173 AB

Comments

Folkard states:

State 1 east side weak at top, west side weak, check letters normal.

State 2 East and west sides stronger; both letters thinner; Stars thicker; E side NE &N & W sides NW square all thicker.

Based on the imprimatur (?) and one perforated example.

Looking at the examples here, I would agree with Folkard's comment re the east side. The normal gap at the first loop is open in state 1 and disappears on re-entry. The west side latticework does not look to be much stronger to my eyes. In fact the left side of the NW square looks to be weaker in later states, which contradicts Folkard. His comments re the NE corner and both stars are confirmed. As far as the check letters are concerned, the B is perhaps slightly thinner. The A is much thinner, with the blind A being opened out.

I have tried to put the images in order, but there is not much in it. I do wonder about the extreme right off the top of the stamp. On Scott's dated example, and maybe on Mike's unused example, there is a suggestion that there has been a re-cut. A third state maybe? I could be reading too much into this.

Imprimatur