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Plate Block (Plate Number Block)

A block of stamps that has a plate number printed in the attached margin. Plate blocks from flat plate printings usually have six stamps with the plate number near the center stamp as in the example shown. Plate blocks from rotary press printing usually have four stamps with the plate number in a corner margin as in the example at right. Note that the Mothers of America stamp was printed using both the flat plate, and the rotary press method. Many of the early plate blocks have marginal imprints adding to the collectibility of the block.