1867 2c Jackson - Type Identified (E Grill)

Anyone tried UV ( I think long wave) for detecting grills on cover? Read someone saying it worked well . Personally I would have assumed the $200 and been content until all other options expired. Scan that sucker at the highest DPI and draw it out or well nevermind to late. Big sigh but hoping its an E-Z .

I'd like to see if this would work using Postmaster's watermark detection process ...

That's because the name is J. Monroe & Co., a shoe manufacturer, as documented in this brief paragraph:

Almost every Stamp on cover that needs to be expertized for Watermark and or Grill usually has to lift the Stamp. Then they usually just hinge it back on the cover. Also, check this interesting thread as it might help with your dilema.

https://goscf.com/t/15262

Now that you have removed the stamp, it won't hurt anything to soak the cover in water. That may removed the ugly stain. I did that once and the stain on the cover did disappear. Mine was a modern cover so paper type on your cover may not give the same results. Even if you choose not to reattach the stamp, a clean cover held in reserve to do that sometime in the future would be a positive step.

Rileysan, send me your address and I'll get the cover in the mail to you. It is good to know that someone collects covers whose stamps have been removed -- I was afraid I'd have to put it in the recycling bin.



Nitrolures, I read the same thing that you did so I tried both long and short wave UV -- I couldn't detect anything. I also scanned it at 4800 dpi and couldn't see any indication of a grill. Once I got it off cover I was able to rule out the Z grill (the ridges were vertical vice horizontal) but I wasn't able to definitely call it either a D or an E. There were slight indications of a very weak 15th column but I profess no expertise in this area. I sent it back to Bill today.



Jeff and Wt1, that is correct -- each of the covers purchased in this lot had been sent to Monroe. The one shown in this thread ( https://goscf.com/t/14821#14821 ) has an embossed return address from a shoe and boot wholesaler in Louisville, KY.



Rileysan and Stallzer, at some point I'd like to give that process a try but first I need to buy a new scanner and photo editing software. I have had luck identifying some grills using the "negative" feature of the IrfanView program that I acquired via the SCF but it wasn't of any use in this instance.

Like I mentioned earlier in the thread, the odds are that it is an E-grill. Knowing that I've got my stamps correctly identified is very important to me so I'll be satisfied with the outcome (but I'll be elated if it comes back a D! ).

Quigngt, great idea, thanks. I'll give that a try and let you know how it turns out. Of course it it works I'll have to withdraw my offer to Rileysan!

Edited May 20th to provide this update:

I floated the stained cover for no more than 20 seconds. The portion that had received the application of Stamp Lift and the edges very quickly absorbed water but the remainder of the face didn't get too wet. I placed it in an APAK drying book for about 24 hours and here is the result. Needless to say I was quite surprised by the result. Thanks for the suggestion quigngt.

I would have suggested against that due to the possibility of the hand written ink running, but the results look good.

Stallzer, that thought crossed my mind but I had already written off the cover and considered it a useful experiment. I also took care to ensure that the reverse didn't get immersed so as to not dissolve the glue holding the flaps together.

The stamp came back today with Bill's confirmation that it was Scott 87 (E Grill). Once I had it off cover I was able to bring out the grill by dusting the reverse with graphite so I was fairly certain of the outcome.

Congrats you have a high graded very well centred black jack and that combination is not very common and I will also say this is one of the best centred black jacks I have seen in a long time they are always close on at least one edge:)

Wow! Amazing grade for this stamp. Well done!

Thanks. This has turned out to be one of those "once in a lifetime" purchases. I paid a little over $100 for the lot of five covers, inclusive of the expertizing fees, and they have a catalog value of over $2200. I doubt I'll have another find like this one.

With a grade of 90+ you can double the value of this one stamp at the very least.

Well that's a $1000+ in any auction house used maybe $1500 on the right day but the big question is are you going to keep it or sell it and get some of those more expensive stamps