Pos 73L4

1¢ Franklin Issue of 1851-1857, PLATE 4
Pos 73L4, (Scott #21 - 22)

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

TYPE CHANGELING
Early impressions of this position are Type IIIa. As the plate wears, a break in the bottom curved line develops, thus this position becomes a Type III as shown here. (Also see another 73L4) This plate was in use for less than a year and changed its appearance quickly.

(Below) The outer edge of Ornament "A" is weak. The completeness (or lack thereof) of this ornament is a useful plating feature on Plate 4 subjects. The Ashbrook/Neinken plating drawings sometimes show this. The diagram for this position does.

Figure 1. (BELOW) The red arrows are Ashbrook/Neinken indicated plating marks. The plating drawing is not accurately representative of the real mark shown here. The marks inside the "P" of POSTAGE changed as the plate wears. This can readily be seen by examining this impression and another impression here.

Figure 2. (BELOW) The red arrows are Ashbrook/Neinken indicated plating marks. The marks inside the "O", "S" and "T" of POSTAGE changed as the plate wears. This can readily be seen by examining this impression and another impression here.

Figure 3. (BELOW) A section of the bottom curved line has worn away. This position originally had an unbroken line but, as the plate wore, part of this line slowly disappeared. Since the top curved line is also missing, this technically makes this changeling position a Type III or a Scott Number 21. Also note that the Ashbrook/Neinken plating mark that normally is found in the "E" of ONE can clearly be seen here. But has disappeared on our other copy. (See other 73L4) The marks (shown by the violet arrows) in the "C" of CENT have been confirmed on another copy.

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