24c 1861-6 Color Issue Again

Hi-- just arrived in the mail today. ebay dealer described as 78a, with a dealer's mark, but when I received the stamp, on the glassine, he crossed out 78a, and the gray from gray lilac, and left it as a 78. I don't need a 78, but I've compared this stamp to my 78 and 78b. It's not gray-- I've ruled out 78b.

Back of the stamp has "70" written.
Anyone care to take a guess at this one? A couple of bad perfs so I really don't want to send it in, but if anyone with knowledge of this issue thinks it's a 78a, or if you see any brown, I wouldn't hesitate.

Thanks much, Ray

There was a fairly recent thread about this design and all it's variations and colors and such maybe you could use that for help identifying? I would LOVE to have that stamp in my collection as I still need one myself. Messed up perfs and all I love it!

I was part of that thread, ILS.....when I bought my 70b and 78b.
Thanks anyways....Ray

Just purchased a small lot with 3 different and they have been , well lets say pony express ran them over and the USPS did a dance on them. However they work for examples and for an under $20 lot they have character. I'm interested myself in the color variations so if that link is availiable on the others please post.

From a thread on Virtual Stamp Club:



Just really hard for me to compare something in my hand to the screen. Helps to have a reference copy in hand. That's why I bought the cheap 78a, and now just can't be sure-- thanks, Ray

Even looking at that pic I'm stumpped on the shades. 78c called blackish violet leaves alot to the imagination. Looking at my farthest right example shows blackish center with violet hues around the outside but looks more aged than a combo of 2 colors. I can see this series requiring expertising to be even half assured what you have but a shame to throw the $$ on a faulty copy as you mentioned.