Ok, I Have Had Enough!

One more question about the "rare error" of line on the side: What about a single of the booklet 583a with a guide line at right. Shouldn't this be seen as a rare stamp? Why is it not listed as a single in Scott?

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Try to answer myself :) - because it's not possible to tell a single 583 to be from a 583a? Even not for a pair?

Good teaching, Don, even for the "not interested" from CANADA !

Don, have you seen any other trends in terms of inquiries seen by Stamp Smarter? Fascinating way to collect some social media data about what people are interested in and how it may change over time.

The 360 subject rotary press plates used for 583a booklet panes did not have guidelines. All 583a booklet panes were "position A". See the Scott US Specialized Catalog for booklet pane plate layouts and position descriptions.

not quite true - Quoting Scott "Only one example of 583a with guide line at right is recorded. Only the first two rotary plates laid out for booklets had guide lines."

Here is the Siegel sale:
https://siegelauctions.com/lots.php...991-lot-1296

I wonder now if it is possible to verify a single or a pair that it came from this booklet?

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Ok I found now these two singles, too, they are just following lots 1297 and 1298 in the link above. So I think we should at least admit that sometimes a red line is rare - while not an error. Interesting!

But still I don't know how to tell the difference of a 583a booklet single with guideline to a normal 583 with guideline?

eyeonwall is correct. The information is buried in the US Scott Specialized Catalog, in the "specialized" booklet pane listings buried in the middle of the catalog. Like imperf coils, legitimate varieties that should be in the front of the catalog are inconveniently buried in the back. Perhaps before the last print editions of the catalogs disappear, some electronic version will make all of the booklet pane information accessible from the primary listing.

I also fault the catalog for not listing booklet pane singles. Some early First and Second Bureau are sought by collectors who are attempting to reconstruct complete used booklets. Except for some initial First Bureau issue printings, booklet pane singles can be distinguished by paper size, watermark orientation (a subset of paper size) or imperforate edges if rotary. Even interior fully perforated singles from AEF booklet panes of 30 can be distinguished from normal sheet stamps by subtle size differences easily observed by comparing with a normal sheet stamp.

stamperix, good luck finding "a normal 583 [sheet stamp] with a guideline".

Thank you for verifying my theoretical "rare red line" find. I guess some SCF members will have a second look at their 583 stamps at this moment... Just a last question about them: I am not sure about your last comment - I read it like the 583 sheet stamps never have a guide line so if you find one, it must be a 583a?

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Just found some older topics here on SCF where you already answered this question - 583 rotary sheet stamps don't have guidelines and are always perforated on all sides so don't have a straight edge. I summarize that if you find a "583 with a straight edge" then it is a 583a, and if it has additionally a "red line" then it's rare :).

So I thought I'd try sending this link:

http://www.stampsmarter.com/Learnin...reLines.html

to one of those people running "Rare Green Line error" auctions on ebay. I was only successful in convincing him it was not an error.




He still thinks he has a valuable stamp.

The seller has a point, but it's 1% no one almost no one cares about. Straight edge classics are disappearing as they are reperfed.

The seller needs to reconsider and possibly elevate his prices. I see it as an occurrence that only happens 0.25% of the time. Very rare indeed!

Right, phil. The argument that rarity = value is fallacious without the context of supply-and-demand. Pat Herst was preaching this decades ago.

Great write up Don. Excellent site you have as well.
Stamperix great question.

Thanks, Don. Well done!

Nice article. You should have used a center line block for the last example. For some reason, I like to collect these.

Here is a #408 clb. Feel free to use the image if you want.