American Plate Number Single Society

The American Plate Number Single Society (APNSS) is a volunteer-run association of stamp collectors organized to promote interest in plate number singles and other marginal markings.

Some APNSS members also collect other marginal markings, such as singles with ZIP, copyright, and pane position markings, logos, siderographers' or plate finishers' initials, TOP markings, denomination aids and other markings.

The APNSS was formally organized in 1976, although it traces its beginnings to 1952. It originally got its start as an organization for collectors of postally used plate number singles. APNSS joined the APS as Affiliate #178 in 1988.

Beginning with rotary press stamp printings in the 1930s, plate numbers were generally printed in the corner of each pane. Plate number 22206 appears in the selvage of the 50¢ Taft stamp from an upper left pane, shown above. Identical stamps from the upper right, lower left and lower right panes would make up a complete matched set of all positions for this issue.

To learn more about the group, click here.