77 1d red will sell for several hundred thousand pounds ...

On US sheets of 400 only 8 plt #s are possible. That's 50 to 1 ! As you mentioned many of those were preserved as blocks. That makes the odds of a single stamp even greater than 50-1, when compared to a stamp without plt #.

Though collectors of this specialty are relatively small, single stamps with a plt #s do command a premium.

Yes, plate numbers always help desirability of US singles. For most stamps the value increased is negligible. A penny stamp from 1940 might not even become a two penny stamp. For older issues they have more impact, for example the one cent definitive of 1917... catalogs 0.25, worth 0.01, will bring 1.00 with plate number. Some numbers are rare but there are fewer of these than most people think. I collect plate singles, always looking to add to my collection, but it is unlikely anything post-1938 is of interest or premium-valued.

Were it not for chasa, I would key:

Plate number singles are another example of things that collectors retain that are not actively collected (sought after).

Not so fast, chasa!

Check out the American Plate Number Single Society "Hebert's Standard Plate Number Single Catalogue"

http://www.apnss.org/publications.htm

Some plate singles are potentially quite valuable. For example, a Scott 499 plate 10208 single is valued at a couple of hundred dollars because it is from the plate sheet with 98 Scott 500 and only 2 Scott 499. Ordinarily, a 499 plate single may be inexpensive because the stamp is, but not always. Some collectors looking for a complete run of plate numbers may collect singles. Many are easy to find but some are scarce. Relative scarcity may also be assessed in the United States Stamp Society "Durland Standard Plate Number Catalog". The 2016 edition will be released in May.

http://www.usstamps.org/

Clark

Clark: I did say: "For older issues they have more impact", and I agree with your comments. I own one of those #10208 on SC499 plates and would not part with it. Plate # 6023 is the one I would like to find next: http://stampauctionnetwork.com/v/v67811.cfm

Thanks for the great replies. Nothing helps a newbie more than the discourse between learned forum members.

I appreciate the help, tremendously.

thanks
wp62

Stamps2Go.com is a great place to observe the +value of a plate number on a single stamp.

Your timing is great. Kelleher is about to auction an entire collection of plate singles, strips, and blocks.

You can check out the estimates at: http://db.kelleherauctions.com/php/...php?sale=678

Come back in a week or so and you can see the sale prices.

C.

PNC (plate number coil) singles with a number on the stamp itself are very much sought after and some are truly modern rarities!

Peter