My Newest Revenue Finds

I can't explain how hey got there. Maybe from the document they were on. But, that is the correct paper for he early days of the 1st issue. Almost all of the 1st issue imperf's are on the same thin paper.

I guess I'll soak it awhile and see if they float off.

Chiming in as my first post here.

It is doubtful that they are true silk papers. The paper type looks like the early thin paper; it doesn't have the right color or consistency for a silk paper, in my opinion. Also, any supposed silk paper with a cancel date prior to mid-1870 should immediately be suspect. While some documents were in fact backdated for legal reasons, they are by far the exception rather than the rule.

I've seen far too many "silk papers" in dealer stocks that were either (1) pieces of something stuck to the back, or (2) bits of wood pulp/fiber rather than actual silk threads.

Also, as I found out the hard way, a blue thread does NOT automatically mean silk paper:

http://www.revenue-collector.com/pages/1670.html

I find that a USB microscope is excellent for seeing whether a thread is truly woven into the stamp or simply stuck to the back (I linked the image rather than posted it because it is a huge image):

http://www.revenue-collector.com/st...rcloseup.jpg

-Dan

Dan,

Thanks for the info and welcome to the forum.

As you can tell from this and other posts, I'm new to revenues and have alot to learn. By the way, I think your website provides a great reference resource.

Thus far I've been using a high-resolution scan to try to check the fibers but after seeing your USB microscope image, it is clear that I'll need to go that route.

Steve