172 SA-SE

Here is part of the imprimatur for the bottom left of the sheet in state 1.

This is an important strip from Mike Williams. It shows probably all three stamps in state 2 with strong linear TRLs to the right of SB and SC. I think there is a suggestion of a TRL to the left of SA, but it is difficult to tell from this scan. Mike has thankfully bought a new scanner since this was taken!

This is a tricky one. The check letters have been re-cut so that the A is much thicker than the imprimatur and the S appears to have shifted position. My first thought was that I had misplated the stamp, but there is nothing else remotely close. It looks to be very worn, but with no visible TRL there is a question of which state it is in. Notice that the check letters on Mike's stip above closly match the imprimatur, though they have been thinned by the re-entry process. That would put this example after the strip above and, assuming that the impression was re-entered at the first instance, is now in state 3.

I think this is a state 1 showing lots of wear.

I think this is a sister to stamp c above, showing perhaps slightly less wear.

This is another tricky one. I put this to the Mulready group a few years ago and they came back with the fact that the letters had been re-cut. Which looks like it may be the case. The background certainly looks much stronger and the stars a little thicker and the facial details just a tad stronger. What state? Possibly state 3, though if it has the same history as 172 SA a [AP] above I would expect to see more wear to the background following a prior re-entry. I need to see more examples before I am happy with this lettering.