Why Are There Imperfs?

Posting this question must mean I need to find bigger problems to worry about. I can understand why, when there was no reliable perforation technology, very early issues were often imperforate. I can also understand that, in later issues, sometimes the perforation process failed and some copies/sheets were not perforated.

But why would some later issues (I'm thinking specifically of the three Admiral imperfs #136 - #138) be issued as deliberate imperfs?

This may help: https://bnaps.org/ore/VanSomeren-Ad...-Formats.htm

Thanks for the link - I'm familiar with this BNAPS Guide, but had missed that one line explanation.




However, this sort of begs the question why these stamps warranted catalogue numbers if they were never distributed to post offices and are essentially philatelic in nature.

Interesting, thanks again.

French and French area stamp catalogues are full of imperforated copies of issues produced in limited quantities. More common in some issuing areas than others.

Here is my example of the Scott 137 for your info.

Robert

Because they were sold by the post office (Philatelic Agency is part of the post office) and were fully valid for use on domestic or international mail. And the point of a catalog is to list such valid postage sold by a governmental postal agency. Right?

I'm gonna take a shot in the dark and say there weren't any really great perfs back in the 1700s because there weren't very many perf-ers worth their salt. Hecause, well, they were likely indentured servants or somewhat-skilled just released frm slavery Negroes. And that's why thongs weren't perfect,same as white guys working for the Bureau of Engraving and not giving a damn because it was colse enough for government work.

So there ya go. Early issues had their peroblems.

Were there stamps in the 1700's?


Peter

Plenty stamps in the 1700s. No adhesives we now tend to call "stamps."

Really?



This phrase has only been an insult since the '60s. It used to mean the opposite and was a high compliment ... meaning that a product met the highest standards of quality and would not be accepted by Uncle Sam if it did not.

A simple online search for "perforation machine invented?" will offer more information for anyone who cares to look.
Don