#502 - 1918 3ยข Flat Plate, no watermark, perf 11 (Type II)
See below for details
Basic Info
3¢ Pale reddish violet, reddish violet (with and without pink back), pale red violet, red violet, light violet, deep violet, dark violet, very dark violet
TYPE I (Click here to ID a Type II)
Subject: George Washington
Printing Method: Flat Plate (see below)
Perforations: 11
Watermark: None
Scott #: 502
Issued: January 30th, 1918
#502 Value
Used
35¢
No postmark with gum (MH)
$2 - $5
Full perfect gum, no postmark
no trace of stamp hinge mark (MNH)
$5 - $12
Plate Numbers
#502 was issued with the following plate #'s
Number only
8262-68, 71, 73-74, 77-80, 83-99
8300-25, 30, 38, 51-59, 62-67, 71, 86
8456-62, 73, 76, 81
8866-67, 68, 69 (Ten Subject Die)
8903-06
#502b
Booklet pane of #502
#502b
#502b Value
Used
$15 - $25
No postmark with gum (MH)
$7 - $11
Full perfect gum, no postmark
no trace of stamp hinge mark (MNH)
$10 - $30
#502c
Horizontal imperf between two stamps
#502c
Value $600 - $800
#502d
Double Impression
#502d
Value $400- $700
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.
Due to the war ink was difficult to obtain, thus the stamp can be found in many different shades of violet. The heavy demand, plus the poor quality of ink obtainable, caused the use of a new master die, that was to become type II.
TYPE I (#501) vs TYPE II (#502)
First Day Cover
First day cover of #502. January 30th, 1918
On Cover
#502c on cover
A Full Pane
A pane of 100 of #502, there were four panes to a sheet of 400
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.
Plate positions of #502b
Position panes of these 360 subject plates.
A - Ordinary pane.
B - Pane with half arrow line in margin, guide line at right.
C - Pane with half arrow line in margin, guide line at left.
D -Pane with plate number in margin.
H -Pane with vertical guide line at right.
I - Pane with vertical guide line at left.
J - Pane with horizontal guide line at bottom.
K - with vertical guide line at right and line at bottom.
L - Pane with vertical guide line at left and line at bottom.
M - Pane with horizontal guide line at top of margin,
N - Pane with vertical guide line at right and at top of margin.
O - Pane with vertical guide line at left and at top of margin.
The 1917-19 Definitives
Click your selected stamp
