Embedded Files
The number of sheets printed from each plate in the various permutations of perforation and watermark are a central consideration to philatelists, as the scarcity of a stamp is usually directly linked to how much it is worth. This does not always hold true, much to the irritation of the holders of possibly unique items!
The exact number of sheets printed are generally known for each printer working at Perkins Bacon. But there is a problem. It is unusual to have an indication of which plate the printer was printing from at any given time. Despite the assurances of some researchers, it is often far from easy to complete the logic puzzle that is putting plate numbers next to sheets printed. Sometimes it can be ascertained with certainty, but more often than not it is a guess or an either/or option. Have a look here to see what I have written about some of the factors that need to be considered when giving a figure for sheets printed.
What follows is a list in plate order of what I think is the number of sheets printed and a short description of how I come to that figure and my confidence of it being correct. If there is a gap, I don’t have enough information to form an accurate opinion, or I just have not got to it yet.
Die 1
Penny Black and Red plates 1-11
Penny Red plates 12-92
Penny Red plates 93-131
Plates 178-R6
Die 2
Plates 1-21
Plates 22-49
Plates 50-R17
AP
March 2021
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