Show Your US 1851-57 Imperforate Stamps

Sharing for your enjoyment.

Scott #10A, position 97L0.
LYNCHBURG, Va cancel.
Not certified nor graded,
but sound in every way.

I attempted to plate this. I came up with 97R1E

What do you think?

You are definitely in the right area. Its a bottom row A relief from Plate 1E, which means it has to be one of 96-100R1E. It does not appear to be 100R or 99R, which are fairly easy to plate.

That leaves 96-98R. 97 and 98R both show 11th row effect -- 97R actually shows 11th row better than any other 1c stamp. Its quite strong. I don't see it on your stamp, but maybe that's a result of the scan. 98R shows 11th row, but to a lesser extent - in the middle below the stamp. I don't recall from memory what 96R shows if anything on that. 96R obviously has a break at top - yours may or may not qualify, I'd have to stare at it for more than a minute to be sure.

Those are some quick observations... I think I have a scan handy of my copy of 97R1E with large bottom margin .. I'll post it in the plate 1E thread for your reference.

Actually I do see 11th row effect below the C of CENT on your stamp - just barely at the bottom. I do not see the large ornament below the left plume, which would actually be closer to the bottom of your stamp than what is visible under the C. 98R would not show that ornament at left if I recall correct ... or at least not that much of it as the 97R I posted in the plate 1E thread does. So that may point towards 98 or 96 ...

edit: your stamp can't be 97R for at least 2 reasons:
1) not enough 11th row effect on your stamp
2) the stamp to the right of your stamp is too far away (i.e. not visible) to be 98R. The distance between 97-98R is very close.

So your stamp is definitely 96R or 98R.

These are interesting positions

98R1E.

96R has a strong dot to the left of ornament H, which appears consistent across copies. Yours definitely does not show this. Also the spacing from 96-97R is probably closer than your right margin. The spacing from 98-99R is wide. The top line on your stamp is more complete, particularly at right above the T & S than 96R.

Thank you. Glad I got close for a change. Unfortunately I think it has a lightened cancel, but still a nice looking stamp.

I agree with tx. In addition to his points, this stamp shows the 11th-row effects on 98R1E as illustrated in Neinken.

Sharing 92L1L on cover with Philadelphia cancel.
Double transfer with a line thru THREE CENTS

Nice example of that variety.

Sc#11, w/shoulder gash, 10th column I guess, which plates might this be on?

Hi RLSNY --

Your stamp with the black JUL New York cds cancel is a top row stamp -- C relief (with gash) -- and has a double GD at upper right. Can't be from plate 4 -- (since there are no top row stamps on plate 4 with double GD's) -- and the overall strength of the recut RFL and LFL is too weak for plate 8 -- so that leaves plates 6 and 7 as possibilities.

Hint -- despite initial appearances with that wide right margin -- your stamp is not from the 10th vertical column.

The combination of the GD, the distinctive bends in the RFL, and the fairly straight LFL -- are the features to look for as you eliminate possibilities.

I did plate your stamp -- so should be able to readily confirm your plating.

Regards // ioagoa

OK. My best guess 9R7 - but can't say confidence is high

Hi RLSNY --

Your stamp is not 9R7 -- but rather plates to 7R7.

One difference between these two positions is that 9R7 has a significant double transfer -- showing most notably at various points in the white space between the top label block and the TFL (especially above the GE of POSTAGE and at the upper left corner of the URDB) -- versus 7R7 that does not show any trace of a DT.

In any event -- your stamp is position 7R7.

I am sure we will see this listed on ebay in a day or two!

Regards // ioagoa

Thanks and yes it will. I have a related question for you. Is the shoulder gash a common feature? I've seen it mentioned in a pretty wide variety of positions.

Hi RLSNY --

The shoulder gash is a characteristic of Relief C. That said -- it often shows to varying degrees -- ranging from barely a trace to very heavy.

In terms of how common Relief C positions are -- there are 143 C reliefs out of a total of 2,600 positions.

Breakdown by OB and dull red plates is as follows:

The OB plates (Scott # 10 / 10A) contain a total of 29 C reliefs out of 1,000 positions

The dull red plates (Scott # 11 / 11A) contain a total of 114 C reliefs out of 1,600 positions.

Regards // ioagoa