These stamps were manufactured on nine plates
comprised of two panes of 100; The two panes of 200 stamps are
designated as right and left. Additionally as manufacturing progressed
some of the plate were reworked. These reworked plates are referred to
as ‘states’; early state for the original plate, an intermediate state
for the first rework, and the late plate for the last reworking. Each
stamp in a pane has been assigned a position designation. These are
numbered starting from the upper left stamp in sequence 1 through 100.
For example, the plate position 3L3 means position 3, left pane of plate
3. See here
for illustration.
Since each stamp on each plate has unique
characteristics, it is possible for collectors to reconstruct an entire
plate.
Here is a list of all the known plates.
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