Plate 2 Black Printing (First State)






Plate 2 was registered on 22 April 1840.  It is the only plate other than Plate 1a to have been issued for the first day of use, 06 May 1840.  As can be seen in the below illustratin, there are three type of north-west corner that can be used in aid of identifying this plate.    One unusual characterisitic of Plate 2 is that the check letter "D" is rather broad and leaning to slightly to the left in the upper portion of the sheet.  The "D" appears normal (narrower) in the bottom portion of the sheet.
 
 

Plate 2 Ray Flaws
 Normal Rays
FF-JL
7 O'clock Ray Flaw
Other 185 positions
10 and  7 O'clock ray Flaw
All but 33 of remaining 185

Plate 2 underwent repair in May or June 1840.  Deepening of the engraving, recutting of  frame lines and burr removal was carried out on some of the impressions.

Example with Red MC
Example with Black MC

In this example, HK, the north-west star appears normal as the roller flaw did not effect stamps FF-JL

Characteristics of Plate 2 Black Printing

Earliest Known Date of Use Known used as early as 02 May 1840
Flaw  Normal (FF-JL), 7 O"clock 185 (other positions), 10 & 7 O'clock 33 of remaing 185)
No Flaw FF-JL
Shifted Transfer/Basel Shift Basel: GC, IL; Top: "S" Row
Double Letters DG, EA, FG, KE, ME, PA, TL
Burr Rubs "NE OF "ONE" nearly joined : KJ, KK, NC, SK (right margin)
Recut Corners Check letter squares: PB, PD, PI, RF
Constant Varieties BD, HA, JA, JF, LE, PL, QL
Printing in Red 2nd State, Second (May or June 1840) and Third Repairs (1841)
Color of Maltese Cross Red (normal) Black (uncommon)
Bleute Paper Exists
Thin Paper Not recorded
Inverted Watermark Exists (uncommon)

 
Example of Plate 2 on cover

 
DG: example of a double letter

 
 

Plate 2 Black Printing (Second State)

Characteristics of Plate 2 Black Printing 2nd State (First Repair)

Strengthened Impressions SD, TA, TB, TC, TE - TH
Recut Frame Lines TA-TC

Plate 2 Red Printing
Example from Plate 2
Red Printing

Characteristics of Plate 2 Red Printings

Flaw  Normal, 7 O'clock, and 10 & 7 O'clock (see above)
No Flaw FF-JL
Shifted Transfer/Basel Shift Basel: GC, IL; Top: "S" Row
Double Letters DG, EA, FG, KE, ME, PA, TL
Burr Rubs "NE OF "ONE" nearly joined : KJ, KK, NC, SK (right margin)
Recut Corners Check letter squares: PB, PD, PI, RF
Constant Varieties BD, HA, JA, JF, LE, PL, QL
Printing in Red State 2 and State 3
Color of Maltese Cross Black

 
PI: Skewed south west check letter square (indicated in red)
PI: Skewed south west check letter square (enlarged)

Characteristics of Plate 2 Red Printing State 2 and State 3 (Second Repair)

Strengthened Impression TG and TH (State 3) TI - TL (State 2) As a result of the second plate repair
the 7 O'clock Ray Flaw was removed.  In some cases the 10 O'clock Ray is also retored

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