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Each of the thirteen plates has a plate reference number referred to by platers. These plate numbers do not show on the plates and are not to be confused with plate numbers popular with plate block collectors. The thirteen plate reference numbers are 1E, 1i, 1L, 2E, 2L, 3, 4, 5E, 5L, 6, 7, 8, and 0. "E" stands for "early state", "i" stands for "intermediate state", and "L" stands for "late state" for those three plates that were reworked. This numbering does not always relate to the time the plates were manufactured or used; but, rather, is how they were identified by Dr. Carroll Chase in his 374 page treatise on this stamp - The 3c Stamp of the United States 1851 - 1857 Issue, revised edition. For example, Plate 0 was likely the fourth plate manufactured, and Plates 3 and 4 were put into use after Plate 5E. If you are going to get serious about plating, you need Dr. Chase's book... If you see anything you deem proprietary and wish it credited or removed, I am happy to do either.