Durland Standard Plate Number Catalog (1994, Paperback)

This volume provides the most comprehensive research source for plate number information on United States postage and revenue stamps. It is a carefully prepared and authoritative guide to the retail value of specific plate numbers and positions for all U.S. postage stamps (sheet stamps, coil stamps, and booklet stamps) issued from 1851. The listings include not only regular issue and commemorative postage stamps, but also air mail, postage due, parcel post, registration, special delivery, special handling, certified mail, official, postal savings, newspaper, and dummy (test) stamps. The revenue stamp section includes plate number information for documentary, proprietary, future delivery, stock transfer, wine, beer, playing cards, silver tax, cigarette, tobacco, potato, narcotic, consular service, customs, match, medicine, perfume, boating, trailer permit, firearms transfer, and hunting permit stamps. Also included in the catalog are United States stamps that were overprinted for use in various U.S. possessions (Cuba, Canal Zone, Guam, Philippines, and Puerto Rico), Allied Military (AMG) postage stamps, and Confederate stamps. As if all that was not enough, there are sections showing the largest reported percentages for plate numbers on coil and booklet panes, plate numbers known on privately produced vending and affixing machine coils, unreported plate numbers, detailed information about the rotary presses used over the years by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, blue-cover "MDI" booklets, and stamps with plate position diagrams. No other catalog comes close to providing the information on plate numbers that this book includes.