Identifying #6b
(#6b is a Type Ic)
#6b is a Type Ic design. The design on the bottom is incomplete in that the right full plume and ball are only half complete. The sides of Type Ic are complete. The design at the top is not complete, some of the top ornaments have been burnished off, see the illustration above.
Type 1c can be found on ten plate positions, all from plate IV.
A note on the reliefs E and F
There are three positions where the distinguishing characteristics of type 1b are strongly pronounced, these are positions 91L IV, 91R IV and 96R IV. This are called "F" relief positions and command a price premium.
The remaining positions where the distinguishing characteristics of type 1b are less pronounced, these are positions 41R IV (early impressions only), 47L IV, 49L IV, 49R IV, 81R IV, 82R IV, 83L IV and 89R IV are "E" relief positions.
Notes on #6b
1) Type Ic can be found on the perforated stamp as well (Scott #19b)
2)
Type Ic were only printed in the months of April, May and June 1857, a late period in the printing of the imperforate.
3)
The imperforate stamps were replaced with the perforated stamps on August 1st 1857.
4) A certificate is a must, never buy without one.
Why are there only ten positions?
The design of this early issue was too large to allow for the accommodation of the 200 subjects onto one plate. Therefore, each position had to have some amount of the design erased to allow enough room. These erasures accounted for the majority of the types.
What exactly do the plate position numbers mean?
To take the example of 7RI1
7 = Seventh stamp of the 100 on the pane - this number can be from 1 to 99.
R = Right Plane - this letter can be either R or L, L representing the Left Pane
I
= Plate I, this roman rumeral can be I, II, III, IV, V, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII
E= Early State, this letter can be either E or L, L representing the Late State. This letter is only appended to plate I stamps.
How many plates were there?
There were twelve plates of the 1c Franklin made, plate six was never used, probably due to it being damaged in it's creation. Most of the plates were used for both the imperforate and perforated design. Some only produced one type or the other. For instance, plate 12 produced only perforated stamps and the early state of Plate 1 produced only imperforate stamps whilst plate I late (reconstruction) produced both imperforate and perforated stamps. Plate 4 was the last of the imperforate plates to be used.
Rescources available
http://www.slingshotvenus.com/FranklinArchive/frnkln_archv_Main.html
Stanley B. Ashbrook, The United States One Cent Stamp of 1851-1857.
Mortimer L. Neinken, U.S. One Cent Stamp of 1851-61.
The Ishikawa collection: United States 1851-1857 1 cent Blue Issue postage stamps in multiples and reconstructed plates.
Click here for a comprehensive, printable, identfication guide. Courtesy of Chris Biason (447kb)
