Show Your US 1851-57 Imperforate Stamps

Thought this was a nice impression. Trying to plate it but the Upper Right Guide Dot is perplexing me. Thought it was 53R5e but the GD is in the wrong position.
Seems obvious to me that it is either a misplaced GD or a ghost dot, but I can't find the correct position. Thanks.

Could it be the guide dot belonging to the stamp above?

That's what I was thinking, but I couldn't find any guide dots that matched up. Initially I thought it was the guide dot from 43R5e. But it doesn't show up in the right position.



edit for spelling

Greetings all. Came across this interesting specimen and I've plated it to position 96R2L. Its a rather poor impression but I noticed a possible crack in the lower right corner. I've looked a several different examples of this position and they do not show a crack. It's also not mentioned in Chase's book. What do you all think?

Regards,
Harper1249

Moyock13 - I've been trying to plate your stamp as well but not having any luck yet. I need to block out the dot and try plating it like any other stamp.

Harper - have you looked carefully at the back of your 3c stamp to make sure that its not a pre-printing paper fold, or a repaired tear?

Txstamp, you are correct. It looks to be a tear or crease. I should have looked harder at the back. I get these things scanned in and forget to go back to the actual stamp. Lesson learned.

Thanks,
Harper1249

That left margin looks awfully wide to me, are you sure it's not a LL corner margin position 91?

Position 91 was the first thing I checked on 2L, 3 and 5L. I feel confident it's 96R2L though. Chase documented that the widest spacing on the right pane of 2L was 1.5 mm and was located between the 5th and 6th columns at the bottom of the plate. On my stamp, the distance between the edge of the stamp and the left outer frame line is just under 1.5 mm.

Here's another one I find interesting. Its position 42L3. Originally thought I had a double transfer position given the strong color on the right side of the oval and the faint offset circle in the upper right rosette. There are several other areas throughout the stamp showing color where there shouldn't be color. I've looked at several other versions of this position and I'm not seeing color in these areas so I'm ruling out double transfer. It could be a double impression or some sort but I would think it would show up across more of the stamp. It could be red ink from a cancel but it sure looks to be same color as the stamp. Finally, I think it could just be excess ink that got laid down in those areas when the sheets were added or removed from the press. Curious what others thinks went on here when this one was printed/used.

Regards,
Harper1249

Inking anomalies like these can drive platers crazy. When there are clear comparison stamps, as is the case here - it is pretty easy to write these off as anomalies. Especially when they are so pronounced. And they mostly look at first glance like inking issues. The blob at 4:00 in the colorless oval is kind of interesting, but since its not consistent on more than 1 stamp, it becomes a one-off inking issue.

I don't see anything that isn't explained by uneven inking / over-inking, possibly and ink-pull at UR rosette...

Where it does get interesting, is when you have consistent markings that appear / disappear over time - but persist for "awhile"...on more then one stamp. Those are real, and are good plating aids, requiring many copies of the same position. They can be due to plate wear, or cracking, etc.

Thanks for looking at it Txstamp. I agree that it is an inking issue.

Moyock13, Check out position 57R5E.

Hello all,

I have not shared anything here in a little while, and scanned these in this morning. I will share a couple of the scanned items and ask and a confirmation on a plating as well.

At the very least, enjoy these images of a few nice examples of the 3c Washington.

The first one is on a cover dated JULY 16, MEDINA, N.Y. and has 1852 written on the cover in pencil. It was purchased as a #11A but I was impressed with the clarity of the printing. I have attempted to plate it and arrived at 71L0. I would greatly appreciate if anyone could confirm or deny. Stamp and cover images here:




This next one came plated as 16R0 - and that appears to me to be correct.



Next is an unplated, 4-margin, #11. I have not had a chance to attempt plating as I am swamped at work (But I did take the time to plate the other ones)



There is also this strip of 4 purchased as #11A's. The tops are cut off (just like the examples below them) I have not attempted this one either, but I should be able to get it fairly easily. B-reliefs, Lower RIght Guide Dots, Weak top-left frame line on all but the 3rd stamp from the left, fudged bottom frame lines on the middle two stamps, and the right most stamp appears to have a plate crack along the right side. Nevermind - It looks like 81-84L5L on a piece.



This one should also prove to be fairly easy. Left Stamp of the right pane including the guide line center guide line at 2.35mm left of the left frame line. I do not have those measurements fresh in my mind at the moment. But armed with that information and the mismatched Upper Left corner - It should not prove to be too difficult.



Mostly just sharing and saying hi.

Hi.

Stan Shepp

Jaxom! Saaweet! Thanks! So, now I'm down to 70 unplated 3 cent imperfs.
I donno, they just keep following me home!

Hey Stan --

Your stamp with the July 16 MEDINA NY cds is not 71L0 -- as the RFL of the adjoining stamp at left is visible -- thus cannot be from the 1st vertical column.

I plated it to 35R2L -- surely an early 1852 printing impression.

Regards // ioagoa