#498 - 1917 1ยข Flat Plate, no watermark, perf 11
See below for details
Basic Info
1¢ Light yellowish green, yellowish green, light green, bluish green, deep
green, dark green
Subject: George Washington
Printing Method: Flat Plate (see below)
Perforations: 11
Watermark: None
Scott #: 498
Issued: March 23rd, 1917
#498 Value
Used
10¢
No postmark with gum (MH)
25¢
Full perfect gum, no postmark
no trace of stamp hinge mark (MNH)
50¢
#498 Plate Numbers
#498 was issued with the following plate #'s
Number only
7532-33, 35
7647-51, 55-56, 58-59, 68-71, 74
7726-27, 33, 41, 43 50, 54, 55, 57, 59, 61
7889-92, 95-97
7901-04, 06, 11-14, 33, 37-38, 43, 50, 56, 59, 99
8003-08,, 13, 34-40, 42-48, 54, 60, 68
8115-17, 64-68, 73-76
8257-61
8335-50, 60-61, 68-69, 72-74, 77-78, 87-99
8400-01, 05-07, 22-34, 39-50, 43-47, 50, 53, 57, 61, 65
8510-13, 26-29
8884-85
8907-22, 25-27, 39-35, 37, 41-42, 44
9477-81
10073-76, 83-86, 91-92, 99
10100-02, 05-14, 17-34, 53-68, 74-74, 86-89, 94-97
10230-33, 42-49, 56-65, 78-85, 90-93, 98-99
10343-44, 51-52, 57-60, 62-71, 74-77, 80-83, 90-91, 95-97
10414-17, 20-23, 40-41, 54-55, 72-73, 80, 83-84, 86-88, 91
10529-30, 39-40, 57-58, 65-68, 71-76, 80, 83-84, 87-88, 91-92, 96-96, 99
10600-04, 13-16, 25-26, 44-47, 54, 56-65, 76-79, 82-85, 96-99
10701-03, 08-13, 42-49, 51-62, 69-74, 79-84, 89-90 ,99
10800-12, 14-16
11720-23, 28-29, 86-92
11802-07, 12-13
12491-94, 97-99
12500-08, 21-25, 27-28, 43-48
12609-17
12923-26
13198-99
13200-01, 14-26, 31-34, 49-52, 56-59, 65-67
13300-11, 16-51, 56-71, 78-81
13544-47
Earliest documented use
498's earliest documented date of use, March, 1917
Booklets
1¢ Green Booklet, four panes of six
BK53
Value for unexploded booklet: $375
1¢ Green Booklet, sixteen panes of six
BK54
1¢ Green Booklet, four panes of six
BK55
Value for unexploded booklet: $150
1¢ Green four panes of six
2¢ Carmine (499e) four panes of six
BK56
A new perforation
The old 10 perforation stamps tore frequently when separated for sale at the post office counter. Experiments with 11 perforated stamps found the problem was largely cured. It was not until 1917 the change was made as the bureau wished to wear out the 10 perforation wheels before making the change.
#498a
Vertical imperforate
#498a (also #498c)
Value $650 - $800
#498b
Vertical imperforate
#498b
Value $250 - $400
#498d
Double impression
#498d
Value $2,250
#498e
Booklet Pane
#498e
#498e Value
Used
$1 - $2
No postmark with gum (MH)
$1
Full perfect gum, no postmark
no trace of stamp hinge mark (MNH)
$1 - $4.50
#498e Plate numbers
#498e was issued with the following plate #'s
Number only
7179
7275-78
7449-74, 80, 84
7785-86, 91
7880
7980-81, 90-91
8183-89, 94
8945-48
9177-80
10077-80
10250-53
10430-33
10714-17
11756-59, 61-63, 68
13268-71
13421-24, 2932, 59,-62
#498e Earliest Date of Use
498e earliest recorded date of use
March 16, 1917
#498f
American Expeditionary Forces Booklet Pane
#498f
Value: $300 - $500
Bk64
American European Forces booklet cover of #498f
#498f Earliest date of use
Earliest known date of use of 498f: August 8th, 1917
#498g
Perf 10 at the bottom
498g
Value $8,000 - $14,000
Flat Plate or Rotary Press?
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 image above left is a perfect example of the reverse of a flat plate stamp. The flecks of ink on the reverse can be found on flat plate stamps and are rare on rotary press stamps. The cause of the flecks of ink is that during the flat plate process the sheets were placed on top of each other before the ink had a chance to dry properly.
The 1917-19 Definitives
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