R112

Hi everyone. Recently have been checking a new 'lot' of back of the book stamps. Most are perforated in the mix amount of stamps, however, I noticed that this specific stamp has a different appearance with the perforations rather than the other hole perforations/ imperforated types seen with the same stamp. Is this stamp considered a sewing machine perforation for the Scott R112? Was this method only used for second issues of Jos. Carpenter, Philadelphia prints?
Any information would be appreciated. The color and engraving on these stamps are beautiful!
Blazenstar

Yes this is a sewing machine perf. There are first issue and proprietary issue stamps with sewing machine perfs as well. They were not done by Butler and Carpenter or Joseph Carpenter, but rather by some unknown persons or groups when faced with some sheets of imperf stamps that got out by mistake (except for the first issue).

Nice discovery!

Thank you so much for your assistance to help clarify the appearance of the sewing machine perforations. Since you expressed made by mistake, wondering if they are often found and in demand among collectors. I will keep an eye out for the proprietary stamps as well checking the 'lot'.


I truly love the fine detailed presentations of print work on the revenues! Thank you again for the information. Truly appreciate it.

Warm regards,

Blazenstar

Very nice find; looks to be an excellent example. I have a soft spot for the sewing machine perfs. I try to cherrypick them whenever possible. I have all of the Scott-listed ones except for the R120, which is insanely tough.

Then the next challenge is to find examples of the imperfs that were used to create the sewing machine perfs... that's even tougher for the ones that were not formally issued in imperf format (for example, the R19a that the R19 sewing machine perfs came from are very common). I am not aware of any examples of either R120 or RB3 imperforate. I have examples of the R112 and R115 imperfs.

P.S. On a related note, the perf. 8 stamps were also done privately.

Thank you for your kind words, typesetter..was pleasantly surprised with the stamp..Have a wonderful day..

Blazenstar

Speaking of the perf 8............



Picked this up at a show here in Florida. Shocking to find it in a dealer book.

A very scarce stamp, the perf 8. Much scarcer then the 25 cent sewing machine perf, not that that is common.

Thank you all for your kind responses. .will keep an eye out for 8 perfs. as well! Great information to know. Very nice find, typesetter! Have a great day both of you!

Warm Regards,
Blazenstar

this just came in an ebay junk revenue lot. It will have to do until I can get a better example...

Nice. Can't complain from a junk lot. Did you know it was in there when you bid/bought?

I did. It was tucked in the corner of the photo. Most if not all must have missed it. I'm very happy as there were a few others that made it a great buy.

interesting rereading James' Drummond's article about these in the First quarter '16 issue of the American Revenuer. Both Blazenstar's and my R112 appear to be "early" usages of the sewing machine or "pin-perf" varieties. They also appear to be from different parties (or at least different clerks)

Yeah, there were most definitely at least two very distinctly different perforating devices used on these.

A wide range of companies as well. I have one on a stock certificate and another on a document fragment from the Port Wardens of the City of New York.

Has there been any estimates of the number of imperfs/pinperfs? I can't imagine there would be TOO many parties who used these.

Imperfs are a VERY small number. I did some rudimentary census work on the 25-cent and 50-cent imperfs when I got mine:

https://revenue-collector.com/blog/20140802.shtml

I believe that Tim Wait also has an example of the 25-cent imperf on a stock certificate, which reminds me I need to get an image from him.

Sewing machine perfs are a much larger population, although still fairly scarce. The R120 sewing machine perf has a population in low single digits, and an imperf of that denomination has never been reported.

The RB3 sewing machine perf also has a population in single digits with no imperf reported.

The R19 sewing machine perf is an interesting beast. Michael Aldrich had a bunch of these from the same source years ago, all heavily damaged, all on document fragments, all with PF certs. I bought 3 of them over about 6 months and then eventually bought a nice one from Eric. I'm glad I bought them though, as it has now been seven years since I've seen any examples offered for sale anywhere.

I believe that R19a may be the only 1st issue sewing machine perf with multiple examples extant.