Plates
Plating
Statistics
Color
Identifying #10s
Philly Cancels
Plate 5L Rust
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The impressions of three of the nine plates were reentered one or more times with a transfer roll in attempts to deepen them. Plate 1 was extensively recut by hand after the second reentry, resulting in the third, or late state. These reworked plates, along with the original (first) states, are considered separate plate states, for a total of 13 plate states. Plates with two or more states are said to have had an early (e), intermediate (i), and/or late (L) state.
The diagram and charts below briefly describe the history of the plates and inks, as well as the characteristics of recutting that enable plate identification:
Elements of the Stamp Design
The diagram below illustrates the key elements of the stamp design. Knowledge of these elements is necessary for plate identification and for referencing recutting varieties.
Basic Plate Identification Guide
|
PLATE |
PERIOD STAMPS FROM PLATE DISTRIBUTED TO PUBLIC |
INNER LINES |
UPPER RIGHT DIAMOND BLOCK RECUT? |
TOP LABEL BLOCK RECUT? |
FRAME LINES |
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF RECUT LINES |
|
|
1(e) |
1 Jul - 15 Aug, 1851 |
Two (91) |
Only |
About half with one straight line (rarely two) at top |
Most with one straight line at top |
Thin, but usually clear |
All thin |
|
1(i) |
12 Jul - 15 Oct, 1851 |
Same as 1e but often not as clear |
Only |
Same as 1e but often not as clear |
Same as 1e but often not as clear |
Same as 1e but often not as clear |
All thin and often slightly blurred |
|
2(e) |
23 Jul - 1 Dec, 1851 |
Two |
Only |
One straight line at top, except one which is gouged out |
Always one straight line at top |
Heavy and clear |
Clear and fairly heavy |
|
0 |
6 Sep - 15 Dec, 1851 |
Two |
Only |
Always one straight line at top |
Always one straight line at top |
All heavy |
Clear and heavy |
|
5(e) |
19 Jul - 1 Dec, 1851 |
Two (197) |
Only |
Lightly - one straight line at top |
Lightly - one straight line at top |
All clear but somewhat light |
Light but clear |
|
1(L) |
6 Oct 1851 - 15 Mar, 1855 |
Two |
No |
Top gouged out except two which are not recut |
Strong and clear |
||
|
2(L) |
7 Jan, 1852 - Mar, 1857 |
Two |
No |
Same as 2e but sometimes fainter |
Same as 2e but sometimes fainter |
Same as 2e but sometimes fainter |
Heavy and fairly clear. One or more frame lines usually weak at some point. Commonest plate. |
|
3 |
15 Jan, 1852 - Mar, 1857 |
Two |
No |
One straight line at top, except two not recut |
One straight line at top, except three not recut |
All heavy |
Clear and fairly heavy. "Three rows" plate. |
|
4 |
28 Mar, 1855 - 1 Sep, 1857 |
None |
No |
Rarely |
Always one straight line at top |
Bottom line always heavy. Left line usually faint and too close to design |
Faint left frame line, no inner lines, and recut upper and lower label blocks. |
|
5(L) |
13 Jul, 1855 - Mar, 1857 |
Two faint (192) |
No |
Lightly - one straight line at top |
Lightly - one straight line at top |
All recut. Often faint. |
Recut lines are faint, especially inner lines. Many positions show spots of color from rust damage to the plate. |
|
6 |
18 Feb, 1856 - 1 Sep, 1857 |
None |
No |
Not recut, except one |
Not recut, except five |
Four (rarely three) lightly |
Bottom frame line always faint (at least part of way) except for top and bottom row positions, most of which were recut at least partially, a few fully. |
|
7 |
9 Feb, 1856 - 1 Sep, 1857 |
None |
No |
Never |
Never |
Four (rarely three) lightly |
Bottom frame line always faint (at least part of way) except for top and bottom row positions, most of which were recut at least partially, a few fully. |
|
8 |
14 Apr, 1856 - 1 Sep, 1857 |
None |
No |
Never |
Never |
Four (rarely three) heavily |
Heavy frame lines, especially bottom, but no other recutting. |
