Manuscript Ink Color Scarcity

Relatively new at collecting Revenue's, but I've spent a lot of time looking at them while trying to learn about them. Have scoured the Revenue-Collector site and eBay listings extensively. Most of the manuscript cancels that I've seen are with black ink. I have seen blue and red ink used every now and then, but that's about it. This R123 below is either purple ink, or a faded red ink. While I have seen purple ink used with a hand-stamp cancel, I have only seen one other stamp with a purple manuscript cancel. Just wondering if there is a consensus that has been established on the different colors that have been seen.

TexasGunny, first of all, welcome to SCF. I always enjoy seeing a new member who is interested in U.S. revenues. I am not aware of any sort of census of ink colors used in manuscript cancels, but I do know that colored ink is scarce, attractive manuscript cancels are relatively scarce, and for me a combination of those two things greatly adds to the eye appeal and desirability of a revenue stamp. I think your cancel is indeed purple, as I have one that is very similar. It's one of my favorites.

When I see our two stamps together, I think my cancel is more likely to be faded red than yours.

rustyc.....remember that in the period there
was no consistenticy in the ink colors.

Thanks for the welcome. I like the color, but as appears to be typical, it isn't very legible. I would imagine that colored inks were much more expensive than black ink. That would explain the profusion of black inks I would think.

The above quote is from the U.S. Philatelic Classics Society; Volume 50 Chronicle 180 "Color Cancellations on U.S. Official Stamps 1873-1874" by Alan C Campbell
I couldn't find the actual regulation against colored inks, just that reference to it, which may be why black is more common than other colors of ink. Ultramarine was the most expencive color of ink at the time these stamps were printed from what I've read on this board.

While colored manuscript inks may be more scarce than black/grey/brownish, I've never seen any premium attached to them. The only exception is gilt ink, which are truly rare.

Handstamps are a different matter, where green and brown are the most scarce.


Examples of gilt manuscript ink:

Thanks. I have never seen gilt ink before. I can see why that ink would carry a premium.