Pos 51L4

1¢ Franklin Issue of 1851-1857, PLATE 4
Pos 51L4, (Scott #8A-8)

Scott #8A - 8, Blue,
Type IIIa - III, Relief F
Issued both imperforate and perforate.
Had this been an perforate copy then it would be Scott Number 22 - 21.

The published plating diagrams indicate many scratches and plating marks. Plate 4 changed it's appearance as many plating marks faded away due to plate wear, and new plating marks developed over the life of the plate. One of the most annoying aspects of trying to identify Plate 4 positions is the appearance and disappearance of these plating marks.

The red arrow below the U of US indicates the small colorless "F" Relief flaw. The Ashbrook/Neinken diagrams exaggerate the size of this flaw. A shoulder dot is found on nearly all "F" Reliefs from this plate except (according to the Neinken diagrams) Positions 51, 59 and 60L4. See 52L4 for a clear view of the shoulder dot.

A portion of the plate imprint can be seen at the lower left.

The Ashbrook/Neinken plating diagrams indicate blurring in the top portions of the P, O and S of POSTAGE. This blurring has disappeared by plate wear on this patient.

Figure 1. (BELOW) Detail of the right GUIDE DOT location and heavy blut below the "T" of CENT,as illustrated in the Ashbrook/Neinken plating diagrams. .

Figure 2. (BELOW) Detail view of the top of the engraver's imprint.

Figure 3. (BELOW) Detail view of the lower left corner marginal guide dot. This guide dot is not illustrated in the Ashbrook/Neinken plating diagrams.

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