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Post by Stamper49 on Jul 18, 2024 9:22:55 GMT
After a 60 year hiatus from stamp collecting, I have finally achieved one of my youthful goals, acquiring a Penny Black. And - I think this particular Penny Black is a bit more desirable than many others. Can you guess why?
The white areas of the stamp are whiter than the photo shows. The photo was taken through a digital microscope.
Thank you,
Norman
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Beryllium Guy
Moderator 
Posts: 5,823 
What I collect: Worldwide Stamps 1840-1930
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Post by Beryllium Guy on Jul 18, 2024 13:51:54 GMT
Thanks for your post, Norman ( Stamper49) First of all, congratulations on your successful operation of getting the Penny Black safely off the old album page. I know from experience that that isn't always easy. I am glad you were able to do it. Second, congratulations on achieving one of the stamp-collecting goals from your youth! It's great when things work out over the long term. OK, so why is this Penny Black special to you? My guess: the initials in the lower corners are "GB," which could mean "Great Britain" for you. How did I do?  |
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Post by Stamper49 on Jul 19, 2024 7:22:00 GMT
Beryllium GuyYou got it on the first try! There is only one stamp in a sheet of 240 that will have the letters GB in order (Great Britain), that's why I think this stamp is a bit special. Thank you for playing! Norman
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stanley64
Member 
Posts: 1,909
What I collect: Canada, USA, Netherlands, Portugal & Colonies, Antarctic Territories and anything that catches my eye...
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Post by stanley64 on Jul 19, 2024 7:24:53 GMT
Yup, that was my inkling as welll; GB = Great Britain. At the same time, I plate this stamp to the Plate 1; another first :-) Thanks for sharing Stamper49 ... Have fun and happy collecting! |
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Post by Stamper49 on Jul 20, 2024 9:10:30 GMT
stanley64 Thank you, I was curious what plate the Penny Black might be. Can you tell if it's a reworked plate 1, because of the poor quality of the points in the upper left corner, or are these corner points typical on the first plate? Can you give me some clues as to why it is a plate 1? If it won't take up too much of your time. Thank you, Norman
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vikingeck
Member
Posts: 3,472
What I collect: Samoa, Tobacco theme, Mail in Wartime, anything odd and unusual!
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Post by vikingeck on Jul 20, 2024 12:08:33 GMT
Norman, getting one’s first penny black is always an exciting achievement. Then we get hooked , start looking at different plates, looking for nice postmarks etc.
As the letters were added manually , the position of each within its box differs from plate to plate, the first thing we look at is the position of the letters
In this example the G is slightly high of centre and the B is central but with a slight backwards tilt to the left. These characteristics will be different in almost all other plates. Then the rays of the corner stars in some plates may show minor faults.
a white flaw between the O and the N occurs in some of the later plates but not on your plate 1
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Post by Stamper49 on Jul 20, 2024 14:01:43 GMT
Thank you vikingeck It's all in the details. There must be a master guide to each plate, showing the peculiarities of each stamp, that can't be a cheap, or easy resource to find. And if the same has been done with the Penny Reds without plate numbers, there must be an insane number of variations to look for with all the plates used during their production. You, and stanley64 must have a lot of experience to pick out the plate that quickly. I will have to look into the plating project online and see if I can work my way through the particulars that you mention. I can see getting hooked on finding all the variations available, but the cost must be prohibitive for large quantities of the Penny Black, and Tuppence Blue. Not to mention the famous Penny Red Plate 177. Norman |
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stainlessb
Member
qaStaHvIS yIn 'ej chep
Posts: 4,799
What I collect: currently focused on most of western Europe, much of which is spent on France, Belgium, Germany and Great Britain Queen Victoria
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Post by stainlessb on Jul 20, 2024 14:55:12 GMT
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stanley64
Member
Posts: 1,909
What I collect: Canada, USA, Netherlands, Portugal & Colonies, Antarctic Territories and anything that catches my eye...
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Post by stanley64 on Jul 21, 2024 7:18:33 GMT
The ‘O’ flaw vikingeck mentions only appears on Plate 7, 8, 9 and 10 in one of 3 stages, but as Alex mentions it is not to be found with this example.
With 8 possible positions remaining and for your stamp Stamper49, the key is the so-called 10 o’clock flaw which is found on Plates 1A, 1B and 2, where it can be seen in the upper-left hand square as a mere trace which helps to narrow it down to just three possibilities. With three options left, one would then look at the 5 & 7 o’clock rays. For Plate 1A, the 5 o’clock ray is weak or completely absent as in your copy. In Plate 1B, it is the opposite, here it is the 7 o’clock ray that is weak or absent but clearly visible in yours. As for being Plate 2, the lettering ‘GB’ positions the stamp in the overall pane where there are none of the ray flaws documented.
Checking against the letters and their placement in the boxes in bottom squares confirms your stamp is from Plate 1A.
For additional resources and plating fun with your next Penny Black acquisition, take a look at this thread - Penny Black Plates...
Have fun and happy collecting!
P.S. Congratulations Norman on your 50th posting and full TSF membership :-)
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Post by Stamper49 on Jul 21, 2024 12:44:02 GMT
stanley64 Thank you for a great rendition of the steps needed to plate my Penny Black. Thank you for the thread, and the congrats. And thank you stainlessb Stan, for the link.
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