P&R I 25c Agriculture

[rubiera]

I have studied the plate varieties a little and it would be great if members of this forum shared the ones they have found. I have so far studied the plate varieties for the 10c Rivadavia Red, and the late printings from the 1950s for the 50c/2p/5p. I am most interested these days in the plate varieties of the 25c and 30c because I know that there are many-I have glanced them as I have looked at these stamps when studying other aspects of this issue.

One of my favorite plate varieties is on the 25c plate:



Aparently the die got squeezed in some fasion. The top edge towards the right is deformed in a very interesting way. At first glance it may look like deformed/bent paper, but it is not. This stamp is on the second watermark, mint, and completely flat. I have another specimen on the first watermark that I have not typed for a specific paper.

[rubiera]

I have previously shown the following plate variety on the 25c2C, the stamp on the second watermark paper-straight rays.



Here is a second specimen, on the 1L printing "Servicio Oficial" narrow.



A detail of the overprint:



A detail of the damage to the outer edge of the die. This plate was in use approximately during 1949-1952. I would like to see additional specimens in other collections.

[rubiera]

I only find a few of the 1E1 paper issue. This paper is thick and cream colored. It seems that this first printing was a small run, and that the 1E2 printing of 1937 was much larger, especially since all of the ministry officials I have for this value are 1E2.

[rubiera]

There apparently were several distinct printings of this stamp in 1943, showing a wide range of color variations, and all printed mostly on the 1E3 paper.

Dark colors and worn plate:





Light rose and worn plate:





Very light, almost invisible background color:





Dark rose background, plate with light wear:





I also find this latter stamp on the 1E4 paper.

[rubiera]

This stamp has a complex mix of combinations of color and watermarks. I find the following:

Rose on 1E1 paper



Rose on 1E2 paper



Rose on 1E3 paper, used in 1941/42





Neat, bright colors, from 1939, on 1E3 paper.



Neat, bright colors, slight plate wear, from 1945/46, on 1E3 paper.





I also find this latter stamp on the 1E4 paper.

[rubiera]

With only one of these on hand, I thought I had a acraped stamp, but with a second specimen, it looks like a repeatable plate variety. The paper is 1E3.

[rubiera]

The 1E3 printings, between 1939 and 1946, show a wide range of plate varieties. Here is a small selection.

[rubiera]

I looked for the variety without a sun, but only found specimens with a faint sun. At high resolution, the sun can be seen clearly.

[rubiera]

Here I show a few 25c Wavy Rays from this selection.

The first paper, the 1E1. These have a limited range of shades.





The second paper, the 1E2 of 1937. These have a limited range of shades.





The fourth paper, the 1E4 of 1940, white and thin. These have a limited range of shades.

[rubiera]

The 25c on 1E3 paper is undoubtedly the most common printing of this stamp. This type was used in 1941/42 and after 1943 with less frequency than in 1943, when it saw considerable use in a wide range of shades and colors.

This is the 1941/42 selection, mostly color rose.





This is the selection from 1943 onwards, with various colors: light, faint background, deep rose background, or deep colors.

[rubiera]

A 25c1L block on the Zarate paper 1L4

This block is printed on the 1L4, the Zarate paper with faint watermark.





This block has two stamps with minor plate varieties:

First row, first stamp



First row, fourth stamp

[Rein]

As to the 25c S.O. with coating or varnish, we are dealing with a parallel watermark with an asymmetrical grid.

This was very common circa 1951 (but without the coating/varnish) like the 1952 Evita definitives lower values [the 45c was orthogonal!] on so-called "mate importado"....

I think the coating/varnish had NOT been applied abroad but in the CdM.

[Rein]

And as a strange natural or chemical monocolour 25c:



A orthogonal watermark, symmetrical grid => 1E2:

[Rein]

Aqui tenemos la misma variedad dn un sello con matasello de 1955

Eduardo,

I have been trying to find the characteristics you have found as it is most interesting to be able to describle of "block" of 10 stamps that were the basis for further duplication. I would have been handy to have an idea of the period and/or type of paper we are dealing with! My guess is that we have here the 1949-1951 period with at least the Rayos Rectos nitidos paper.

[Rein]

Eduardo,

I found a 4th (group of) characteristic to your set! Let' s call it "D":





It has the following position: