Dear Sir,

In the November, 2007 issue of The United States Specialist, the authors of "A Categorization of Marginal Markings: Plate Number Types, Part III" listed hand altered, hand drawn or improperly applied offset plate numbers; and requested to be notified if there were any additions to the table.

Our thanks to Jacques Schiff, Jr. for reporting the item below, a left plate block of the 2¢ carmine offset Washington (Scott #526), plate number 10863. The "8" is hand drawn, and the bottom of the "0" appears touched up as well. While the "1" and "0" look the same as on the previously published example of 10862 (also shown), the "8" is smaller and raised. The "6" and "3" are higher, too, although full size.

Sincerely,
Doug D’Avino

Plate block of Scott #526, plate number 10863, showing hand drawn and hand altered numbers, with plate number 10862 for comparison.