Scotts #483 US stamps

#483 - 1917 3¢ no watermark, imperforate - Type I

3¢ light violet, violet
TYPE I (see below)

Subject: George Washington
Printing Method: Flat Plate
Perforations: Imperforate
Watermark: unwatermarked
Scott #: 483
Issued: October 13th, 1917

Value

Used
$1 - $2
No postmark with gum (MH)
$5 - $9
Full perfect gum, no postmark
no trace of stamp hinge mark (MNH)
$10 - $20

Plate Numbers

#483 was issued with the following plate #'s

Number only
7272
8091
8120-21, 23, 26, 28-44, 46, 61, 92, 95, 96-97

Centerline Blocks

The most desirable example of this inexpensive stamp is the centreline block, shown above. The stamp came in sheets of 400, and those sheets were separated into 4 panes of 100. There is a guide line between each pane and where the four panes meet, in the center, you find the centreline block. Value about $55

Sold to philatelists

The primary purpose of imperforate stamps was for private perforation companies. These companies sold the stamps via stamp machines and to make the stamps easily separable when extracted by the purchaser the company's perforated the stamps with their own perforations. By the time of the printing of this stamp there was only company still perforating the imperf stamp, that being the Schermack company. The bureau had printed way more than were needed and for the next ten years the majority of these stamps were sold to stamp collectors, in full sheets no less.