20c Parcel Post (Q8). Mint N.H. wide right plate no. 6193 and "TWENTY" block of eight, rich color, well-proportioned margins, Pos. 1 with additional ink in left "20", Pos. 6 with unusual ink smear at bottom from adherence on the plate, purple post office mark in selvage, light natural gum bend at top right, bottom stamp natural gum crease

FINE-EXTREMELY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE AND DESIRABLE MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE NUMBER AND "TWENTY" BLOCK OF EIGHT OF THE 209-CENT PARCEL POST ISSUE.

The Parcel Post issues were printed from plates of 180 which consisted of four panes of 45. According to Johl, the uniform color of the twelve denominations led to confusion on the part of postal clerks, who complained that they were forced to examine the stamps in detail to ensure they had the correct values. In response, on January 27, 1913 large capital letters were added to the margins near each plate number. At top and bottom the imprint is in the selvage next to the plate number; on the sides it is separated by a stamp with blank selvage, except in the case where the lettering is too long. We can tell that this came from the bottom right pane, because on that pane the letters precede rather than follow the plate number at the side. In the case of the 20c, the spacing of the letters stretches across three stamps and so the most desirable way to collect this with the imprint is as a block of eight.

Scott Retail as hinged.

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