1c 1851 Plate 3 Stamps

Plate 3 of the 1c 1851 US stamp, Scott #7, is a very interesting plate. It had a lot of fine cracks in it, particularly in the left pane, and also at the upper right of the right pane.

Early printings from Spring-Summer of 1856 had a gradually diminishing ink film, and were in a grayish blue shade. By Sep-Oct 1856 this ink film disappeared, and you see a true gray shade, with no ink film. Nov-Dec 1856 gave us the well know dark prussian blue shade. 1857 printings are quite mundane by comparison, as they become hard to distinguish from other plates, other than by plating.

Plate 3 material is fairly scarce - especially if one is trying to find each position. I have always had a strong sense that about 15 copies remain per position. Estimates such as this tend to be low usually, however I've rounded up to 15 - so I've included some padding. Anyway, you get the message - they aren't common.

There are a number of 1c collectors on this forum, so I propose that we use this thread to post copies of stamps from plate 3. I have some more plate 3 stamps that I can post, over time, and I'll do it here.

I'll start off ...

Here is 70-80-90L3 with the centerline.
There are only two vertical centerline multiples from plate 3, known to me. This is one. This is the dark prussian blue shade.





This item is ex-Cipolla, Klein
(I enjoy researching provenance of items)

Position 81R3 on cover to Nova Scotia
Is the provenance perhaps ex-txstamp?

plate 3 stamps are hard to find, probably undervalued in Scott. I have no definite in my collection (but would love to have one!). I always wish some type II that I can't plate ends up plate 3. Perhaps I'm missing an obvious mark here. Here is one:





probably plate 2. B relief. Only help I see on stamp is guide dot lower right.
I see no cracks or plate marks. No DT. Great cancel- octagon with numeral! I bought stamp for cancel. Now the bad news.

I got a new Epson printer/scanner- scans great-- but now I'm ANGRY. THIS STAMP HAS A PF CERT FROM 2012. Sound!!. After I scan at 1600 dpi looks like ?repair upper right. Uggggg.
Let me know what you think?

I've always held hope that these are from plate 3, probably never know.

I didn't mean to hijack your thread, txstamp. Maybe I should have started new one with this stamp. Was hoping it was a plate 3 when I scanned it! Of course, then I noticed upper right corner weirdness,

stallzer,

with those marks on right sides, relief A?, shouldn't we be able to plate your strip of 3 ???

rg

rgstamp- you should scan the reverse as well at 1600dpi and post it. It might just be something natural in the paper.

rev, arrow points to area of concern

I looked at it with lighted 30x mag glass. I may be overly concerned. really cannot see anything unless scan at high res. I'm not sure




stallzer,

my best guess 12R2, 13R2, 14R2. but something doesn't seem right with that. Maybe need better scan of each stamp? I'm sure you studied it and came to conclusion that didn't fit known plating diagrams so could be plate 3?

(Drool, txstamp). Here's a pair that I have as 6-7R3.

rg,
I would float it, see if that area absorbs at a different rate than the rest of the stamp.
Don

Agree, the vivid color of the strip at over 150 years old is lovely.

stallzer,

based on spacing/alignment from Neinken diagram, your strip of 3 ....first stamp high, then goes low, then goes back up significantly. Thus has to be either:

position 2,3,4 left pane of plate 3. (I find no match) or

position 2,3,4 of right pane of plate 2 (12-14R works) or

position 1,2,3 of left pane plate 2 (can't match this either) or

postion 5,6,7 of left pane plate 2 (I have to go back and look)

I bought this horizontal strip of three last year from Winston.
It was identified as Scott # 7 positions 7,8 and 9R2.

Would anyone know what plate they are from?

rlm, the designation 9R2 by definition specifies Plate 2.

rlm,

you answered your own question... R2... right pane of plate 2. Nice strip!

rg