1923 Harding Memorial 2c

Us again :>)

This stamp has 11 perfs and measures 21 1/2 X 25. Can this be Scott #613?? Or did I eat something really bad?? It does not fit into Scott 610, 611 or 612. It is not imperforate, nor is it even close to 19 1/4 X 22 MM

THANKS!

You are measuring the design and not the whole stamp arn't you

Nope the whole stamp with perfs included. Why do my measurments seem impossible?

I added some more pictures with MM and stamp so you can see how we are arriving at the size. What do you all think??

Thanks

rbiz-- they made millions and millions of the Harding Memorial Stamp, he died after a very short time in office, and there was a lot of use of these stamps-- and there are 47 known copies of #613: basically, there is less than a 1 in 10,000,000 chance that any Harding perforated stamp you could look at has a chance of being a #613-- probably less, because any one that you have has already been looked at by a bunch of folks since the 1920's who hoped THEY had a #613.

You have to measure the design. Flat plate vs. rotary press is the type of printing, so it would have absolutely nothing to do with the perforations.

I would suggest very strongly that if you're going to collect US stamps, you consider finding a copy of the Scott US Specialized Catalog on eBay-- and it doesn't have to be a new copy. You can find an old copy from the '90s, for $10 and it would have pages upon pages of information to absorb, and would explain the differences between the common stamps in these issues, and the rarities.

I would highly doubt if anyone on SCF has a #613, or if anyone will ever have a #613-- it's just not a stamp that is on most want lists or any of us, even if we're long time US Classics collectors, ever have a chance to own someday.

Here is the website for Siegel's Auction census page for #613-- they keep a census of many of the rarities-- that's how I came up with 47:
http://www.siegelauctions.com/enc/census/613.pdf

Hope this helps! Thanks, Ray

Hi

I apreciate your reply and I do understand the astronomical chances of this being the Harding 613, however what I was looking for was some technical specification that would elimate this stamp of mine as being the "golden grail". I gave the mm reading in the photo and if that elimates it, than so be it. Secondly I am not a collector however my late father was and worked as a postal supervisor for 37 years in the largest post office in the world, FDR Station in Midtown Manhattan. So that is how I came accross this stamp and there are MANY others in his collection that are intrigueing. I will take your advise and look for that book. I have learned so much in these past few days and I value all the imput I have gotten here thus far, so a great big thanks to you and your fellow stamp collectors!

Wow, never even heard of the 613 til now.
My albums don't even have a 'hole' for that one.
I have hundreds of perfed Harding stamps. Now I
suppose I have to check every one!

rbiz:
I'd recommend getting a really good perf gauge tool.
I have a multi-tool, best word I can think to describe,
that is clear and has a graph with all the points of
every perf type and gauges to instantly tell you if
a stamp is flat or rotary. You just lay the stamp
over or under the gauges, and it is pretty fool-proof
in IDing anything... and fool-proof is for ME is
a tall order!

www.1847usa.com has the sizes but it's the design size that matters and that is what they go by or if you have a 10 perf Harding, that is a rotary and use that as a guide on the 11perfs if the design size is exactly the same size both ways then it might be somthing special if it's slightly smaller it's a normal flat plate

The other interesting thing is my father has this stamp in his large book (The Scotts International Junior postage stamp album) and he has it hinged to the spot that is reserved for either a 611 or 613, I would estimate that stamp has been in that book since the 40's or 50's. It's what got us thinking. I am going to order one of the books from ebay and can you tell me where I can order the gauge ratio411 describes? They don't have any stamp supply stores where we are, so it's going to have to be via the internet.

Thanks again

I think you are still measuring the whole stamp as others pointed out. When they say to measure the design only they are talking about the inked portion only. I have outlined your stamp in red that you should measure this portion. Hope that clears up the confusion.

This is the style gauge he is talking about, this is the cheapest one I could find including postage but im in the uk so you might find one slightly cheaper but it from the USA/Canada so the postage should go down slightly, any way here is the link
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Metal-Stamp...ht_813wt_689

razer:
I have one of those metal ones, as well as a drum type,
but this is the one I was talking about:
http://cgi.ebay.com/QUALITY-PERFORA...em563b0a0bf3

Mine came with the stamp hoard I bought, so I didn't know
it was a bit more expensive. However, it is SUPER easy
to use and I really recommend it vs one of the others.

It is clear plastic, so you can lay it over your stamps,
or put the stamp on top of it, either way, it's really
easy. Crazy easy compared to the metal ones that measure
the stamp from the side and you make a bit of a judgement.

That is great we ordered it from ebay today and got a Scotts book too. Now hopefully things will work out better and be less confusing