|
|
Post by jamesw on Mar 6, 2014 2:13:45 GMT
Just completed a trade with a gentleman from Kelowna BC that I met on another stamp forum. He got some pretty decent (I think) Canadian BOB stuff and I was able to fill a bunch of holes in my early 20th century US. Have to admit I thought he might have been getting the better end of the deal, but my package arrived today, and I have to say I'm very very happy. I may even have come out on 'top' - if either of us are counting. The gem, I think, of the group that came today is this MNH strip of three 1901 2¢ trains with plate number and imprint. Interestingly there are also some blind misperfs you can see on the back side. Pretty, no? I think these babies will get their own page in the USA album! Tom if you are reading this, many many thanks!  |
|
antoniusra
Member 
Inactive
Actively pursuing every stamp I do not have and continuing to expand my site.
Posts: 416 
|
Post by antoniusra on Mar 6, 2014 3:23:20 GMT
I have one nearly identical to yours, here . Always thought it a pretty piece but really doesn't fit my collection. |
|
randyharper
Member
Right is the only thing left.
Posts: 199
|
Post by randyharper on Mar 15, 2014 20:40:44 GMT
What a great strip of three, my search is on right now to find some affordable higher end 1893 Columbus Exposition mint stamps. i am afraid my anemic budget is always going to leave me a looker, but when I look at a strip like that it makes everything OK! Nice catch.
|
|
I.L.S.
Departed
Rest in Peace
I am in Clearfield, Pa. I love US Classic covers!
Posts: 2,113
|
Post by I.L.S. on Mar 16, 2014 12:41:29 GMT
Beautiful! I'd love to find something like that although it wouldn't too well in my collection either but that wouldn't stop me from trying though! Congrats on the wonderful trade James! -Jeff
|
|
I.L.S.
Departed
Rest in Peace
I am in Clearfield, Pa. I love US Classic covers!
Posts: 2,113
|
Post by I.L.S. on Mar 16, 2014 12:44:14 GMT
Mitch what are those letters in typeface across the selvedge? I seem to remember reading about those a ong time ago but I cannot recall. I keep wanting to say it's the printers name or, perhaps the designer? Not sure? -Jeff
|
|
antoniusra
Member
Inactive
Actively pursuing every stamp I do not have and continuing to expand my site.
Posts: 416
|
Post by antoniusra on Mar 16, 2014 12:57:19 GMT
Jeff, I've had it for a long time, if I ever knew, I have forgotten. If I were to guess, I'd think maybe it is the name of a company that the stamps were used by. I would think that someone who collects multiples would know.
|
|
I.L.S.
Departed
Rest in Peace
I am in Clearfield, Pa. I love US Classic covers!
Posts: 2,113
|
Post by I.L.S. on Mar 17, 2014 10:11:11 GMT
OK, thank you. -Jeff
|
|
mark
Member
Inactive
Posts: 89
|
Post by mark on Jun 9, 2014 5:23:14 GMT
The letters referred to in a few posts can come from three different people: The person who lays out the plate from the transfer rolls, the person who polished the plate to remove the guide lines, or the person using the plate to print a new batch of stamps. For the Pan American Exposition stamps, I think the long line of initials is generally the flat plate press operator's initials. Of course, for this issue, two separate plates were involved; one for the frame and one for the vignette. In the example shown, the red letters are on the frame plate and are probably the person who laid out the plate. The black letters, on the vignette plate, are those of the press operator, at least at the end, since the other operations would only occur once, unless the plate got damaged and some of the images needed to be removed and reset.  |
|
mark
Member
Inactive
Posts: 89
|
Post by mark on Jun 9, 2014 5:51:34 GMT
Here's another example, found at the Robert Siegel website (Sale 1050, lot 454 realized 850). This plate was used a LOT!  A few interesting observations. (1) The letter punches were reversed; they had to be for the initials to appear properly on the stamp paper. Of course, this means that if you look at the faces of the letter punches themselves, the letters appear normal. (2) Second, the letters JHW appear only once in red and twice in black, near the beginning. He was probably the person who laid out the plate. (The second black set may indicate a repair was needed after FG pulled a proof sheet.) |
|
I.L.S.
Departed
Rest in Peace
I am in Clearfield, Pa. I love US Classic covers!
Posts: 2,113
|
Post by I.L.S. on Jun 9, 2014 8:35:58 GMT
siderographer marks right?
|
|
mark
Member
Inactive
Posts: 89
|
Post by mark on Jun 9, 2014 17:43:12 GMT
I thought the siderographer was the one who laid out the images on the plate. If so, I would only expect him to touch a plate a few times. I think most of these initials are the press operators. For this issue, I expect there were many plates and they were in production for weeks on end. That would explain the large string of initials. I don't remember seeing these initials on later issues so the BEP may have given up on the process, They could also have been trimmed off after the sheets were dry. By the time they switched over to the Rotary presses, I'm sure this practice was obsolete.
|
|
tomiseksj
Moderator 
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,269
What I collect: Worldwide stamps/covers, Cinderellas, Ohio Prepaid Sales Tax Receipts, U.S. WWII Ration ephemera
|
Post by tomiseksj on Jun 9, 2014 20:45:15 GMT
A few related terms and their definitions:
|
|
I.L.S.
Departed
Rest in Peace
I am in Clearfield, Pa. I love US Classic covers!
Posts: 2,113
|
Post by I.L.S. on Jun 10, 2014 16:46:17 GMT
Wow thank you! So that really clears things up for me. So only after 1906 did the siderographer initials/markings start. Great stuff!
|
|
