Looks Like A Plate 77 Penny Red To Me...

Hi guys, had this stamp in my collection for more than 20 years. I have always thought this looks like a plate 77. The 77 is visible on the left side, but the right side is less clear. This is definitely a 2 digit plate number just looking at the left side. Any opinions?

Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence, so please post high resolution scans, not photos. These stamps usually are faked from another plate ending in 7. On the basis of these images, 77 cannot be confirmed. Even if the outlook is positive after seeing a scan, of course, it couldn't be sold without an RPSL certificate.

There are only 2 digits visible on the left side, they both resemble 7s. I checked the genuine one that was auctioned off and confirmed that the first 7 is the same level as the QV's lips. There is nothing extraordinary, if it is indeed a 77 printed on the stamp, then it is a 77.

This is the about the best black and white image I can get using my phone...

A clearer coloured one...

The second 7 is at the nose level and first 7 is at the lip level, I don't see any digits to the left and right of both 7s. With the second 7 at the nose level being distinctive, the first digit can only be a 7 coz penny reds start from plate 71, unless of course someone can prove that my copy is a 3- digit plate which I can't see.

I hope it is a 77, but it looks like a 71.

I recently had to look at about 1750 of these, I learned that looking at the plate numbers at a angle can be very helpful.

Also look at the plate number when it is upside down or sideways. Sounds strange, but it can help.

Good luck and once again, I hope it is indeed a 77.

Johan, I have ruled out a 71 because the second digit is a diagonal downward stroke and the horizontal line for the 7 seems to be eating into the frame. If the '1' in 71 is slanted in other examples, then I will just accept that it is a 71.

I stand by my prior comment. Your claim is extraordinary because plate 77 is rare. Therefore, convincing evidence is necessary. The images thus far are too "soft" to resolve the question. A high-resolution scan is required. Based on the images thus far, I agree with "71".

There have been recent articles in The London Philatelist about similar claims that turned out to be fakes and any time a 77 candidate appears, its expert committee devotes significant resources to examining it. The same techniques would need to be applied here. Honestly, if you think this community will tell you, "Yeah, it's a 77, congratulations," on the basis of the present images, you are kidding yourself.

Good-quality scanners are inexpensive, under US$100. You are regularly posting about costly stamps and postal history, so you ought to get one to support your claims.

Sure as heck looks like a 77 to me?? Much harder to see on the right - cancel is blocking it.

More importantly, why have you not had it expertised in 20 yrs?!? Please let us know what happens if you send it in....

the only good image here in the thread is not showing the stamp in question :).
The others that show the stamp in question are not showing anything.

You don't absolutely a scanner, just make a sharp photo.

I have changed the resolution of the image to provide a clearer perspective of the plate number. On the left side, I see a 77 only, on the right side it is less clear.

not a sharp photo :).

I ran the stamp through a blue filter and it does read 77 on the left side of the upright queen's head. This may be the real deal...

Roman LC is 50 CL is 150 and at the bottom it says One Penny

I do not mind asking questions. What was the stamp worth when it was purchased?

What country is it? What year is it?

And the 77 thing you are talking about, I can see on both sides parallel
to one another but you all are referring to design not monetary figure
correct?

While it may be fun to post a fuzzy scan and get the GB collecting world wound up about a Plate 77 possible, really it's just a conversation piece (and philatelic dreaming) at the moment.

I definitely would not advertise if I had one, who needs the unwanted attention.

Louised411, the stamp is British. The "77" is the supposed plate number. LC is not Roman, but the position of the stamp on the printing plate.
The plate number is not easily spotted, mainly because the poor quality pictures - this is why several folks are asking for a high definition scan. Hope this answers your questions?

Peter