US Scott # R152A/B (1875-1878 2-Cent Blue Liberty) Plate Varieties

I recently purchased a small bulk lot of common U.S. revenue stamps on ebay, and in it there were about 1000 Scott # R152a and R152b (no R152c sadly), and decided to use it as an opportunity to do some flyspecking.

I've not seen any definitive references to plate varieties on R152; it wasn't included in the Shift Hunter Letters. There have been a couple of brief articles in The American Revenuer, showcased below.

For each stamp I show an image, a second copy of the same image but with arrows showing the diagnostic points, high-res cutouts, and then a link to a 3200dpi high-resolution image of the full stamp.

If anyone has other types of R152 varieties or any platings/references, please post them. Thanks.

You may need to click on images to view them at full size.



Doubled framelines. Mentioned in this 1966 TAR article.



1. Doubled frameline at upper right; twisted transfer or a recutting?







High-res image: https://revenue-collector.com/zoomify/5401.jpg



2. Doubled frameline at upper left.







High-res image: https://revenue-collector.com/zoomify/5402.jpg



3. Another doubled frameline at upper left.







High-res image: https://revenue-collector.com/zoomify/5403.jpg



4. A doubled frameline at bottom.







High-res image: https://revenue-collector.com/zoomify/5404.jpg



5. This one is likely a printing anomaly rather than a plate variety. Many of the details along the left side are mushy, possibly the result of the paper bouncing against the plate? Also some muddiness in the portrait.





High-res image: https://revenue-collector.com/zoomify/5405.jpg



6. A tool gouge or plate crack in the numeral 2 at bottom, but also some anomalies in the NTS of CENTS.







High-res image: https://revenue-collector.com/zoomify/5406.jpg



7. Extra frame/guide line at upper right.







High-res image: https://revenue-collector.com/zoomify/5407.jpg



8. Presumably the Scott-listed double transfer.

From the July 1985 issue of The American Revenuer:










High-res image: https://revenue-collector.com/zoomify/5408.jpg



9. And a more bold example.







High-res image: https://revenue-collector.com/zoomify/5409.jpg

I guess I should pull out the couple of hundred that I have in an envelope, too.......

Dan, I agree with all of your observations. And yes, the stamp you have is the same as Tony Giacomelli's published double transfer variety. As Tony said, printing variations on this stamp are very minor at best. The one he illustrated is probably a true double transfer or at least a re-entered plate. The other tiny extraneous lines at upper L and R, and at bottom may be re-entries as well.
It takes two identical specimens to "prove" a constant plate variety, and it is challenging to find them among the many millions printed.

One of the more interesting aspects that I should write up are the guide dots only present on Bureau plates. They are often in the middle of the left oval frame lines but can migrate around. Giacomelli had a "toothpick in mouth" example which I am not sure is constant.

There is rather strong plate scratch, I recall, but need to dig through my box of those stamps.

John Bowman

So happy to see the late, great Tony Giacomelli's name mentioned. A wonderful man who I knew in my youth.

Revenuecollector


The image you posted as number 8 has a feature that I'm wondering if it is part of a cancel or part of the stamp:

I interpreted it as part of the cancel.

Hi John,

Is this an example of a plate scratch (@ top left)?





Also, here's something you don't see every day.



Jim

Hi Jim,

Yes, that's a very nice and rare plate scratch IMHO. And I wonderful foldover misperf!

I will have to open a box or two in my closet and add to this post. However, what is already posted is great stuff that everyone should be on the lookout for!

Those silk fibers and blue on blue colors can give a flyspecker a real headache, so watch out!