1851 - 1857 3-Cent Stamp Plates

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Nine different plates were used to print the 1851-57 Imperforate 3-cent issue. Eight of these plates bore the plate numbers 1 through 8. The ninth (actually the fourth plate placed into service), bore no plate number, and thus was called plate 0 (zero) by Carroll Chase.

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	ORANGE BROWN (#10)?	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) None (64) Right only (33) Left only (12)	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) Right only (3)	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 Experimental Orange Brown though (#11)	Top gouged out except two which are not recut	Top gouged out	Strong and clear	Top half of upper right diamond block gouged
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) Right only (8)	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.

History of Plates and Colors

The following chart, in two parts, shows a linear comparison of the progression of plates and colors for the issue. The months shaded orange represent the months the orange brown color was distributed. The months shaded red represent the months all other colors were distributed.

Approximate Months the Plates Were Used, and the Corresponding Colors

PLATE

1851

1852

1853

1854

1855

1856

1857

1 Early

1 Intermediate

1 Late

2 Early

2 Late

5 Early

5 Late

Approximate Distribution Months for Primary Colors

COLOR

1851

1852

1853

1854

1855

1856

1857

Orange-Brown

Brownish Carmine

Claret

Dull Red

Rose Red

Orange Red

Yellowish Rose Red

Some notable observations from the above chart are as follows:

The earliest known use of the 1851 orange brown was July 1st. The last 1851 orange browns were distributed to post offices in December 1851. In the mid-1850s it was highly unusual for a stamp distributed to the public to be used more than a few months after distribution. Therefore, imperforate 3-cent stamps bearing April, May, or June postmarks advertised as orange browns should be eyed with suspicion, although scarce usages of 1851 orange browns in the second half of 1852 are known.

Dating the the brownish carmine and claret shades to one of their two distribution periods is a difficult matter since plates 2L and 3 were in use during both periods. Identifying the stamp as a plate 1L impression is a sure way to eliminate the 1856 classification. Likewise, brownish carmine and claret stamps printed from plates 4, 5L, 6, 7, and 8 can only be 1856-57 impressions. Also, the Philadelphia CDS was used only with blue ink until January 1854 when black ink began to be used exclusively. So a stamp printed in the brownish carmine or claret shade with a black Philadelphia CDS surely is an 1856-57 printing. Stamps printed from plate 2L or 3 in the brownish carmine or claret shade may be distinguished from their quality of impression, as these plates became worn by 1855.

The appearance of the yellowish rose red shade coincides almost directly with the temporary removal of plates 2L and 3 from service in late 1855. This fact aids considerably in separating yellowish rose red printings from the sometimes nearly identical dull reds. However, some plate 2L/3 printings are known in the yellowish rose red shade.

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