1841 Penny Red Plate Number

NSK if it is not plate 69 what could it be

Have a look at plate 171 NSK and please let us know what you think

Hi azstampguy,

On another look I'm happy with plate 171.

NSK is correct about the shape of the C so it cannot be plate 69.

Gee, there was not much in it.
I think I see it now, the space inside the shape of the C is larger in the Plate 171
It's darn close though.

Was away for a night. That plate's IC looks a good candidate. The C looks more like a broken G and explains that strange upward sloping lower loop. What also looks a good match is the lower left corner of the lower right (C) frame, that thickens. At the same time the stars look better defined (repaired), but the lower line of the lower left (I) frame is much weaker that points at wear.

So not 100% sure, but I think (95+%) it is it. It makes it an alphabet II stamp.

Great margins!




There was my problem: On plate 171, the lower loop comes in, rising like that of a 'G' and inside the upper loop of the C. That made me wonder whether it could be a damaged 'G' with the horizontal and vertical lines either missing or very weak. On plate 69, it does not rise and extends a little further than the upper loop.

One more cover I found at the bottom of the pile from Aug 24 1841. It doesn't have the NE Line break flaw, so I think it must mean it is from one of the later PB plates.

The date and the Maltese cross means it'll be a low number plate.

It looks like a plate 12 to me.

Second opinions always welcome!

I'd guess plate 5

Cover:

Fox Brothers
Wellington
(Beautiful) Somerset. (That green and pleasant land)
England

Height of its output, employed 5000 persons.

Subsidiary mill at UFFCULME

I don't think it can be plate 12 as it doesn't have the NE flaw which is constant as far as I understand.

The D is a bit too upright for plate 5 I thought and I thought the letters were supposed to be weak for that plate.

I had been leaning towards a later plate but I know the rarity of those makes it unlikely.

For the potential Plate 171 I don't see letters in the postal museum registrations sheets so how do I confirm that.

The stamp is an IC azstampguy.

To answer your query (you'll need this info anyway) please see my post 5/23/2020 on page 1 of this thread

Thanks found those links and how they relate!

I agree with Bobby De La Rue.
Plates later than '16' were registered - not 100% certainty it was used on or after such date only - after 24 August 1841. The 'D' is not that for plates '13' through '16.''

The gap in the NE corner did not occur on a number of positions. 'TD' is among those.

Thanks NSK

I feel like I'm getting a little bit better at this!