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Help With This Number On The Selvage Of This Washington 1

 
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Valued Member

United States
121 Posts
Posted 01/09/2026   2:43 pm  Show Profile Bookmark this topic Add Butchie to your friends list Get a Link to this Message
Ran across this Washington 1c stamp with a number on the selvage that I assumed was a plate number but quickly found it was not. Search found nothing about the number. Would someone enlighten me about what the number represents.




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Bedrock Of The Community
United States
10590 Posts
Posted 01/09/2026   2:58 pm  Show Profile Bookmark this reply Add revcollector to your friends list  Get a Link to this Reply
It is a plate number, used to produce #498. One of several dozen numbers.
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Valued Member
United States
121 Posts
Posted 01/09/2026   3:39 pm  Show Profile Bookmark this reply Add Butchie to your friends list  Get a Link to this Reply
Thanks for that. That was my original assumption but my search trying to associate it to a specific stamp said usps never used that number and reference it to a British #. That's what got me confused. Made me look stupid although I admit plate numbers have not been one of my strengths but because this one was still attached I was interested in qualifying. You can delete this thread if you like.
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Bedrock Of The Community
United States
10590 Posts
Posted 01/09/2026   3:59 pm  Show Profile Bookmark this reply Add revcollector to your friends list  Get a Link to this Reply
stampsmarter.org has a plate number look up link.
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
4276 Posts
Posted 01/09/2026   7:41 pm  Show Profile Bookmark this reply Add Parcelpostguy to your friends list  Get a Link to this Reply

Quote:
That was my original assumption but my search trying to associate it to a specific stamp said usps never used that number and reference it to a British #.


That underscores the issues with AI searches. While its answer was correct, it was misleading. Specifically the USPS did not use the number for a plate. On the other hand, as you later learned, the USPOD and BEP did use the number.

The USSS' Durland Plate Number Guide also list plate numbers used by stamp issue Scott number.
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Edited by Parcelpostguy - 01/09/2026 7:42 pm
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