Page 21 - Charles Shreve - William H Gross United States 1847 Issue

D. Deliveries and Shades Introduction

Delivery determined by impression.
Since, according to Calvet Hahn (1927-2004), the Post Office Department had a last-in, first-out policy
of sheet distribution to post offices and the plate wore considerably during its use, reliance on the printing
impression data is a more accurate guide to deliveries than the methodology using cover dating.

Crisp impression. -1st delivery - Dark brown- SE 14, 1848 to Hartford, CT.

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Poor impression. - 5'h delivery- Position 90L- Red brown- FE 10, 1851 to Baltimore, :tvfD. e

Very few copies of the S!C have clear impressions and, according to stamp dealer and author Lester G. Brookman
(1904-71) in The United States Postage Stamps of the 19'" Century, Volume 1, "the quality of the impressions was due
not so much to the condition of the plate as it was the quality of the ink and the skill with which it was used."
Because of this, it is not possible to plate the stamp as extensively as the 10!C has been.