Scott 11A Plated 6r1l. Still Searching For Exp Ob

Two more suspects. I'm not able to plate them definitively. But here's a scan and some pics.
The scan shows the known Exp OB in the center.

Wow! The left one in the top picture looks to be awfully close.

Peter

I think you are still striking out. The fancy cancel stamp isn't from Plate 1L.

It takes a while to be able to recognize the EOB. Let's not forget that it is also a fairly scarce color to find.

Here is an excerpt as transcribed by Gary Granzow from a letter written by Carroll Chase to Dr. Amonette: "I've done the best I could with the enclosed stamps. There are quite a few Exp. O.B.'s but a couple that I simply can't be sure about. I think that for some colors it is about necessary to have them on dated covers. I hope you will not think I am a wet blanket."

I found this Sc #26 with a neck flaw and after searching on this site found this tread from earlier this year.

Stampcrow posted several photos including one with a neck flaw that is similarly positioned with mine but appears different in pattern. Sinclair2010 provided him with the Plate #56R28.

Is mine the same stamp? And Scott does not list this variation. Any idea of worth?

Sorry, this is Stampcrows...

Good to see that Martha retained her passion for old George ...

GeoffHa...I laughed in spite of myself...

Caper123, I can't be 100% certain because your image is small.
But I think you have a different plate position.

The neck flaws look different to me.
Also, look at the distance between the right frame line and the upper right diamond block.

Good one GeoffHa!

Stampcrow, I could not figure out how to enlarge the photo but was able to take separate shots of the 4 quadrants. The only difference I can see is your flaw looks like a horseshoe with the opening facing down while mine is facing upward. The rest of the stamp appears the same. Can the same flaw have different faces?

Caper123, that stamp is not mine, it was posted by Aurora, so I can't examine it other than the pictures in this thread.

You might want to start a separate thread asking for help plating your stamp.

I think both stamps are 56R28.

I have to bring this thread back to life with another Sc #26 'neck flaw'. I am not sure how to plate these late issue 3c Washingtons. The closest appearing flaw in Carroll Chases's book is listed as 20L4 (fig. 44). However, the 20L4 shown in the Stamp Smarter 3c Initiative does not show the flaw so is of little help and other differences between the two (especially in the top label) are irreconcilable. Any help would be appreciated.

Stray ink is probably the best explanation. Hegland's article in Chronicle 105 doesn't illustrate a flaw in that location.

Thanks. Though I agree with your assessment of the spot, being the type collector I am, I will keep an eye out for similar 'ink spots' down the pike. ;)

Hi Gang. Now that everyone has had their say on the topic, I'd like to point out that my research indicates that Experimental OB is a paper variety, not a color variety. It's essentially OB ink on press paper.

Previously, stamps were printed on plate paper, which produced extremely fine impressions. Which is why I say that OB, while a very attractive ink, is not responsible for the very fine impressions on the 3c stamp. A further example of plate paper may be found on the 1c stamp of the same period, also has extremely fine impressions.

So, the theory goes, about July or August of 1851 when the printer went to make another order for paper (and I have this on good authority from an 1852 letter in the Crane correspondence), money was tight, so they arranged to receive it through a local commission paper warehouse (and not directly from Willcox). The reason is, the paper warehouse offered paper on terms (lending), whereas Willcox did not.

Anyway, the printer had switched to press paper and needed to test it to make sure it would meet their needs. The way I see it, they decided to test it on a 3c plate and used OB ink so they could make a side-by-side comparison. Modern collectors have been calling it Experimental OB, but in fact it's the same OB ink used previously. The difference seen in impression quality is the difference between plate paper and press paper.

-AJV

AJ, any documented or even guesses at how much of the press paper was purchased and used? Was it used beyond the OB ink use dates?

Problem I have is..., the Experimental OB's are from plate 1 late state, that means the Experimental OB's were produced in Oct. 1851. At the same time other plates were still printing with OB ink.
Why wouldn't they be using the press paper also?