Show Your US 1851-57 Imperforate Stamps

The Chase Smithsonian images can be downloaded for free at this link. Just click the download icon:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/natio...78765445003/

I appears that I have those charts. I went to save them and found them. I downloaded them anyway and they are the same as I had.

Hi Jaxom100 --

Regarding the Scott #11 you posted yesterday -- and for which you wrote:




You are correct that the stamp is a B relief.

Regarding the appearance of the stamp having double guide dots -- I believe that the actual GD is protruding from the LR corner of the LRDB -- and the inking at the LR corner of the LLB is just a blob of stray ink.

As you noted, the BFL has been heavily recut -- which, for stamps without recut inner lines, is typical of plates 4 and 8. That said, the weak LFL is typical of plate 4. So, based on the combination of the weak LFL and the heavily recut BFL -- I would start the hunt on plate 4.

The ULT has not been recut on your stamp.

FYI -- stamps from plate 4 are some of the easiest to identify when trying to determine the plate from which the stamp was printed (i.e., the combination of the weak LFL, the LFL often being too close to the design, and the heavily recut BFL). That said -- stamps from plate 4 can be some of the most challenging when it comes to figuring the position on the plate -- and your stamp has the TFL completely cut off -- which adds to the challenge.

In any event, I have tentatively plated your stamp -- and have sent it to a fellow plater for confirmation -- so once I hear back from him, I should be able to either confirm your plating or, if you prefer, reveal the position.

Regards // ioagoa

jaxom100, Would you please re-scan and upload a 1200-DPI image of the last stamp you posted? There is a scanner line running diagonally through the right side of the stamp image that is interfering with confirming the position. It runs through the right frame line, causing an artificial bend in the line. It is also visible in the closeup image, slicing through the right edge of the lower label block.

Jaxom, my guess is left side plate 4. Several decent candidates. In order of of my preference: 88, 44, 84, 60.

Classic Coins, here is the rescan.

Is that a plate crack through the T and H in three?

Hi Jaxom100 -- With the posting of your rescan -- I was able to eliminate any doubt about my plating of your stamp -- so at any time I am happy to either confirm your plating or reveal the position -- whichever you prefer.

Caper123 -- great work! -- Jaxom's stamp does in fact plate to 1 of the 4 positions you identified. As a further hint -- 60L4 can be eliminated as it is an A relief and Jaxom's stamp is a B relief.

Laurie02 -- there is not a plate crack on Jaxom100's stamp. Normally a plate crack would show as a line if ink where there should be none -- and I do not see anything like that on Jaxom's stamp. Under maximum zoom -- a couple of stray ink specks maybe -- but not a plate crack.

Regards to All // ioagoa

edited for grammar fix only

Thanks for the new scan, jaxom100. That removed scanner line causing an artificial bend in the right frame line. This is very helpful.

It appears that 88L4 is a match.

Hi Jaxom100 -- YES -- 88L4 is correct. Regards // ioagoa

Here are two stamps that I just acquired. Any hints which plates to start with?

Hi Jaxom100 --

I plated both of your stamps this evening.

The first one (with the manuscript cancel that is comprised of 3 diagonal pen strokes) is a Scott #11 -- inner lines are not recut -- and it is from plate #7.

The second one (with the manuscript cancel that looks like 2 slashes and a scribbling) is a Scott #11A -- inner lines recut -- and it is from plate 1L.

I am happy to either confirm your plating or reveal the positions -- whichever you prefer.

Regards // ioagoa

On the first stamp I came up with 3 choices, 62R7, 68L7 or 85R7.

Hi Jaxom100 --

Great work narrowing down the candidate list -- and the correct position is among the 3 possibilities that you have identified.

If you closely study the positioning of the guide dot -- and also the white spacing between the Frame Lines and the Diamond Blocks in each of the 4 corners -- I think you should be able to nail this one. I would also recommend that you use "side by side", full sized images, scaled to the same size on your screen for this exercise.

Again -- I am happy to reveal the position if you want me to.

Regards // ioagoa