2c Harding Black And White Stamp

Hi, I appear to have a 2c Harding rotary stamp... I can post a picture to verify, but how can I check (if it is possible) to see if the stamp is real or not? Thanks

Welcome to Stamp Community Forum, Francesco!

You will need to post a sufficient resolution scan with an accurate millimeter rule as well, because we will need to verify the perforation and the design size. The ruler needs to be scanned WITH the stamp so that the scaling will be the same. Also, both the stamp and ruler must be aligned along the horizontal/vertical (no slight tilt of stamp nor ruler), otherwise we will not be able to make accurate measurements.

Or you can measure yourself. There are 2 different rotary stamps, but please note that there will be some variation to your measured dimension due to paper issues.

#612 design measure about 19.25mmx22.5mm and perforation 10.
#613 design measure about 19.25mmx22.5mm and perforation 11.

It is very unlikely that you have #613, as it is quite rare and all known copies are not well-centered (I believe all from the same sheet).

You should first confirm it is not a flat plate printing. The common flat plate measures about 19.25x22.25 and perforation 11. As you see, there is only 1/4mm difference along one dimension. This stamp is often mistaken for the rotary because collectors make the mistake of measuring only one dimension (22.25mm vs 22.5mm). There will always be a certain amount of paper shrinkage/expansion, which is natural or can also be faked. If you measure 22.5mm, you MUST confirm the other dimension is 19.25mm and not slightly larger than 19.25mm. If you measure slightly larger than 19.25mm, then it is not a genuine rotary printing. On a genuine rotary printing, only one of the dimensions is larger, not both.

They should look like these: http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynam.../613/613.pdf
Theyt are not the easiest stamps to identify. Impossible to give advice without a picture.
With a picture, we can at least give advice on whether to send it for a (n expensive) certificate.

Thanks for the response! I counted the perferations and there seems to be 11. I'm new to the stamp collecting scene and scanned it just to be sure.

Here are 3 more pictures:


[imghttp://img822.imageshack.us/img822/9132/stamp3.jpg]

Based on your pic (it is more helpful to have a high resolution scan of ONLY the stamp area and part of the ruler), your stamp appears to be

#610, flat plate press, 19.25mmx22.25mm, perf 11.

Having the Harding stamp with perf 11 is not a sufficient condition for it to be rotary press. It is the design dimensions that determine whether flat or rotary press. The perf 11 is only useful for determining whether you have the common or rare rotary stamp, but that is only AFTER you can show it is a rotary stamp. And you stamp looks like flat plate, not rotary.

This can only be confirmed by physical examination, but I'm pretty certain you have the common #610 flat plate and not the rare #613.

I believe all the known #613s are in used condition. That is not to say it could not possibly exist in unused condition.

Thanks for posting the pic, and hope the info is useful to you. Sorry I cannot give you a more favorable opinion. (remember, not an expert opinion)

k