Print Issue With D.f. Hutchinson Private Die Ro114

Have you ever bought a car and then all of a sudden you start noticing the same make car everywhere? I've been studying private die double transfers and looking through my stamps. Of course now I see them everywhere! I don't believe this is a double transfer, but the RO114 (images below) has something going on on the right side. It looks like the printing was smeared a bit to the left. It's most noticeable is on the N in CENT. What would cause this?

i am not quite sure if this is a double transfer or a kiss. all the displacement seems to go in the same direction. it could also be poor wiping of the plate.

I agree with m & m. It does have the appearance of a double transfer except the doubling seems blurry. So it could be a kiss print, which when it occurs over the entire stamp is called a double impression.

It does make me want to look more closely at mine! To me, finding an exact match to your stamp confirms it as a double transfer, at least the probability goes way up.

I doubt that it is a double transfer, poor wiping seems much more likely.

Thanks all.

I assume "kiss" means the paper somehow came in contact with the plate more than once?

yes this can occur when the sheet is removed from the plate after printing. on rotary press items this can happen press is stopped and rocks back a bit before coming to a complete stop.

Poor wiping: For those who are advocating "poor wiping", please explain exactly how this happens to produce the effect seen here? I am not convinced of that cause/effect.

Remember, we are talking about 1880's technology. I doubt they did much work in really bright light. So if the plate was not wiped thoroughly and there was some excess ink left on the plate in a few spots it might not be noticed. And if the plate was getting just a bit worn, it might not take it exactly evenly sometimes. A double transfer would have sharper lines, and this close to the actual transfer lines could only be caused by a slippage; this appears too fuzzy for that event. Some searching will find other stamps of various companies that occasionally have this appearance.

I'll be more specific. How can one produce the shadow effect of the "NT" of "CENT" with plate wiping?

that shadow effect is evident throughout the entire right side of the stamp. the explanations given re poor wiping, plate wear kiss print or a combination of both are imo spot on. any extra lines in any design caused buy any of the above mentioned can give that illusion of depth.

m and m, I agree with the idea of kiss print or slip print, but have heard no convincing explanation for any wiping theory. Exactly HOW can this effect be made by wiping technique?

a combination of excess ink and over wet paper and or slight slippage could account for it. however I do not think wiping alone would cause this effect.

The plate was not wiped completely before printing, so some extra ink remained on the plate when it was printed. It would not have been a whole lot, but it could have caused some fuzzy areas.