What Is And What Is The Purpose Of Plating?

I am not new to collecting but am new to some of the more detailed aspects of the hobby like plating.

First, What is plating? I assume it is to determine what position on the sheet the stamp was?

What is the purpose of plating?

Is one plate position worth more than another?

What is 2L1E or 98R2 as mentioned in another thread.

Thanks,
Robert

You are correct in that plating determines the position on the sheet. If you have or can access a copy of the Scott Specialized US Catalogue you will notice different values given at times for certain plate positions. For example, take Scott #26. The average used one has a catalogue value of $9 whereas plate position 87R15 has a catalogue value of $2,500. There are many many more such examples, not always to such extremes though. So the purpose of plating helps to determine the potential value as well as its location on the plate itself.

In your last question the 2L1E is specific to a 1851-57 1c Franklin and denotes position 2, left pane on plate 1E (in this case 1 Early as there was also a plate 1L or Late). The other position you asked about is the 98th position on the right pane of plate 2.

Thanks for the info Caper. Looks like I may have a lot of work to do in reading more about how to get started and the such in plating.
It should be a lot of fun.................and hopefully rewarding like a #26 plate 87R15.
Thanks again!
Robert

Thanks for the link craig. I will check it out!
Thanks,
Robert

Or closer to home (folks from this community and the plating work they are doing)…

http://www.stampsmarter.com/feature...ateHome.html

http://www.stampsmarter.com/feature...Plating.html

http://www.stampsmarter.com/feature...Plating.html


Don

Thanks for those links Don. I can see where my big problem will be. Trying to tell the difference of a recut and the color differences. Well its going to either be fun or frustrating. I know I will get a lot of help from the helpful people on this site.
Thanks,
Robert

In som rare instances, plating is the only sure way of telling if its genuine or not.

Absolutely both!!

Members of this sight have helped minimize the frustration part...!!!

To be very precise, plating determines the position on the printing plate which produced a given image on the printed sheet. The Whys are many--sometimes plating is the only way to determine a stamp's catalog number, as ClassicalStamps alluded to. Plating also has led to advances in our understanding of how stamps were produced in the 19th century. Finally, it is a stimulating intellectual exercise for those (like me) who are stimulated by such activities.

Plate reconstruction will also involve deep pockets sometimes.

As an example, New South Wales Scott #20 was catalogued at $1100 in the 2014 classic specialised. There's 50 positions on the sheet........

The other thing folks might need is a good relationship with their optometrist

Very education thread to a newbie




I hear you.

My eyesight isn't what it used to be, but high quality detailed scanned images on the computer often make up for that.

Stamps that get plated by a lot of people tend to be cheaper ones like US Scott #11/11A, #26, and the Great Britain penny reds, for example.

Slightly more expensive, but also commonly plated would be US #7, #9, #24 and the 3c #10/#10A.

I'm limiting this to early US, and the early GB, but there are many other stamps that people plate, and it can be quite fun.

I also am not new to collecting but I have been away from it for years. Does every stamp have a plating number? If so where can I find it? Are they hidden somewhere like the British "Red Pennies"? Thank You
Jayhawker

Most stamps do not have a plate number on them. You have to learn how to do it from books or other reference material - much of which is now online.

Great Britain made determining the plate pretty easy by putting it on many of their early stamps. Then the so-called check-letters, basically tell you the position. For a plater of early US, which I am, I'd consider that cheating. I like a little bit more of a challenge.

You found it! What you and the other one cent platers do here almost daily is simply amazing.