Curiosities From The B E P Certified Proof Collection

GregAlex:



The United States Stamp Society has two files, one for plates 1-20000 and one for 20001 to 41303 (free for members).

I believe you mean the United States Stamp Society

My bad.. corrected post.

@drkohler - I was actually interested in the plate date information, like what was posted earlier. For #28.

Here it is:

@GregAlex Mybad- I posted the wrong table without noticing...

Thanks, PD Guy. That table shows the lightning speed Plate #28 went through the production process:
July 6 - Assigned (I assume this means plate creation began)
July 9 - Approved
July 10 - Plate hardened
Then came printing, gumming, perforation, and shipping (DC to NYC)
And the first known use is documented on Aug. 11, 1894. So, just over a month from start to public sale -- that is almost unbelievable. Is anyone aware of a faster production cycle?

I've seen a published release date of July 18. I'm not sure what that represents, but perhaps these were out there even earlier than 8/11/94.

No problem. Glad to help. I think each image is entered and when that is finished, then the plate number is assigned. So they would have started that process before July 6th.

So "Assigned" was when the plate number was assigned -- that makes sense. By "entered" I assumed you mean rolled onto the plate with a transfer die. That would mean plate 28 would be done much sooner, as it was a 200 subject plate, while the 1¢ and 2¢ stamps were 400-subject plates.

Yes, that correct. I would think that in 1894 it would take more than 3 days to create a 200 subject plate.

"Assigned" means that a plate number is reserved for a new plate of a stamp issue. Since the BEP had several different issues running concurrently, that could have meant another plate for a current stamp in print or a plate for a future issue.
It does not mean that work immediately began after the date of assignment. There could have been days, weeks between the assignment date and when the siderographer made a plate (with the assigned number for that plate). It took an average of 20 (work-)hours to transfer a plate.

When a plate was finished, a proof sheet was made and sent for certification. When the proof sheet was approved, the plate was hardened (though sometimes the plate was already hardened before certification).
Again, the plate may have gone into printing stamps, or may have been stored in the vault until it was used.

So "assigned" is when the plate number is logged, not necessarily when the number is physically hammered onto a finished plate.

I realize work might not begin immediately after that assignment, but in this instance could work have started *before* the plate # was assigned? That's what I'm wondering for plate 28.

Yes. "Assigned" is basically when you reserve your seat in the stadium for a future game. So the stadium owner knows which seats are still free and bookable.

There are three days between Assigned and Certified for plate 28. That is fast, but within the possile schedule.
I don't think there ever was a BEP plate that a siderographer started on before a number was assigned. It was a strict bureaucracy after all..

With time on my hands during the holidays, I peaked into the philatelic certified proofs again. This time I found quite a number of experimental proofs. If anyone cares to explain what these were for, I'd be quite interested.

Purple ink testing experimental plate proof USPO
https://www.si.edu/object/ink-testi....309126.1301





Blue booklet experimental collage
https://www.si.edu/object/intaglio-....309126.1300



Blue Experimental two-color die proof
https://www.si.edu/object/experimen....309126.1358



https://www.si.edu/object/us-coat-a....309126.1349


Red Liberty frame experimental plate proof
https://www.si.edu/object/liberty-f....309126.1278



Blue four design experimental plate
https://www.si.edu/object/many-desi....309126.1367







4¢ Lincoln progressive proof
https://www.si.edu/object/lincoln-p....309126.1277



Purple multi-stamp Ink Proving Die
https://www.si.edu/object/ink-testi....309126.1314

If I read the pencil notes correctly at the bottom of the 1st image it says:
"Experimental - ink testing, non Security (Vignettes and Portraits, stamp size)
28 Sub."

note at bottom of 3rd image (the one dated Dec 7, 1961) says:
"Nonsecurity Experimental
Intaglio Plate for
Offset Press - 12 sub. [subjects]
(9 stamps each subject)"

strange beasts indeed