#425e - 1914 - Perf 10 - Flat Plate - Single line USPS wmk Booklet
See below for details
Basic Info
2¢ Carmine rose, rose red, dark rose red, carmine, dark carmine. Type I
BOOKLET PANE
Subject: George Washington
Number issued: not known
Printing Method: Flat Plate
Perforations: 10
Watermark: Single Line USPS
Scott #: 425e
Issued: January, 1914.
Value
For a booklet pane of 6
Used
$1-$2
No postmark with gum (MH)
$1
Full perfect gum, no postmark
no trace of stamp hinge mark (MNH)
$2-$8
Plate Numbers
#425e was issued with the following plate #'s
Number Only
6562-63
6696
6701-02, 08-09, 11, 12, 14
6801-03, 13, 22
6964-66, 73
7089-93, 95-96, 98
7123-27, 31, 33, 35, 40, 43, 47
7243-44, 49-50, 56, 60
7325
7548-51, 54-57, 60
The Watermark
The watermark consists of single lined USPS letters. A stamp may show only part of a letter or letters
A new perforation
This was the first perf. 10 stamp to be issued, and in this case, the historical sequence is more important than catalogue number. As mentioned on One Cent page #424d, booklet panes were the first perf. 10 stamps to be issued. The earliest known cover of this value was dated January 10, 1914.
The difference between this variety and the previous booklet lies only in the perforations. The poor quality of ink also affected this stamp and it is found in almost as many shades as the Two Cent Shield Booklet issued in 1903.
Identiying a booklet stamp
A booklet stamp can be identified positively if it has a watermark. The watermark will be vertical for booklet stamps and horizontal for flat plate sheet stamps.
Flat plate booklet stamps are not the same size as flat plate sheet stamps or any rotary printed stamps. A booklet stamp size would is wider than a flat plate sheet stamp AND narrower than a horizontal rotary printed stamp
Earliest Known Use
The earliest known use of #425e, December 23rd, 1913
Flat Plate?
As the curved plates of the Rotary press made the stamps slightly larger it is relatively easy to discern which stamp is flat plate and which is a rotary press stamp. First select any perf Washington Franklin stamp or the first issue Washington Franklin 1 cent or 2 cent. These are the stamps with the numbers one and two spelt out, instead of numbers being displayed. I chose the latter alternative as shown in the first image above.
Then cut out squares at each corner. As shown in the second image above. Placing the stamp you wish to test under your cut out stamp you can see if the frame lines match. If, as in the last image shown above the frame lines are outside the top stamp in either the top, bottom or sides then you have a rotary stamp. If the lines are in the same place, as shown in the third image, you have a flat plate stamp.
This test works with any value stamp.
The flat plate press
Booklets
The Booklet Pane Plate
A pane of 360 stamps for booklets, notice that on the vertical centreline there is no margin to the booklet, an example is shown on this page. The top and sides of the sheet were not included in the booklets, being removed prior to assembly.
Postal Scenes of 1915
Delivering rural mail America, 1915
The Post Office in 1915 - Dedicated carriages for the Senate's mail
2¢ Carmine two panes of six
BK44
Value for unexploded booklet: $325
2¢ Carmine four panes of six
BK45
Value for unexploded booklet: $500
2¢ Carmine eight panes of six
BK46
Value for unexploded booklet: $500
How to identify a Type I
THE LEFT RIBBON'S DISTINGUISHING FEATURE
TYPE I, Ia and II
There is but a single shading line in the top fold of the ribbon at the left.
TYPE III
There are two shading lines in the top fold of the ribbon at the left.
THE RIGHT RIBBON'S DISTINGUISHING FEATURES
TYPE I, Ia and II
There is but a single shading line in the bottom fold of the ribbon at the right.
TYPE III
There are two shading lines in the bottom fold of the ribbon at the right
TYPE I and Ia
The first shading line after the first ribbon fold of the right ribbon often appears as a single, unbroken line. At times there maybe one or two indistinct breaks. The bottom third of the line often appears stronger
TYPE II and III
The first shading line after the first ribbon fold of the right ribbon usually appears as a series of three dashes
THE BUTTON'S DISTINGUISHING FEATURE
TYPE I
The outline of the toga button is thin and sometimes broken
TYPE Ia
The outline of the toga button is stronger than the other types
TYPE II and III
The outline of the toga button is complete and fairly strong
THE LOCK OF HAIR'S DISTINGUISHING FEATURE
TYPE I and Ia
The lock of hair on Washington's cheek will show only a faint, often broken, vertical line along its left edge. It will be slightly stronger on type Ia, but not as strong as type II and III
TYPE II
The lock of hair on Washington's cheek will show a distinct vertical line along its left edge, joining at least four of the horizontally engraved lines of the cheek
TYPE III
The lock of hair on Washington's cheek will show a distinct vertical line along its left edge, joining at least five of the horizontally engraved lines of the cheek
THE MOUTH'S DISTINGUISHING FEATURE
TYPE I
The dark line forming the mouth is almost straight or may even curve slightly upward at the corner of the mouth
TYPE Ia
The dark line forming the mouth is a strong straight line with a downward stroke at the corner of the mouth
TYPE II
The dark line forming the mouth is crooked
TYPE III
The dark line forming the right end of the mouth is crooked and it also dips down
THE EAR'S DISTINGUISHING FEATURE
TYPE I and Ia
Directly below the ear there are several shading lines which are clearly severed, resulting in the appearance of a thin, white, vertical line
TYPE II
Directly below the ear there are several shading lines which are severed, and the breaks are narrower than those of the type I stamp. Thus the impression is of a thinner and shorter white line, although certainly more pronounced than the type III design.
TYPE III
Directly below the ear the shading lines have been closed up to such a point, that the thin white line visible in type I, Ia and type II designs has all but dissapeared.
THE PONYTAIL'S DISTINGUISHING FEATURE
TYPE I and Ia
The two lines shading the hair at the top of the ponytail, directly behind the ear are of unequal length
TYPE II
The two lines shading the hair at the top of the ponytail, directly behind the ear are approximately the same length, the bottom one being very slightly shorter
TYPE III
The two lines shading the hair at the top of the ponytail, directly behind the ear are approximately the same length, the top one can be slightly longer
The 1913-15 Definitives Part 1
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