Plate number

A plate number is a number printed in the margin of a sheet or roll of postage stamps, or on the stamp itself, which shows the printing plate used to print the stamps.

A plate number is the serial number of a printing plate. It is printed in the selvage or border of a pane of postage stamps.[1]

For the concept in chemical separations, see Theoretical plate.
For the registration plate used for vehicles, see Vehicle registration plate.
This strip from a sheet of US stamps from 1895 shows they were printed with plate number 170.

Philatelists and stamp collectors analyze or collect plate numbers and stamps with different plate numbers, often as a block, thereby known as a plate block. The American Plate Number Single Society (APNSS) is an example of a specialist philatelic society which focuses on single stamps with plate numbers. APNSS is affiliate #178 of the American Philatelic Society[1]

Notes
  1. "The American Plate Number Single Society". Retrieved December 13, 2010.
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