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Among our nineteenth-century stamps especially, it ispossible to see the position dots and traces of the guidelines on the printed stamps. In fact, these are very helpfulto those who attempt to "plate" certain issues. But it isnot unusual to find them even on the most modern issues.
 Figure 60. The layout of a 400 subject rotary plate showing electric eye guides for the perforating machine in center and at left.
After the plate has received all of its impressions, itreceives other permanent markings. The plate number isset in on the margins as well as, sometimes, other indiciaof the various phases of manufacture. Permanent guide lines are cut between the four panes of one hundredstamps each. At the extreme margin of each of theseguide lines an arrow is cut to call particular attentionto the line. These guide lines are provided to assist thecutting operator when he divides the sheets of four hun-dred stamps into panes of one hundred in which formstamps are sent out to the Post Office. For modernstamps, which are printed from rotary presses, specialmarkings are provided on the margins of the sheet toguide the electric scanning mechanism that guides theperforating machines. These marks are known to collec-tors as "electric eye" stamps. At the present time, all |
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