That is known as a natural "straight edge" to US collectors. For many US definitives of that size during that era, the stamps were printed in (press) sheets of 400 stamps, which were then cut into 4 panes of 100 stamps each for packaging and distribution to the local post offices. More modern stamps had large gutters between the 4 panes of 100 stamps on the press sheet, which is why there would be a large selvedge on all 4 sides of the pane.
But press sheets of the era would have a guide line dividing the 4 panes to assist in cutting. That is why you see that colored line along the straight edge in your example. Therefore, your stamp came from position #2-#9 of bottom row of either the upper left or upper right pane.
You will also see this for commemorative stamps of that era that were printed with a flat plate press.
and just to complete Kim's thought, we know it's NOT position 1 or 10 of that row because it doesn't a natural straight edge at left or right, respectively.
We could call it stamp 92-99 from a top pane
interestingly, many people prefer stamps with perfs on all four sides, even though they are FAR more common than stamps 1-11, 20-1, 30-1.... 90-100.
...which is one of the reasons why unscrupulous individuals make fake perfs on the straight edge(s), before they try to sell the stamp, to make it appear as if perforated on all 4 sides.
"...which is one of the reasons why "
k
... and now Kim's done
...or am I?
make me wrong again.... it's good for my humility
Cool! I never thought of it this way and had been avoiding buying these straight edge stamps. Now I'll consider them.
Tom, nice to see a stamp from a different perspective. you're the first person who's ever responded that way to the straight edge relative rarity issue. See, every half century, I change a mind
" ... interestingly, many people prefer stamps with perfs on all four sides, even though they are FAR more common than stamps 1-11, 20-1, 30-1.... 90-100. ..."
And while we are discussing US stamps here, to collectors of the long lasting Machin series, the straight edge is often what determines stamps from different printers or printings,
Also Swedish stamps are frequently collected SEL, SER and perfed x4 (Straight Edged Left, Straight Edged Right and Perfed all around.)
pretty soon we'll be doing P/V, V/P discussion on SAs
"...pretty soon we'll be doing P/V, V/P discussion on SAs..."
Collecting Canada would be so much less interesting without them.
That made me nostalgic and sad missing Tom Harley - the King of Coils and master of PV VP and such. Sigh!
"Tom, nice to see a stamp from a different perspective. you're the first person who's ever responded that way to the straight edge relative rarity issue. See, every half century, I change a mind"
I think the Michel U.S. Catalog assigns a premium to stamps with straight edges based upon the scarcer-than-all-sides-perforated stamps.
Bruce
Could be 8 positions?
Tad
I echo Theresa's thoughts....
Tom is still fondly remembered and sorely missed by many here, myself included.
indeed, Randy and Theresa, Tom was gem and gentleman
and, yes, newer Tom, 8 positions for SEs: 4 corners and 4 sides; more if you also can collect center lines
"and, yes, newer Tom, 8 positions for SEs: 4 corners and 4 sides; more if you also can collect center lines"
Two points:
1) Agreed that a natural straight edge can make a stamp more affordable and I see no reason to shun them.
2) Isn't that one of the nicer SOTN cancels you've seen?!?!? (SOTN means "Sock On The Nose")
Lars
"Isn't that one of the nicer SOTN cancels you've seen?!?!?"
I find these a lot on early US issues. one side will usually be imperf with what looks like either a guide line or border for adjacent stamp. Could someone please explain to me whats going on here?
Moderator Note: Message title was modified to include country name.
(Modified by Moderator on 2016-03-21 11:36:56)
re: one imperf side? (19th Century United States)
That is known as a natural "straight edge" to US collectors. For many US definitives of that size during that era, the stamps were printed in (press) sheets of 400 stamps, which were then cut into 4 panes of 100 stamps each for packaging and distribution to the local post offices. More modern stamps had large gutters between the 4 panes of 100 stamps on the press sheet, which is why there would be a large selvedge on all 4 sides of the pane.
But press sheets of the era would have a guide line dividing the 4 panes to assist in cutting. That is why you see that colored line along the straight edge in your example. Therefore, your stamp came from position #2-#9 of bottom row of either the upper left or upper right pane.
You will also see this for commemorative stamps of that era that were printed with a flat plate press.
re: one imperf side? (19th Century United States)
and just to complete Kim's thought, we know it's NOT position 1 or 10 of that row because it doesn't a natural straight edge at left or right, respectively.
We could call it stamp 92-99 from a top pane
interestingly, many people prefer stamps with perfs on all four sides, even though they are FAR more common than stamps 1-11, 20-1, 30-1.... 90-100.
re: one imperf side? (19th Century United States)
...which is one of the reasons why unscrupulous individuals make fake perfs on the straight edge(s), before they try to sell the stamp, to make it appear as if perforated on all 4 sides.
re: one imperf side? (19th Century United States)
"...which is one of the reasons why "
re: one imperf side? (19th Century United States)
k
re: one imperf side? (19th Century United States)
... and now Kim's done
re: one imperf side? (19th Century United States)
...or am I?
re: one imperf side? (19th Century United States)
make me wrong again.... it's good for my humility
re: one imperf side? (19th Century United States)
Cool! I never thought of it this way and had been avoiding buying these straight edge stamps. Now I'll consider them.
re: one imperf side? (19th Century United States)
Tom, nice to see a stamp from a different perspective. you're the first person who's ever responded that way to the straight edge relative rarity issue. See, every half century, I change a mind
re: one imperf side? (19th Century United States)
" ... interestingly, many people prefer stamps with perfs on all four sides, even though they are FAR more common than stamps 1-11, 20-1, 30-1.... 90-100. ..."
And while we are discussing US stamps here, to collectors of the long lasting Machin series, the straight edge is often what determines stamps from different printers or printings,
Also Swedish stamps are frequently collected SEL, SER and perfed x4 (Straight Edged Left, Straight Edged Right and Perfed all around.)
re: one imperf side? (19th Century United States)
pretty soon we'll be doing P/V, V/P discussion on SAs
re: one imperf side? (19th Century United States)
"...pretty soon we'll be doing P/V, V/P discussion on SAs..."
Collecting Canada would be so much less interesting without them.
re: one imperf side? (19th Century United States)
That made me nostalgic and sad missing Tom Harley - the King of Coils and master of PV VP and such. Sigh!
re: one imperf side? (19th Century United States)
"Tom, nice to see a stamp from a different perspective. you're the first person who's ever responded that way to the straight edge relative rarity issue. See, every half century, I change a mind"
re: one imperf side? (19th Century United States)
I think the Michel U.S. Catalog assigns a premium to stamps with straight edges based upon the scarcer-than-all-sides-perforated stamps.
Bruce
re: one imperf side? (19th Century United States)
Could be 8 positions?
Tad
re: one imperf side? (19th Century United States)
I echo Theresa's thoughts....
Tom is still fondly remembered and sorely missed by many here, myself included.
re: one imperf side? (19th Century United States)
indeed, Randy and Theresa, Tom was gem and gentleman
and, yes, newer Tom, 8 positions for SEs: 4 corners and 4 sides; more if you also can collect center lines
re: one imperf side? (19th Century United States)
"and, yes, newer Tom, 8 positions for SEs: 4 corners and 4 sides; more if you also can collect center lines"
re: one imperf side? (19th Century United States)
Two points:
1) Agreed that a natural straight edge can make a stamp more affordable and I see no reason to shun them.
2) Isn't that one of the nicer SOTN cancels you've seen?!?!? (SOTN means "Sock On The Nose")
Lars
re: one imperf side? (19th Century United States)
"Isn't that one of the nicer SOTN cancels you've seen?!?!?"