US Scott #11A Shifted Transfer With Rectangular Protrusion Above Ul Diamond Block

I plated this stamp to position 8R1L yesterday. Chase classified this as a shifted transfer in his book and on the Smithsonian prints. This specimen is an earlier printing showing little plate wear. Unfortunately, the inking isn't the best. I can see signs of a shifted transfer, like the spike in the G, and the consistent spots of color above the PO and A. A second specimen of 8R1L is shown in the 2400-DPI closeup for comparison.

There also appears to be some ink smear (kiss-print?) above the top edge of the upper label block.

The most remarkable thing about this stamp is the rectangular protrusion above the upper left diamond block. This is a consistent feature for this position in the late state of plate 1, but this printing shows it with very good clarity.

What puzzles me is; why would a shifted transfer only result in about three-fifths of the top of the diamond block being replicated?

I'd appreciate your thoughts, and seeing scans of this position that any members can show.

Hi Classic Coins, very nice stamp.

You said "What puzzles me is; why would a shifted transfer only result in about three-fifths of the top of the diamond block being replicated?" I ask you, how about the "G", which direction do you think the shifted transfer? Do you think the "G" & "top of the diamond block" shifted in the same direction?

Still all in all nice stamp!

Stampmaster

Good question, stampmaster. Yes, I would say that the G and the top of the diamond block both were shifted up and to the right.

So it appears that in an attempt to strengthen the design on plate 1, one re-entry was attempted at position 8R, but it was up and to the right of the original entry, at least at the top of the design. So why wouldn't the full length of the top of the upper-left diamond block be replicated? I would think it would extend to the right far enough to just about touch the label block.

Hi Classic Coins, good question, I'm lacking a possible answer.

The re-entry is actually lower and to the left of the original entry. The partial diamond block is the result of an incomplete erasure of the original entry. The deepest portions of the original entry just weren't ironed out by the transfer roll during re-entry.

Excellent
Would love to see a 8R1i or 8R1e