US #10 Vs #11 - A Couple Stamps Below

Hi I have about a dozen covers/stamps that are either #10 or #11. I am able to decipher the Type 1 or II options but the colors have me colorblinded :).
Your thoughts below - first one is 11a Type II:

This link might help you with more information on these stamps.
Don

https://stampsmarter.org/learning/I...igns%20.html

Collector Kent, with the top stamp is there anything indicating a year date?

stampcrow - yes the letter inside is dated Feb 20th 1857.
I think with the colors and line edges one on top is a 11a and the bottom is a 10.
Your thoughts?

Hi Collector Kent. I suspect your both your stamps are 11A and 11 for the following reasons.

#10/10A's were only issued between July and December 1851, so I feel confident your 1857 usage is an #11A. The stamp dated April 13th is also not lining up with when #10As were in issued (July - December 1851). It is possible to have a #10A used after December 1851, but they are fairly uncommon the further away you get from the December/January months. So I'm guessing its an 11A as well.

Plating the stamps would confirm this, but I would need better resolution images (preferably scans at 1100dpi). Having said that, the very faint to nonexistent left inner frame lines on the first stamp is pointing towards Plate 5L which was used from July 1855 to March 1857. The bottom of this stamp also looks like stamps from plate 5L.

The second stamp doesn't appear (need better image to confirm) to have inner frame lines making it a #11 most likely from Plates 6 or 7.

Regards,
Harper1249

Hi Collector Kent --

I 100% agree with Harper's assessment of your stamps.

The only thing that I can add is that despite the scan quality (which, as Harper noted, is not suitable for plating work) -- the top stamp --(i.e., the one with the FEB 23 cds cancel) plates to position 83L5L -- and is thus Scott #11A.

This particular position shows a very distinctive strong double transfer along most of its bottom frame line -- and the bends in the side FL's -- including the RFL of the adjoining stamp at left -- were distinctive enough that this stamp was plateable despite the poor scan quality.

Regards // ioagoa

Thank you everyone for the information, I just downloaded an extensive article on plating so will need to do some education for myself. Not sure I am able to download scans of the higher resolution in the stamp community forum.

Kent,
This thread also demonstrates nicely the importance of examing every aspect of the cover - especially for year dates within the contents or docketing marks or the use range of the postmark. Often times there is more to identifying the stamp than just the stamp itself.