Plate Numbers For Classic Stamps (Before Bep)

Hello,

I have the Durland catalogue and know the information here:
http://www.stampsmarter.com/feature...ockHome.html

Both is interesting and helpful. After searching in the internet and here in the forum I still ask myself:

Is there any book or catalogue which lists the older plate numbers and perhaps gives some background about them? If there is a catalogue for the stamps from BEP on, there must be one for the stamps of the 19th century?

They are in the Brookman books which are available as .pdfs on the USPCS website:

https://www.uspcs.org/resource-cent...nic-library/

You'll find the plate numbers at the end of the listing for a particular stamp/denomination.

The Postage Stamps of the United States(1902) by John N. Luff includes plate information from the early classics thru the large postage dues.

thank you both, I looked in both places and found indeed the plate numbers there. As these books are very old and the plate number information still valid, I assume that the plate numbers were all known quite early and there haven't been new research and discoveries about them since then.

Nevertheless I wonder why there is not a catalogue for them, while there is a (popular) catalogue for the many plate number collectors of the later BEP years. In Scott I also don't find any information about early stamps with plate numbers (except for the blocks of course).

If there are plate numbers that are not listed in the Stamp Smarter database, please let me know and I will update it.
Don

No, I didn't make a new find :).

I just thought there was a catalogue, as said above. Sometimes it's nice to look into a real book even today. And I also thought that perhaps some plate numbers were discovered later.

I remember (very little) that there was a thread here at SCF were a bank note plate number was shown in a scan (in parts), and a discussion followed with many people being quite interested into that plate number. That's why I thought that also for the older stamps the plate numbers are part of the research and discovery and some plate numbers more enigmatic than others.

I just looked and found this sale of some 1861 2c with a plate number:
https://siegelauctions.com/lots.php...084-lot-3259

They write "the rare plate number 51". So that brings me back to my question whether there is a plate number catalogue for the "time before Durland", and now that I know there isn't, how do they know this about the plate number 51, so where is the datasource for this? Sorry if my question lacks some knowledge, but that's why it's a question :).

What edition of Durland are you looking at? The current edition (2016) notes 7 different plate numbers for Scott 73 including plate number 51. Perhaps you are looking at an older edition. Durland will put an asterix next to the scarcer numbers.

In Lane's Harry f. Allen Collection of Black Jacks on page 114 she notes that H. P. Atherton stated that plate numbers 50, 51 and 53 are very elusive. Plate number 51 exists as Scott 87, "E" grill and as Scott 73 the ungrilled stamp.

John Chapin published a census many years ago of the known classica plate blocks, but given the passage of time I am sure it is very outdated due to new finds and previous plate blocks being broken into singles.

In this case the Siegel firm is correct, but I would be careful with auction descriptions which are designed to get you to bid. I have no information to add as far as the scarcity of Plate 51, but things are not always as scarce as an auction house would have you believe.

Don,
for the plate number cross-reference, for 1c 1851 imperf stamps ...

Scott..Plates
5......1E
5A.....1E
6......4
6b.....4
7......1E,1L,2,3,4
8......2,4
8A.....1E,2,4
9......1L

For Plate 1E - no number, or imprint appears on the plate.
For Plate 1L - the imprint shows Plate 1 ...
... same steel as 1E, just re-entered and recut.

thank you very much. I have the "Standard Plate Number Catalog" from 1986, which start with 1894. So were the earlier plate numbers added later in Durland's book, or is it another catalog (title)?

Thank you also for your other literature hints.

Thank you! database updated.
Don

The current edition is entitled "United States Stamp Society 2016 Durland Standard Plate Number Catalog". It is all color, 8 1/2 x 11 inch pages, roughly 450 pages and includes a number of the back-of-the-book items such as Newspaper stamps, revenues, booklets, etc. It is available from the society.

The pre-BEP section is about 9 pages long.

ok, I think I need a 2016 edition :-). Didn't expect that this part is just missing in older editions. Also other parts seem to be added or expanded. thank you again.

just found this interesting stamp, the 6c (as 5th entry here in this link):
https://stampauctionnetwork.com/v/v68254.cfm

it has plate number 27 which is not reported by Durland, it says. Also is not listed in Stamp Smarter database. Is it listed in the 2016 Durland? I wonder as the PF certificate is already from 2009?

I have the 2012 Durland edition and the Pre-BEP is pages 1 through 8. I looked up the 6 cent stamp you pointed out and my Durland didn't list any plate numbers know at all for it.