Ted, Pat is using Larry Doyle as an example of his theory. I think that his explanation makes perfect sense. It explains why a few Joe Doyle cards continued to be printed with that printer's mark with Sweet Caporal or Old Mill backs, while the majority of earlier printed Piedmont backed Doyles don't have the mark.
To summarize: there were multiple Joe Doyles on a sheet, therefore there were multiple plates featuring Joe Doyle. One of these plates had this remnant of the Nat'l designation on it, while the rest of the Joe Doyle plates didn't have the mark. So one of every eleven or so Doyles would bear this mark, while the others from the same sheet wouldn't have it.
Thus a few Piedmonts would have the mark, while the rest wouldn't. Then the Sweet Caporals would be printed, and one Joe Doyle per sheet would have the mark, while the others wouldn't. Same with the Old Mills.
I think that Pat is right, and he certainly answered my question.
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