Harding 2c #613 - Perf 11

Well, I've been doing my homework and now it is test time. I checked opposite sides, as well as top and bottom - everything matches up. Same sides inverted work right, too. The stamp shows wear and handling and has never before been considered 613 - always 612 - so it doesn't appear to have been handled with 'kid gloves'. However, I still have trouble differentiating if it has been reperfed.

When you say everything matches up, do you mean it is perf 11? If so, it is probably a 610 with no setoff (ink on the back).

Here's a previous discussion of the 613: http://goscf.com/t/19504&whichpage=1

Yep, you need to cut a damaged gauge 11 flat-plate stamp in half vertically, then take the left-hand piece and use it to determine whether the subject stamp is long enough to be rotary press. If it is longer than the flat-plate stamp then submit it for expertization.

raymodj & cjpalermo1964 - Thank you both. You're right, a 610 Got out a 553 - Harding 1 1/2c which is a flat plate and compared the two. Scanned each at same settings and the 553, 1 1/2c, if anything, was slightly larger. When I tried a steel mm ruler, I could barely get 22mm, which seemed strange. So did the scan and the one posted is just slightly smaller. Oh, cjpalermo1964, it was your suggestion that triggered the idea but it really saves on stamps by cutting the scan in half to compare. :-)

Live and learn. Now I remember why I didn't gamble when I lived in Vegas. Thanks, again, both of you!

Cutting a cheap flat plate stamp only needs to be done once, and the cut sides then can be retained as reference items. Using them has the advantage of speed; no scanning, you can eliminate a candidate 613 in seconds. Devote a spare Vario page to this and another reference items, and you have a great step forward in sophistication.

cjpalermo1964 - Thank you for the observation and suggestion. Sometimes things are so simple that they are the hardest to think of doing. Boy, haven't I spent a lifetime trying to learn that. Thank you, again.

Could some tell me how to measure the stamp design is it from line to line on the line or is it before and after all the help is appreciated thanks in advance

Measuring a stamp with a ruler is not effective. Use another stamp. The height or width of a stamp would be measured from the outer edges of the printed design.

Johnboy,
Welcome, this link might also help.
http://www.stampsmarter.com/learnin...methods.html
Don

I'm very skeptic so please have a look and share your opinion thanks

perf is 11 and cause I got only this example I must measure w19.15mm to 19.18mm and h22.45mm to 22.46mm please see my measuring pics and am I doing it the right way thanks

No need to measure. Flat plate print Scott 610.

Frankly I didn't expect to have something else but out of curiosity how did you immediately ID it like this

I'll upload a normal scan cause those mobile cam pics are no good

Stallzer's quick id of this stamp was probably based on what can be seen on the reverse side of the stamp. Numerous specks of black ink are visible over much of the stamp. This was caused by the stacking of sheets of stamps for which the ink was not yet dry. Some of the ink from a sheet's surface would be transferred to the gum side of the sheet stacked above it. The terminology for this ink transfer is "setoff". Setoff occurs only in flat plate printings. While lack of setoff would not guarantee that a stamp was rotary, it would at least be suggestive that it might be. On the other hand, presence of setoff is diagnostic of a flat plate printing.

Oh ok now I understand thanks for explaining

I read on the net that if you bath soak the stamp from gum the setoffs would reduce a lot if its rotary so I did so and measured w and h, I dont believe its the rare one Im just checking options and consulting it with you here thanks

forgot to ad the measurement