I also collect stamps, and the way they handle it there's a few different levels of collecting. First is the basic stamp, then the cataloged differences of perforations or watermarks, then major cataloged varieties like plate cracks and double transfers. And finally going way beyond the catalog to highly specialise in one series or even one stamp. Each way of collecting is equally ok.
For me it's a matter of there being a difference on the plate. That can be accidental or deliberate. - Magie - deliberate, Nodgrass - accidental.
Add to that a question of wether an accidental difference happened during the making of the plate or sometime after. Nodgrass was probably done while makingthe plate. I have a few cards with marks from plate scratches which are obviously both accidental and later.
Stuff that happens during printing and processing the sheets into cards(or during packaging) I consider to be printing errors and not variations.
I collect all the above, mostly because I find them interesting.
But I wouldn't expect most people to collect them that way or to recognize the small imperfections as variations.
|