Show Your US 1851-57 Imperforate Stamps

Wow! GeoffHa, I was looking at that for a LOOOONG time and simply couldn't figure it out. It looks like you got it, though!!

Stanshepp - Take this for what it is worth ... I am still a rookie at plating, but I checked that 2L8 you identified and that looks like a solid match to me.

Presenting a pretty grungy 3 cent imperf. My guess is plate 5L and there appears to be a ghost dot UR.

Here's a #9, 3R1L (I think)

moyock, how did you arrive at 3R1L as the plate position? Not arguing necessarily, but seemingly all the identifying marks for this position are obscured or cut away on this copy. To my eye anyway, the bottom frame line under the N of ONE does not look recut.

I'm pretty much an amateur at plating 1 cent imperfs.

My reasoning is this, to me the bottom frame line looked recut and doubled. Since there are only a few positions where the lower frame line is doubled on plate 1L that's where I focused. As well, the stamp looked under inked or blotchy. A lot of the identifying marks may not have transfered. There were some darker marks in the lower left scroll area that seemed to match.

I appreciate your feedback. Thanks.

Hi Moyock13 --

I believe that your "grungy 3c imperf" with the black AUG 5 (?) Philly CDS cancel is position 35R2L -- and the dot you are seeing is not a ghost dot -- but rather the GD from the adjoining 25R2L above.

Check it out and see what you think.

Regards // ioagoa

ioagoa, I concur. Thank you. Appreciate your assistance. Another feature that threw me off, there is a small splash of color on the right side of the lower right rosette, between the inner and outer frame lines. Seemed a little odd to me that I couldn't find reference to support the splash. Curious if this shows up on any other copy of this stamp?

Thanks again, ioagoa.

Hi Moyock13 --




Here are 2 examples of 35R2L -- and neither shows the "splash of color" that you asked about. I also checked the Chase, Lund and the StampSmarter copies -- and no "splash of color" on any of those either -- so I think what you are seeing has to be a bit of stray inking -- or perhaps it is not stamp ink, but part of the "grunginess" as you called it (??). Regardless -- by process of elimination, your stamp cannot be anything other than 35R2L

Regards // ioagoa

moyock, I'm not sure what you mean by this. If you are referring to the portion of the frame line circled in the attached, that is the normal appearance of the bottom frame line. It is not really doubled (in the sense of showing traces of more than one attempt at entering the relief).

Dudley, thanks. Appreciate everyones patience.
So, I have this piece of paper on my desk. And drawn on the paper is a big circle with a big "X" in the center. Underneath the circle is written, "Bang Head Here!"
I use that quite frequently when attempting to plate 1c and 3c stamps. =)

I am having trouble with this one. I am leaning towards 25R1i.

Anyone care to opine?

Stan Shepp

Possibly a 45L3?

It isn't a big deal to have plated. I added it to the collection for the manuscript PAID cancel, and not for plating.

Stan Shepp

Stan, looks like someone with a boring job and time on their hands processed that item!

Also, I believe 25R1i is the correct plating for your stamp above.

Caper123, Thanks!

I imagine that this stamp was used when the local news came from the postmaster.
He knew who was sick, who was out of town, who had a sister visiting, etc.

I imagine there were stories told over the post office counter -
and when I see doodling on covers, I just imagine the postmaster telling
(or listening) to a story from a customer while he doodles.