Show Your US 1851-57 Imperforate Stamps

Definitely NOT a hard-and-fast rule which you can depend on, but to me the impression of the unused stamp has a 10A appearance. Like I said, VERY generally, and without any real positivity, the sharp impression gives me a good feeling for this being a 10A. The sure way is to plate it, as you are doing. You can see how sharp the lines and dots are that shade Washington's face, shoulders and chest. The toga button is also a lot sharper than that of the other stamp. If this is really from Plate 0, you have a treasure. To me, though, the appearance is of a 10A. If I were to see this in a dealer's stock as a high-priced #11A, I'd take a chance and buy it with the hope that I could plate it as a 10A.

Thanks for sharing your excellent insights on recognizing OBs, mootermutt.

The old adage, knowledge is power, applies very well to learning to recognize the distinct color and ink texture of the 1851 OB printings. About three quarters of the 90+ #10As in my collection were bought at 11A prices, mostly online, using seller-uploaded images of widely-varying quality. Two 3-cent imperforate bulk lots, including one acquired this month, had five or more OBs in them.

Hi Phillystamper,

I plated your stamp on the previous page with the May 20 cancel to position 31L7. The stamp appears to have some paper disturbance at the bottom right corner, resulting in the bottom end of the right frame line being mostly obliterated, except for a dot of ink where the extended frame line on 31L7 should end. This small frame line extension is visible on the Plating Wizard reference image. This is an A-relief, so it wouldn't have a bottom-right dot.

I used the guide dot visible on the position above to make a short-list of candidate positions for your stamp. From there, I was able to confirm 31L7 with the help of the thin segment in the right frame line indicated by the arrow:

Ha! Thank You. Well, at least I got the plate right? By luck I suppose. I have another stamp I was going to work on this evening. I'll be back for more advice no doubt. It really does take a practiced eye for this. 'Is it a guide dot or smeared ink...?'

Yeah, inking anomalies can show up on the 3-cent imperforate stamps, but they seem pretty uncommon to me. Here's one plated to position 57L4 with some ink streaks in the left margin. It also has a tiny drop of ink below the UL diamond block. It's an odd place to see an ink smear, as they mostly occur at margin positions. 57L4 is pretty near the middle of a 200-stamp sheet.

Continuing with another inking anomaly, here is position 15R5L in a beautiful 1857 Claret color with a rimless Buffalo NY cancel, with an ink smear in the upper-left rosette:

Classic, I assume this is an inking anomaly also. Upper right rosette extends half-way up thru the E.

I would say so, Caper. It looks very similar to mine. It's certainly not a plate flaw, or I would recognize it.

Thought I would throw in with the current direction. 8L1L with what looks like a bit of an ink smear URDB.

Hi Moyock13, Good to see you here.

I see some unusual ink spots (anomalies) straddling the right frame line to the right of the diamond block. The ink blobs in the top of the diamond block and by the E in the adjacent label block are typical for worn-plate, plate 1L printings, as you may know. See my plate 1L gouging post on the previous page.

Looks like an 8L1L with the exception of what is happening to the right of the UR diamond block. Almost appears like the beginnings of another diamond block. Very interesting and likely, or at least partly, due to over inking.

Yours alongside the plating site pic.

Thanks Classic Coins, I'm still here. Just been lurking and following some interesting threads. I'm always amazed at what different dimensions of a single series of stamps there can be.

Caper123, nice comparison. After CC posted the first inking anomaly, I started looking through my 3 cent collection. There's probably more, just haven't found them yet.

Hello to the group again,

Getting back to looking at some recut varieties and trying to plate them. I targeted this as a variety #4 - recut at left inner line only. I also see this as a Relief "C". This combination does not appear to exist so my assumption now is that this not a Variety #4 (although it is light I think I see parts of a line at the left). I cannot see any guide dots to help in my effort and have reached a slight level of frustration. I am opening this one up for help - mostly just aggravated with myself on this one. Any input/feedback is appreciated.




As always, thanks in advance.
Hobsun

Hi Hobsun, It's good to see you posting again.

Your image is blurry, especially along the left edge, and I can't detect a left inner line. If you could provide a clearer image, it would be very helpful.

Classic Coins,

Fresh set of eyes this morning and I agree - no inner frameline at left my focus was at the bottom 1/4 area and I just kept seeing what my mind told me was a line. I hope this image is clearer and allows for confirming the position. As always much appreciated and I continue to learn.



Thanks
Hobsun