Scott # 441 Washington 1 Cent Green

Nice coil pair ,, VF/XF I think ?

If someone could provide a date for these I would appreciate it .



Thanks

Metalman

Washington 1 cent Green - 1912
If I am learning correctly from your previous post, I would grade this VF. The bottom appears to be much closer to the perforations than the top.

Nice stamps though, thanks for sharing.

Steve

Steve is correct, the original sheet version of the 1c Washington, Scott #405 (perf. 12 on all sides) was issued in February, 1912. This series of stamps, called the Washington-Franklins, is very complex however, and was was issued in several different formats.

If your coil version of the 1c Washington is indeed Scott #441, then it will measure perf. 10 horizontally. Scott #441 was printed on a flat bed press and should have a single line watermark (part of one of the letters in USPS). The stamp was released in this coil format on November 14, 1914.

Two very similiar stamps were printed on a rotary press. Rotary press stamps are printed from plates that are curved to fit around a cylinder. This curvature produces stamps which are a little bit larger in one dimension than flat bed stamps. The designs on the rotary press stamps are taller, 22.5mm, which is 1/2 mm taller than the flat plate printings which measure 22mm tall.

Rotary press coils of the 1c Washington, perf. 10 horizontally, with single line watermark, Scott #448, were released December 12, 1915. Unwatermarked rotary press coils perf. 10 horizontally, Scott #486, were released in January, 1918.

So if your stamps measure perf. 10 and are very close to 22mm tall, then they are Scott #441. If they are taller than 22mm, then they are one of the rotary press stamps, either #448 or #486, depending on if they are watermarked.

What is the best way to see the water mark ?

Tom can you give me a guide to the perf measurement ?

To measure perforations you need a perforation gauge. You can buy a metal one at any place that sells stamp collecting supplies, such as Amos Advantage. These seem expensive to me since I think I paid 69c for mine back in the day. Here is a free perforation gauge (in a pdf file) you can print out at the Dakshina Kannada Philatelic and Numismatic Association Web Site.

Watermarks can be seen when the stamp is placed face down in a black tray with a squirt of watermark fluid on it. Back in the old days we used benzene for detecting watermarks. This is no longer recommended because benzene is a carcinogen. Also in the old days I have seen some dealers use lighter fluid - not the BBQ kind, but the kind for refilling household cigarette lighters. This leaves a unpleasant smell, however, and I wouldn't recommend it. I think the best thing to do is to bite the bullet and buy a bottle of overpriced "safe" watermark fluid (which should last you many years) and a little black plastic tray or black ashtray. You can get watermark fluid at any dealer in stamp supplies (like Amos Advantage).