In general, when you see straight lines going over the design on US stamps, it will either be a scratched plate or a wiping smear.
In this case, it is a scratched plate. I see what appears to be at least 2 other minor scratches, and maybe even another major scratch (or some other major stamp fault).
Nice.
Thanks KHJ. Is it rare to see a serious scratch plate flaw like this in a stamp? Does it change the value of this stamp much?
EFO collectors like them. Usually, it makes it more likely it will get sold. Some plate scratches, especially well-documented ones (i.e., plate position identified) may command a premium. On classic US postage, they can be useful for IDing plate positions.
I'm not familiar enough with US revenues to comment specifically on this stamp.
Scott does not list a scratched plate for R15c, but that's not surprising, as there are a myriad of cracked and scratched plates, double transfers, and other varieties that Scott omits.
It's neat, I collect them, but not majorly valuable. It likely turns a $2-3 document into a $10-15 document.
I have an R13c on the back of a photograph with similar scratched plate markings (on the right through "CENTS").
And here is an R59c with a cracked plate line at the bottom. This one is listed in Scott.
Thanks everyone for the information.
This stamp is in a receipt book that dates from 1869 - 1870. The book was used by Reuben Weidenhammer of Richmond Twp, PA, the executor of Jacob Merkel's estate (Jacob was a prosperous farmer and died January 1, 1869) to record payouts and has revenue stamps on 39 out of the 105 receipts in the book.
you can see the receipts here:
and the stamps here
There are actually several stamps with plate scratch faults.
I was going through some of my documents and came across this stamp. I'm curious if anyone knows what caused the line. I thought the stamp had been torn but no it's not damaged.... but what caused it. Any ideas?
re: What caused this?
In general, when you see straight lines going over the design on US stamps, it will either be a scratched plate or a wiping smear.
In this case, it is a scratched plate. I see what appears to be at least 2 other minor scratches, and maybe even another major scratch (or some other major stamp fault).
Nice.
re: What caused this?
Thanks KHJ. Is it rare to see a serious scratch plate flaw like this in a stamp? Does it change the value of this stamp much?
re: What caused this?
EFO collectors like them. Usually, it makes it more likely it will get sold. Some plate scratches, especially well-documented ones (i.e., plate position identified) may command a premium. On classic US postage, they can be useful for IDing plate positions.
I'm not familiar enough with US revenues to comment specifically on this stamp.
re: What caused this?
Scott does not list a scratched plate for R15c, but that's not surprising, as there are a myriad of cracked and scratched plates, double transfers, and other varieties that Scott omits.
It's neat, I collect them, but not majorly valuable. It likely turns a $2-3 document into a $10-15 document.
re: What caused this?
I have an R13c on the back of a photograph with similar scratched plate markings (on the right through "CENTS").
And here is an R59c with a cracked plate line at the bottom. This one is listed in Scott.
re: What caused this?
Thanks everyone for the information.
This stamp is in a receipt book that dates from 1869 - 1870. The book was used by Reuben Weidenhammer of Richmond Twp, PA, the executor of Jacob Merkel's estate (Jacob was a prosperous farmer and died January 1, 1869) to record payouts and has revenue stamps on 39 out of the 105 receipts in the book.
you can see the receipts here:
and the stamps here
There are actually several stamps with plate scratch faults.