Plate 11

Printings in Black:
All black printings of this stamp with the exception of two positions (GE and GF) can be identified by a flaw in the north-east star corner.  The 7 O'clock Ray Flaw consists of a missing or very short ray in the 7 O'clock position on the star.  This is unique to Plate 11.  Another flaw which is helpful is a small gap which appears on the top left side of the frame of the north-east corner square.  This occurs on nearly all stamps of the eight upper rows with the exception of GE and GF.  Another characteristic of Plate 11 is a weak west frame line.  A decision had been made to switch the color of the postage stamps from black ink to red ink but the red stamps  were not yet ready and the previous supply of black stamps was exhausted.  therefore a provisional printing of 700 sheets was made over a two day period, 01 and 02 February 1841.   During this very short production of the stamps in the black ink it was not necessary to perform repairs and therefore repairs are only found on the red printings.
  
 

 The 7 O'clock Ray Flaw  Example from Plate 11

Characteristics of Plate 11 Black Printings

Earliest Known Date of Use  A used copy is known dated 4th February (black printing)
Flaw  7 O'clock Ray Flaw and gap at top left of NW Square
No Flaw GE and GF
Shifted Transfer/Basel Shift None
Re-entries BC, OA, TD, TK
Double Letters BB, DD, JE, KA, NH, PH, RD
Burr Rubs None
Recut Side Lines None
Recut Corners None
Constant Varieties AH, HB, NA, NB, NH, OF, RL
Printing in Red State 1, 2 and 3 Printings in Red  (see below) 
Color of Maltese Cross Black and a few copies in Red
Bleute Paper None
Thin Paper None
Inverted Watermark One example is known

Printings in Red:
Printings in red were made first on 29 and 30 January.  The printings in red were resumed again after the 700 sheets of
black stamps were produced on 03 February and some few weeks later .
 
 

 The 7 O'clock Ray Flaw  Example from Plate 11

Characteristics of Plate 11 Red Printings State 1, 2, 3
Earliest Known Date of Use  Printing began on 29 and 30 January
Flaw  7 O'clock Ray Flaw and gap at top left of NW Square
No Flaw GE and GF
Shifted Transfer/Basel Shift None
Re-entries BC, OA, TD, TK
Double Letters BB, DD, JE, KA, NH, PH, RD
Burr Rubs None
Recut Side Lines None
Recut Corners None
Constant Varieties AH, HB, NA, NB, NH, OF, RL
Printing in Red State 1, 2 and 3 
Color of Maltese Cross Black 
Bleute Paper None
Thin Paper None
Inverted Watermark Exists
Repairs State 2 AE, AF, AG, AH, AI, AJ, DC, EF, FA, FB, FF, GA, TA
Repairs State 3 AF, AG, AH


 
 

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