1c 1851 Plate 12 Stamps

Thanks for the reply Jaxom. Though 85R12 is similar in many respects I see too many inconsistencies to write off to inking differences. The top of 95R12, as it is shown by Neinken appears different too. Your example of 85R12 has part of the top of the lower stamp too and the spacing between stamps seems off between yours and mine.

I will look more on it. That 85R was just something I spotted first time looking over the Neinken drawings. Something of interest to me was the "white-out" at the upper right. Those seem more rare than the blurs. I have not spent enough time on this one yet. It also has two dots at head that look blue, not black.

The mark on the left leg of the N of ONE on mine is blue. Not many other Mark's to zero in on.

Caper, can you send me a 2400 dpi scan of that stamp?

I am still checking plate positions for it. The best choice so far is 50L12. There is a matching line in orn G. The mark Neinken shows on shoulder appears as a "white-out" spot. I would like a closer look at your stamp in that spot. The marks in "O" of "ONE" are unable to identify on the blurred image.

Will do Jaxom, but will not happen this week. Been all over since my last post...Singapore, Hanoi, Siem Reap, and Maryland.

50L12 would be a centerline position, and the plate 12 centerline isn't known perforated. Something to keep in mind.

Jaxom, I'm so sorry about the delay in responding to you. I really do appreciate your help. I've just been unimaginably busy of late and this slipped my mind.

Jaxom, take a look at 76L12. I am including a Seigel image of a 76L12 (the only one I could find) along with mine with a few things highlighted for comparison on the Seigel image. Note side ornament K's shape. The similarity of the ink spots under the letters C & T of CENT. The blur of color along the upper right. The shape of the under part of ornament W (upper right) and the locations and sizes of the horizontal lines on the right scroll. What do you think?

From Seigel:



Mine:



What is visible on Neinken's 86L12 and the piece attached to mine are not inconsistent.

Caper, please send me the scan on this stamp. I cannot make out the detail needed on a low res image. Thanks.

Jaxom, the email address available through the forum does not allow the attachment of files or insertion of photos as far as I can tell.

There have been discoveries of at least 3 46L12's in recent years announced on this forum, and I just realized that there is no mention of that in this thread.

46L12 is an important IIIA-III swing position on Plate 12, and as of this moment, probably the ultimate plate 12 stamp for any collector to find, possibly followed by 56L12.

Here are links to the threads of interest:

https://goscf.com/t/33828&whichpage=209#621928
https://goscf.com/t/67265
https://goscf.com/t/57303

Thanks for great info on 46L12. Fun to read about it.
It seems 46L12 as a type III or even a type IIIa is considered super rare.
I guess my only challenge to this : is this position rarer than a single position type III perforated on plate 4? (Scott 21))

Or is it just the fact that it's the only type III (potential if has a break in upper curve line) from plate 12 that makes it so special?

Plate 12 stamps are fairly scarce, rarer than Plate 4 stamps but more common than Plate 3, 5, or 11 stamps.

This is 83L12, which Neinken has as an unequivocal Type IIIA. However, this example seems to have a faint but unbroken top line, so this position should probably be considered a transitional Type II-Type IIIA.

I'm making another attempt to keep these individual plate threads open. I would think that eventually everyone's contributions will be a very good reference source.

The stamp I'm posting today comes from the recent Kelleher auction (sale 760, lot 989). It is a #20 from plate 12. Kelleher listed it a plate 2 stamp, but this is clearly mistaken as the "secret" dot is only partially obscured by the cancel. I was very happy to win this stamp because of the excellent centering and somewhat uncommon Philadelphia carrier cancel. I just wish I could plate it.

I can't see any identifying plate marks, but the interstitial blurring is quite pronounced, and there is a small area of blistering on Franklin's shoulder. After reading the Chronicle references by David Zlowe, I hoped these things would be enough to narrow down the possibilities to just a few positions. The problem I'm having is finding enough high resolution images in published material.