Pos 54L4

1¢ Franklin Issue of 1851-1857, PLATE 4
Pos 54L4, (Scott #21)

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

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.

Courtesy of Stanley M. Piller and Associates

Part of a horizontal strip of 3, 54-55-56L4

Figure 1. (BELOW) Several plating marks in the lower left quadrant. The small CURL and dot on shoulder above O and N of ONE. A near horizontal line of color below the N and E of ONE. A blurry curl in the C of CENT.

Figure 2. (BELOW) A horizontal line of color in the P of POSTAGE. A horizontal blur in the unnamed ornament at the upper left and the plate flaw typical of plate 4 "F" reliefs.

Figure 3. (BELOW) A faint horizontal dash of color in the A of POSTAGE and a blurry line of color cutting thru Ornaments Y and Z. The violet arrows are marks not shown in the plating diagrams and are not known if consistent.

Figure 4. (BELOW) The right plume is shorter than normal and the guide dot can be seen at the far lower right, as illustrated in the Neinken plating diagrams.

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