Scott #182?

How would you evaluate this stamp?



I think it's a Scott #182. (It has the crescent in the left pearl next to the "1" and it is on a very soft (almost fiberous) paper.) Is that correct? It also seems well centered for that period, although it does have hinge remnants on the back.

As hard as I look (even with magnification) I'm never quite sure if it's an unused (no gum) or used copy. Do I see a faint cancel at the right center or is that my imagination?

Being that you have determined that it is soft porous paper with secret mark, that narrows it down to 3, that being 182, 192 and 206. 192 is a special printing which only 388 were printed of the 1875 and 1880 printings combined, so that leaves 182 or 206, as the most likely stamp. Could be 182 as you have stated or 206 if the added shading is present. As far as the faint cancel, my opinion is yes, this may have been washed to create a 192 back when this was only a $500.00 catalog value stamp (1957), or no, it may not be so sinister and it is a 182 or 206 unused with no gum and a stain, still a nice stamp.

It appears to be a 182. I have done a comparison of it to a 206 and it isn't a 206