#543 - 1921 1ยข Rotary Press, no watermark, perf 10
See below for details
Basic Info
1¢ Bluish green, green
Subject: George Washington
Printing Method: Rotary Press (see below)
Perforations: 10
Watermark: None
Scott #: 543
Issued: May 21st, 1921
#543 Value
Used
5¢ - 10¢
No postmark with gum (MH)
30¢ - 50¢
Full perfect gum, no postmark
no trace of stamp hinge mark (MNH)
$1 - $2
Plate Numbers
#543 was issued with the following plate #'s
Number only
Numbers on sides
12467-68, 95-96
12597-99
12600
13284-85
13352-55
13419-20
13609-10, 13-14, 49-50, 75-76
Numbers in corners
13744-45, 62-63, 84-85, 90-91
13858-59, 76-77, 90-93
13908-09, 37, 40-41, 48-49, 62-63, 82-83, 90-91
14000-01, 06-07, 12-13
14293
The 10 perforation
This stamp was one of the experimental issues. The perforation machines were set specially for this perforation, hence no straight edges. #542 had a 11 gauge perforation vertically and as a result the stamps were separating vertically on their way to the post office. To remedy this, on this issue, the perforation was changed to 10 vertically. The stamp is now perforated 10 on all sides.
First Day Cover
First day of issue cover, May 21st, 1921
#543a
Vertical imperf
#543a
#543a Value
Value is for pairs
Used
No recorded sales
No postmark with gum (MH)
$5,000 - $5,500
Full perfect gum, no postmark
no trace of stamp hinge mark (MNH)
No recorded sales
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 is a perfect example of the reverse of a flat plate stamp. The flecks of carmine ink on the reverse can be found on flat plate and are very rare on rotary press stamps. The cause of the flecks of carmine 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.
1919-20 Isues
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