stainlessb
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qaStaHvIS yIn 'ej chep
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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 Mar 26, 2019 0:43:17 GMT
Checking to see if I got this ID'd correct;y- The corner letters throw me a bit stil is the 23 (left /right upper sides) the plate # (Scott only lisdt that plate as Inperf) 1881 Scott A30 #82 Watermark 20 SG J25 postmark London Chief Office???  |
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khj
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Post by khj on Mar 26, 2019 1:32:42 GMT
You have IDed it correctly. Scott Great Britain #82(1881), plate #23. Yes, the "23" at upper left/right is the plate number.
#82a is imperforate, while #82 is for perforate stamp. If you look at the listing for #82, you will see (P23) in the main line.
2018 Scott has it at $32.50 for VF used and no faults.
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khj
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Post by khj on Mar 26, 2019 1:38:48 GMT
I'm assuming the cancel is "498", which would make it the Manchester Head Post Office -- also assuming I looked it up in the correct table. I've been known to look at the wrong tables, especially during tax season :-( .
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Post by tallanent on Mar 26, 2019 3:07:52 GMT
The postmark is indeed Manchester 498 duplex ...
All the other details mentioned above are correct ...
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blaamand
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Currently creating custom pages until 1940.
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What I collect: Worldwide - Stamps and Postmarks - not enough time...
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Post by blaamand on Mar 26, 2019 7:40:52 GMT
Off course it is  - khj has it all under control as always  Very nice postmark stainlessb |
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Post by tallanent on Mar 26, 2019 14:27:19 GMT
Just to add ... the postmark is the type with the place name MANCHESTER reading across the centre rather than around the top of the circle ...
The last part of the final R of the place name is just visible on the CDS portion ...
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khj
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Post by khj on Mar 26, 2019 17:13:41 GMT
blaamand , thank you for your kind words. But I've made more than my fair share of info mistakes in replies. Fortunately, there are many enthusiastic collectors who can post the correct answers! It's the forum members as a group, from seasoned collectors to novice, that bring out the correct info in the long run. k
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stainlessb
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qaStaHvIS yIn 'ej chep
Posts: 4,903
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 Mar 26, 2019 18:49:13 GMT
is there a reference that clearly shows the different postmarks? i'm not sure where I'm looking for the last R on the CDS (?) to be on this.
I did come across a much clearer 498 cancelled QV this morning- though the stamp is a very faint green,and having great difficulty scanning- (will try again this evening) appears to be 1884 5 pence (Sc 104)... but the cancellation is quite nice!
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Admin
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Post by Admin on Mar 26, 2019 19:05:05 GMT
Allan's postmark database is a great resource -- here is an image from there that will show you were to look for the "R."  |
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stainlessb
Member
qaStaHvIS yIn 'ej chep
Posts: 4,903
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 Mar 26, 2019 19:15:22 GMT
Admin thanks! (added to my bookmarks) and now I see the barest of remnants of the R (good eyes tallanent )
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blaamand
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Currently creating custom pages until 1940.
Posts: 1,459
What I collect: Worldwide - Stamps and Postmarks - not enough time...
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Post by blaamand on Mar 26, 2019 20:06:29 GMT
Agreed, we need the diversity. |
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Post by tallanent on Mar 26, 2019 21:18:23 GMT
Admin thanks! (added to my bookmarks) and now I see the barest of remnants of the R (good eyes tallanent ) You are most welcome ... (and thanks to Admin for sharing a picture prior to me getting to this) I think it all adds just a little more to the collection when you can say this or that type and prove it ... |
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stainlessb
Member
qaStaHvIS yIn 'ej chep
Posts: 4,903
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 Mar 27, 2019 0:34:34 GMT
sothis morning I mentioned a1983-84 (I think) Sc# 104 5p green (very paled) Watermark is Imperial Crown 498 Manchester cancellation I had great difficulty scanning and I'msure I now have my scanning settings all taddy-whompus! This is too green, but there seems a fine line where this just fades to gray. I got slightly better results using a white background  |
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brightonpete
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Post by brightonpete on Mar 27, 2019 0:36:09 GMT
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stainlessb
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qaStaHvIS yIn 'ej chep
Posts: 4,903
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 Mar 27, 2019 1:03:33 GMT
and one more for the evening Sc#101 (OK I had help...the number was written on the back)... is the postmark DEcember?? or X for October???  |
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Post by tallanent on Mar 27, 2019 1:21:50 GMT
December 16 1886
Code at top and bottom
X at top
should be two letters at the base
London E C hooded circle postmark
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stainlessb
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qaStaHvIS yIn 'ej chep
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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 Mar 27, 2019 1:25:52 GMT
what do ther letters above and below signify?
and thanks for the clarification!
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stainlessb
Member
qaStaHvIS yIn 'ej chep
Posts: 4,903
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 Mar 27, 2019 1:33:47 GMT
peter it looks like it's definitely the 5p 
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Post by tallanent on Mar 27, 2019 8:36:29 GMT
what do ther letters above and below signify? and thanks for the clarification! The letters at the bottom indicate the position of the stamp within the sheet ... A A would be the top left corner (first stamp ... A B the next along and so on .... The second row starts B A, B B, B C etc etc The letters at the top are the same as those at the bottom, but in reversed order ... Below is the registration sheet (plate 4) that should show all this as well as the sheet layout  |
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stainlessb
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qaStaHvIS yIn 'ej chep
Posts: 4,903
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 Mar 28, 2019 3:20:20 GMT
next up 1883-84 3p , perfin "K" Sc# 102 postmark is upside down and sepite my link earlier today...I've yet to ID this/// I believe it is EB...perhaps indicating an Easterly location. I printed out W and SW.... will print out the East locations tomorrow. And having the letters AT TA...does this mean this stamp is from the bottom row LL corner? my main questionis the back of this stamp is stained from the hinge...should I be concerned? margins are not ideal, but perfs on all four sides are intact This was apparently a printing (unpopular) that can fade in water  |
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khj
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Post by khj on Mar 28, 2019 5:11:25 GMT
To determine plate position, look at the bottom letters. Bottom left letter is the row. Bottom right letter is the column. Therefore you stamp came from the 20th row (T) of the press sheet and is the 1st stamp (A) in that row. On used stamps, having the check letters in all 4 corners is useful if one of the letters is obliterated by the cancel. Just remember the top letters are in reverse order.
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khj
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Post by khj on Mar 28, 2019 5:45:15 GMT
I believe it is EB...perhaps indicating an Easterly location. The postmark ink has "spread" a little, so it's not obvious. What you have is an "F.B" cancel -- "Foreign Branch". The ink spread on the period after the "F" makes the "F." look like an "E". |
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khj
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Post by khj on Mar 28, 2019 6:35:50 GMT
The GB Foriegn Branch postmark on your stamp is shown in Figure 77 below:  taken from "London postmarks used on printed matter amd parcels from 1860" by Fernau, translated by Robinson. |
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stainlessb
Member
qaStaHvIS yIn 'ej chep
Posts: 4,903
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 Mar 28, 2019 13:31:10 GMT
To determine plate position, look at the bottom letters. Bottom left letter is the row. Bottom right letter is the column. Therefore you stamp came from the 20th row (T) of the press sheet and is the 1st stamp (A) in that row. On used stamps, having the check letters in all 4 corners is useful if one of the letters is obliterated by the cancel. Just remember the top letters are in reverse order. do the sheets go through the entire alphabet (A-Z)? SG Specialized only shows examples up to T |
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khj
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Post by khj on Mar 28, 2019 13:37:57 GMT
As far as I know, for GB Victoria definitives, the largest press sheet only goes to T. I'm open to correction on that [EDIT: correction, see Tallanent's post below]. The size of the press sheet is not the same for all GB definitives of the era. So some dimensions will be smaller (example shown by @tallenet goes to column L). Therefore, the location of the wing margin will vary among the different layouts.
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khj
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Post by khj on Mar 28, 2019 13:43:12 GMT
In regards to the hinge stain on the back, there will be different opinions. Since I mount my stamps face up, if I cannot see the stain or hinge remnant impression from the front of the stamp, it doesn't bother me. It might bother others though. It's like dust under the floormat or pebbles in the tire tread -- bothers some people. Given a choice between hinge stain or no hinge stain and all other parameters the same, obviously I would prefer no hinge stain. I'd rather have clear margins, a good set of teeth, fresh color, clear but light cancel...
But that's just my opinion. In reality, I'll settle for any stamp I can get my grubby little fingers on.
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khj
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Post by khj on Mar 28, 2019 13:46:36 GMT
I should clarify, there is always an exception. The Penny Black official stamp with "VR" in the top left/right corners. However, that is to designate "official stamp", not position check letter. The actual check letters for the Penny Blacks are in the bottom corners.  |
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Post by tallanent on Mar 28, 2019 20:33:36 GMT
Also in reply to the comment above about the check letters ...
In general the sheets were 240 stamps although later this format changed ... but generally the rows are A to T (in bottom left corner) and the columns are A to L (in the bottom right corner)
The main exception in the Line Engraved period was the half penny stamp (bantam) where the letter were A A to A X on the top row going down to T A to T X on the bottom row
This was a sheet of 480 rather than 240 as used for the one penny stamps - thus the sheet value remained at one pound
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khj
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Post by khj on Mar 28, 2019 23:45:56 GMT
Thanks for pointing out the bantam issue, tallanent! |
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stainlessb
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qaStaHvIS yIn 'ej chep
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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 Mar 29, 2019 0:05:48 GMT
More from the Queen 1883 2 Shillings 6 pence Sc # 96- to bad the cancellation is smeared, ( I have no clue what htis might be) but nice clear margin on all four sides. Watermark is correct (large anchor SC 31) and if I almost understand the lettering - 4 row (D) first column (A)?  |
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- khj has it all under control as always 
