Question About Scott 30A With Marking On Back

Just received this beauty (30A) for Father's Day from my sons.

The cancellation on the front appears to be Oct 7th from Los Angeles, CA. On the back, it is marked "48a."

This led me to look for 48a in the Scott Catalogue. Of course, there are no listings for 48-54. 55-62 were once listed, but were later designated as Essays. Did something similar happen for 48-54? Was it some perceived paper variety or something that ceased later to exist?

I gave google and the forum a search (not exhaustive) and the best I could do was in this article from the Tidewater Virginia Stamp Club (p. 10):

http://www.tidewatervirginiastamp.c...20States.pdf




Any help either correcting my reading of the cancelation of the front, or aid in interpreting the number on the back would be greatly appreciated.






edited to add 30A to text, as topic heading autocorrects to lower case a.

There was in fact a major change in Scott numbering some decades ago (other forum members will be more conversant with the specifics than I). For example, the current Scott #24 (from the same series as your stamp) is often found with its old Scott number 42 written on back.

Stamp appears to have been reperfed

Yep - the old Scott number - here is the relevant page from a 1938 Scott Specialized (back then it was illegal to illustrate postage stamps so only partial illustrations)

reperfed on the left? Left definitely looks irregular. Would appreciate more information - I am no expert, but eager to learn.

Almost thought it was a scissors cut because the perforation holes are in a straight line...but they are not square with the other three sides.