Plating The 3¢ U.S. Imperforate Stamp of 1851 - 1857

Plate 2E:

Plate 2E was made in late July, 1851. The earliest known use is August 2, 1851, and the plate was used continuously until late 1851, when it was then softened, reentered, and recut a bit by hand, to continue use as Plate 2L. Plate 2E showed no wear and impressions were clear. All stamps from this plate are have inner lines. Approximately 4,169,800 stamps (20,849 impressions) were printed from Plate 2E. Refer to Dr. Chase's book The 3¢ Stamp of the United States 1851-1857 Issue for the full story of Plate 2E.

Plate 2E - Earliest Use July 23, 1851; Used for 3 1/2 Months; 20,849 impressions/4,169,800 stamps/1.15% of issued; 200 Scott 10A:

  1L 2L 3L 4L 5L 6L 7L 8L 9L 10L     1R 2R 3R 4R 5R 6R 7R 8R 9R 10R
       
11L 20L 11R 20R
21L 30L 21R 30R
31L 40L 31R 40R
41L 50L 41R 50R
51L 60L 51R 60R
61L 70L 61R 70R
71L 80L 71R 80R
81L 90L 81R 90R
91L 100L  91R 100R
  91L 92L 93L 94L 95L 96L 97L 98L 99L 100L     91R 92R 93R 94R 95R 96R 97R 98R 99R 100R

Chase - Plate 2E:

Images are provided courtesy of Smithsonian's National Postal Museum

  1L 2L 3L 4L 5L 6L 7L 8L 9L 10L     1R 2R 3R 4R 5R 6R 7R 8R 9R 10R
       
11L 20L 11R 20R
21L 30L 21R 30R
31L 40L 31R 40R
41L 50L 41R 50R
51L 60L 51R 60R
61L 70L 61R 70R
71L 80L 71R 80R
81L 90L 81R 90R
91L 100L  91R 100R
  91L 92L 93L 94L 95L 96L 97L 98L 99L 100L     91R 92R 93R 94R 95R 96R 97R 98R 99R 100R