GB QUEEN VICTORIA, BLACK PENNY, PLATE 2, BLACK, R-L, RAY FLAW, 4 MARGINS

This is a philatelic item noted for several specific plating characteristics. In fine condition with four margins, this stamp represents a "May Date" plate, as Plate 2 was one of the original plates registered on 22 April 1840.

Ray Flaws: Plate 2 is well-known for "Ray flaws" in the upper corner stars, where specific rays are shortened or missing. Matched pairs with specific ray flaws can reach prices of to £600.

- 10 o'clock flaw: Often found on many Plate 2 impressions, where the ray at the 10 o'clock position in the North-West (NW) star is missing or shortened.

- 7 o'clock flaw: This is a major characteristic of a majority of Plate 2 stamps, affecting the bottom-left of the star design.

Letters (R-L): These letters indicate the stamp's position on the original sheet: Row R (the 18th row) and Column L (the 12th and final column). In Plate 2, the position and clarity of these hand-punched letters help verify the plate; for instance, a central 'H' with a thick crossbar is typical for this plate, whereas other plates might show different alignments.

Plate Characteristics: Plate 2 impressions may also show a horizontal guideline above the NW square in some positions and often have the "10 / 7" ray flaw combination in the NW star.

4 Margins: Having four clear white margins is critical for value. Because these stamps were cut by hand with scissors, many examples have incomplete margins. A four-margin example is considered rare and highly desirable.

Cancellation: These are typically found with a Red Maltese Cross, though black crosses appear on later usage.