German Varieties -Flyspecker Group

Two stamps Mi#221 from the series "Personalities in art, politics and science" 1948, Allied Occupation, Soviet Zone.
Plate flaw III: eye shadow right connected,eyeglass frame interrupted (Plate 1 fields 21, 26, 71 and 76)
There is a difference between the plate flaws, I think they come from different fields.

I would like to add a few images to the last post in this topic. I have some "Personality Series" stamps with Plat Flaws. Some of the PFs are described in Michele catalogue and many other varieties could be found specialized books. I have this one: Carsten Burkhardt, Wolfram Podien: Die Köpfeserie 1948-1954 Handbuch und Spezilkatalog.
Let's start with Allied Occupation (SBZ Köpfe I) - Mi#212. Michele definition of this PF: "Thick, re-engraved "2" (pos.53, Plate 12).
This particular stamp also has quite damaged characters in "DEUTSCHE".



Next one - PFIII: "Dot and top forehead line connected forming a hook" (this is Michele's description). However, according to Podien's book, in addition to the "Hook", the PFIII should also have a thin and short lower left part of character H in "DEUTSCHE". So I assume that the stamp on the right is not PFIII (please let me know if I am wrong here).



I also have two stamps with other PFs described in Podien's book:
f55i: White dot near "2"
f13f: White dot next to hair on the left

Next - Mi#213.
I have 4 stamps to show here:

1. PFI - per Michele catalog: Missing lock of hair on the left next to ear.



2. PFIV - described in Podien's book as: Numeral "6" with a spur pointing downwards on the left



3.PFV - Podien's description: White point before H



4. PFVII - This is described in another useful resource of information for this series of stamps - web site:
https://www.koepfe1.de/

Mi#214 - I have only one stamp to show - PFI as described in Michele Catalog: Right collar line is shortened.

Few more Plate Flaws samples.
Mi# 215:
PFII - Thickened lock of hair
PFV - Scratch from "U" in "AUGUST" to the collar



Next one described in Podien's book:
f11a: White spot above "T" in August

And finally - the most intriguing one.
Mi#221 has some well defined Plate Flaws related to broken Glass frames, but sample below is different. Not only half of the frame is missing completely, but some other white color elements around the eye are absent (compare with normal stamp below). I could not find description of such PF anywhere.

Hi Igopp
I don't have specialized documentation for this series of stamps and I'm trying to identify plate flaws with the descriptions in Michel and "koepfe1"
I have a feeling that many errors are due to faulty printing and not necessarily plate defects.
The 212 Pf I I have does not show the defect of the letters in "Deutsche".




I have the 24 Pfennigs stamp which shows the same plate flaw with a stamp on "Koepfe1"



Is it enough to identify it as a new plate flaw?
I suspect that field and plate identification is also required.

Cupram, definitely in many cases we are looking at printing errors and not Plate Flaws. Most likely my sample of Mi#212 PFI is a combination of known PF and printer error.
As for the sample of Mi#221 with missing glass frame - it is probably also printer error, but somewhat unusual. White color is missing in some specific places, while perfectly printed around those missing spots.
Next image - relatively rear stamp Mi#222 PFII: White flap on the shoulder.



Next one - Mi#224 PFII: Big white fleck above mouth

Still working on Germany:
Now in Germany 1945 "AM POST" issues.

From Mitchel Specalized:
23 XXll „G" vom linken ,PFENNIG" links unten gebrochen (Feld 90) (Typ 14, 32, 41)

(12Pf)- "G" from the left "PFENNIG" broken lower left
or "broken left bottom" depending on which translator you are using.

Mi 8 - American Zone - (Deutschland -"N-D") connected.

Here is one I can't find in the references I have.
Any ideas if noted?

Thanks,
Pat

Hi patg23,

When it comes to these definitives stamps like AM or Bauten or others, it becomes a full life span collecting :).

Here an example by using the Nr.16 (German printing)

We will play only with the bottom of the sheet.

First you have to make the difference between real PLF and field charateristics.

Here is the bottom sheet of Nr.16



Now since members from the study group spent a lot of time gattering information here is the credit. Reference: https://www.arge-am-post.de/

Remember, there is a lot of work in there. So give credits when it is time to do so.

Now we will use an extract from the site that you can download (Thanks to them)

So at position 93 we see this, a big white spot on the right numeral 1.





By using this chart we can see at R 4-5 position 93 and type 3 sheet. What you see in red are Michel PLF so this one correspond to Michel PF I. Those in blue are PLF from the study group (Real PLF like those in Michel). All others in black are field characteristics (Feld Merkmale) and not real PLF. With these you can find the type of sheet. This is a simple one because we already know the type of sheet because PF I is only on Type 3.

So if you go in your Michel special 2 for German Printing, you will see Nr.16 PF I Type 3 sheet. Go down a little and find Nr.16 PF X position 60 notice Type 3 and 9 sheet. So why not going back to the bottom of sheet and look for position 60. Left numeral 1 broken.





So on the chart this flaw appears on D 2-3 position 60 and Type 3 and 9 sheet.

Again in red Michel PLF, blue Study Group PLF and in black field charateristics.

Now let see a field charateristic by using the last chart and on bottom of sheet (position 51-100) also applying to Type 3 sheet because we know it is Type 3.

First one is under D at position 68 in D 4. Notice the small grey dot in the left numeral 1. This is not a real PLF. But still a variety.





Interesting serie to look at and specialize. So for your question for the second stamp, if not in Michel, surely a Study Group PLF that you will find in their publications.

Best regards

Hornet

Here are three Schantl listed plate flaws from the Berlin Youth Vacation charity issue of September 15, 1960. The first one is on the 7 + 3 pf value (Mi #193). It is a spot on the ear, which occurs at field 6 of form #1 for a part of the printing.

Second one is on the 10 + 5 pf value (Mi #194). The "T" of 'Bundespost' is dinged at the top. This occurs at field 22 of form #1 for a part of the print run.

Last one is on the 40 +20 pf value (Mi #196). It is a hairline/streak through the boy's neck occurring at field 44 of form #2 for a part of the issue. This one very difficult to see without a magnifier.

Hi bookbndrbob,

Last one BERLIN Nr.196 is nice. Striked just a bit higher and the PLF won't have been noticed. Nice used copy. Town, date and PLF, very nice!

Hornet

Thanks hornet. I found the second one only a few days ago.

Here is one from the two-color posthorn definitives of 1922. These stamps were printed as both flat plate and rotary press stamps. Michel illustrates the differences in design of the two printing types.

This is Michel #208 P I., "Lower part of upper '3' of upper right denomination extended (position 60, part of issue)". The "P' stands for "Plattendruck"/flat plate printing to indicate that the PF occurs only on these printings.

This 25 pf PF from the 1880 "PFENNIG" series is listed by Michel as #43 PF IV, "broken first 'N' in 'PFENNIG', positions 56 and 59 from sheet R 1 and pos. 100 from sheet R 2, also positions 30, 40, 50, 70, 80, 90, and 100 from sheet L."

The expertizer has signed for the plate flaw and the color (CA: "bright yellow-brown, strong embossing, 1889". Stamp has a split perforation and 2 short perforations, so it is signed slightly higher.