Us#75 Or 76

I just won this #76 Jefferson on ebay. Couple of short perfs, but nicely centred and a double target cancel.
On the back are a couple of marks. Expert? Dealer? Someones also nicely circled a fingerprint for me. Thanks.
Anyone recognize this doggie in the window?
I've checked on the filatelia web site for expert marks, but can't find anything.
I love a mystery!

That's an awesome looking stamp! Mine has very similar marking on the back, especially the "fingerprint" thing although mine arent circled. It'll be interesting to see where the clues will take you. -J.

Definitely looks like a dealers mark James, but I don't know any well enough to name them. Why would someone point out a fingermark flaw but making another flaw with the pencil. Something else must be going on here?! - Jeff

I don't believe it's an experts mark, could be an owners mark? I thought I read about a book identifying expert marks appearing on the back of stamps. Maybe you can check the APS library or the RCPS library.

PP

The mystery deepens (at least in my mind)
Received my Jefferson in the mail this morning. The puppy mark on the back still eludes me, but now I'm wondering about the colour.
The seller listed this stamp as a #76 brown. But on looking at it in real life, I'm wondering if it's not a #75 dark red brown.
I checked it against the images on Swedishtiger, and I think it is.
I know computer monitors and scans effect colour. My new scan is pretty close to actual colour.
What do you all think?

And does anyone have current catalogue values for 75 and 76?

I only have access to 2011 Scott catalog values right now...

75 (red brown), $550
76 (brown), $140
76a (black brown), $325

Thanks for the numbers KHJ
I've changed the title of this post to reflect the new image and question.
If its a 75, even with it's obvious condition issues, that would make it my most valuable stamp. Not bad for a purchase of $13.75 (including postage)
Fingers crossed.

Jamesw,

Regardless of how it turns out, congratulations!

ID'ing color is admittedly my most difficult challenge. I turned to the Philatelic Foundation database to see if I could offer any assistance but what I came up with still leaves me undecided. Here are sample images taken from the PF database of certified red brown 75s (top row) and brown 76s (bottom row) -- there is one unused example in each row.



Hopefully you'll be able to tell which row your stamp fits in.

Steve

Hands down, I'd say top row left. I guess that's good, right?

Going strictly by the color shown on my computer it is a red brown, (or fire as is sometimes called). That would make it a Sc#75.
Ron

I think the color is red brown without any question.

Yeah, I see red brown also.
Sweet purchase!

Well, I'm satisfied. Thanks all.

A little follow up, if I haven't overstayed my welcome with this one already, what I thought to be a circled fingerprint on the back turns out to be something written.
While there is a fingerprint there, inside the circle, in pencil, appears to be initials (aE ?) or possibly a number (75?)
Did some fiddling with contrast and other stuff in Photoshop to try to bring it up, but much of it seems lost.

Great buy James

Dianne

I am totally GREEN with envy. When I buy something on ebay, it usually turns up bent with a huge rip (laughingly aka as a "minute thin") in the back.

Good for you!
Congratulations, it's beautiful.