Durland Plate Number Coils - Scott Number 2135

I have a transportation series 17 cent dog sled coil Scott number 2135. this stamp has a plate number of 1 but in my edition of the 2005 Durland catalog it only shows that this stamp was only issued with a plate number of 2. can someone please check a newer edition of Durland to see if they have added plate number 1

thank you for your help

It is not in Scotts either. Can we have a hi-res picture?

give me a few minutes and I will see what I can do

Not only is it not in my 2016 Durland, but I checked pnc3.org ... they only show plate #2 as well. If you do indeed have a plate #1 for this stamp, contact someone at pnc3.org. They may have you forward the scan to them or have other suggestions as to how to proceed. Then be sure to hold on to it ... it may be worth some money. As far as I know, no such plate number has been reported for this stamp, first issued in 1986. That would seem to indicate scarcity for your plate number. While highly unusual it is not impossible. Consider for instance the discovery earlier this year of the 4-cent postage due J92 with dull gum. The shiny gum J92 first appeared in 1959 and the dull gum probably in the early to mid 80s.

can't get image to upload

will check with pnc3.org

and let you know what they say

thanks
ed

Ed, you may have what is known as a "false" or "ghost" plate number. These happen every once and in a while. They are plate scratches that look almost like a real plate number.

Peter

Ed,
I sent you a message with my email address, if desired email me the image and I will upload it for you. I would like to update Stamp Smarter Plate number database if it turns out to be a #1.
Don
APS #094826

Don, JLLebert and Ed, Thanks to "Reaganomics" the history of the 17 cent Dog Sled is very complicated.
The stamp was originally scheduled to be released on February 21, 1986 with a denomination of 6.3 cent. It was meant to pay the 5-digit presort nonprofit bulk rate, in effect since January 1, 1986.
The 6.3 rate however was killed because President Reagan vetoed the appropriation to pay for this rate. Because of this the rate was changed to 7.2 cent, starting on March 9, 1986. The new 7.2 cent precancel was supposed to be issued on June 17, 1986.
However, on April 20,1986 the rate was lowered to 7.1 cent, and the new stamp scheduled for September 25. 1986.
That last announcement was scratched on June 4, 1986 and the Postal Service decided to cancel all announced nonprofit stamps.
On July 9, 1986 the announcement was made that the Dog Sled stamp would be issued to replenish the supply of the 17 cent Electiric Auto. The new stamp finally appeared on August 20, 1986.
On July 2, 1986 Plate 1 of the Dog Sled was assigned to be printed but in reality was never sent to press and was canceled November 7, 1986. The actual plate number was 176930-1.
I believe plate 1 was never sent to press because it was probably the wrong denomination. On July 9, 1986 ( same date as the announcement above ) plate 2 was assigned and sent to press July 16, 1986. The plate number of this plate was 176958-2 and was canceled April 13, 1993.

Here is Ed's stamp

Peter ... Thanks for the interesting history on the 17-cent dog sled coil. I think your "ghost" plate number is far more likely than an undiscovered real plate number, especially after 30 years. While I know that a new plate number is highly unlikely, I rather hope that it proves to be true. Stories of such discoveries help kindle the spirit of the hobby.
... John ...
Added: Just saw the stamp image. Peter, I think your "ghost" plate number is the correct answer.

Well, John, I am not so sure. I really think that somebody is playing tricks. The scan/photo is pretty bad, but there are two points to notice here.
First the "1" seems to be in the wrong color. On my scree it looks black.
Second, the real "1"s in the Transportation series have two dashes, one serif on top and a dash on the bottom.
Yes, it is either a ghost plate number or someone's idea of an April fool's joke.

Peter

Peter: While I noticed that the "|" was not in the correct "font" for a transportation coil plate number (as well as being too tall), I failed to note the color difference. Assuming the "|" is indeed in a different color, it would almost certainly have to have been added after the stamp was printed. In any case, the "|" cannot possibly be a valid plate number.

I agree the color is wrong, and that it lacks the proper serifs

I'm on the PNC3 Catalog Committee and I asked Ed to send me a scan, which he did.
My first impression was that the ink color is wrong. It is black rather than blue.
The mark, whatever it is, is too tall, and lacks serifs.
The 17c stamps were engraved and the mark does not appear to be engraved.
My conclusion is that the stamp does not have a plate number, but some extraneous mark, which happened to fall where a plate number would normally be.
Jill Ambrose

thanks for your help with this. I agree now that it is not a plate number but something else on the stamp

ed