1c 1851 Plate 2 Stamps

Won this one in a local auction. It came with a Doporto cert stating A relief, type II, position 71R2. I'm not seeing the match?

Back pain has been limiting my ability to focus long on anything lately, but a quick look says it certainly is an A relief. Top left ornament & LR plume agree for that.
Overall appearance certainly would have me starting my elimination with plate 2.
Also, plate 2 didn't have a centerline, so right pane positions are definitely in play - which would include 71R2.
If I start feeling better, at some point I'll take a closer look.

I do not see the plating marks indicated for this position in the Doporto archive either, but he may have based his plating on the position and shape of the guide dot seen at the UL. Hard to tell from the photo.

TXstamp, I hope you're feeling better soon. As one that has dealt with back issues I sympathize with any back pain sufferer. For what it's worth here is the Doporto cert. Not that I question him in any way but I always scan and compare to see what the certifying agency saw. I'm just not seeing the marks that are shown on his archive or in the Neinken diagrams.

The good news on this one is the only possibilities on plate 2 are:
11L, 71L - imprint would be visible on 31, 51
11R, 31R, 51R, 71R

plate 3:
11L, 71L
can't be right pane due to centerline
71L3 if memory serves has cracks which would be visible.

So the way to plate this then is to eliminate the few other possibilities.

stallzer: thanks. It's been a rough stretch

Well lets see how much plating I can do of this without even looking at the position ....I realized I can further narrow down and eliminate 11L2, 11R2, 11L3 because of the guide dot at upper left in the margin.
I eliminated 71L3, due to cracks - I recall having a couple copies of that position.

That leaves the following positions:
31R2, 51R2, 71R2 and 71L2

So, that's all you have to look at. One of those is on the Doporto cert. Doporto certs are pretty accurate, and based upon my high level analysis here, I suspect it will be correct. I understand your desire to know how it was figured out. So, I've answered at least part of that - in getting you to 4 positions.

The plating is accurate on Doporto certs but beware of faults that don't make it onto the certificate. It isn't like they are never mentioned, there is just a lack of consistency. I have said it before and I only mention it again because of a very annoying recent transaction where I was squarely between a rock and a hard spot regarding a return.

Winston, I'm glad you mentioned that as I should have clarified that my comment only applied to the plating reported on the cert.

I kind of knew what you meant.

Thanks all. I'm sure the cert is correct but I couldn't connect the dots. Tx, I'm sure the plating was done exactly how you drew it out by process of elimination.

With the top cut off, I guess this must be a type II which usually means plate 2. Am I right?

Plate 1 late and plate 4 also were issued perforated and imperforate as was plate 2. But odds favor plate 2 since of the 200 positions on plate 1 late, only one position was type II (4R1L). Plate 4 produced 20 positions that are type II. So odds are real good if it is a type 2 then plate 2 as 198 of the 200 positions are type II.

Some of the better minds will probably know by the shade of blue.

Plate 2 B relief. #20, Ty II.

Thank you

Plates 11 and 12 also produced Type II perforated stamps. However, stamps from these plates can be identified by the heavy dot on the medallion oval behind Franklin's head, which this stamp appears not to have (under the cancel).