To increase the strength of the perforations which had been running 12 to 2cm and found to be too brittle when handled, a reduction in the number of holes cut to each 2cm was decided upon and the 10 gauge perforation was used. This gave collectors a new variety which remained in use for over two years.

The 3 cent star plates having become obsolete before the change in perforations took place, there are no longer any spacing varieties in this denomination. All plates used had only a number.

The earliest known use of #427, January 2nd 1915

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

Mail carriages, NY, NY, 1912

Mail truck 1915