US #205 Garfield

I_Love_Stamps' recent thread about the banknote series had me look at mine (of course) and I remembered I had two different shades of #205.



Now, I'm not even going to pretend that one of them might be the very valuable gray brown special printing. But can someone with a Scott's Specialized Catalogue tell me if this colour variation is natural for this issue? It was a short lived issue. Would there be that much chance for such a variation? Or perhaps one is changing?

According to my Scott Specialized catalog, Scott #205 is known in yellow brown, brown and gray brown, all with the same valuation of $12 used (2011 catalog price).

The "gray brown" special printing variety that you mentioned (Scott #205C) you can eliminate, as only 22 copies are known have been certified as genuine, and none are known in used condition.

Thanks wt1. I'd already dismissed the 'special printing'. I don't have that kind of luck.
Obviously I've got one more #205 to find.
Cheers.

I don't think I would actually just "eliminate it" as you have not had it sent out for certification yet so it very well could be? Why couldn't it be? What if every one of those 22 owners of the "grey brown" had just simply dismissed it as wt1 suggested, then what? My point being here is that you will have never known unless you try. Hey it would be worth $20.00 to me either way just to find out. I smell a mystery!

could the one on the left be a faded 216?

You can definitely eliminate it.
There is a thread on Virtual Stamp Club that addresses the 205 vs. 205C conundrum, if anyone wants to go and find it-- very informative.
www.virtualstampclub.com

As I recall, the problem is that the PF isn't issuing certs for 205C, because there isn't any way to tell the difference between 205 and 205C, and there isn't any way to certify it. AND again if I remember correctly, those who have certs today may or may not have "actual" 205C's. Bottom line is that if you have a certifried copy, it's good, but there may be many out there, that will never be certed, because there isn't a good way to prove that it's a 205C vs. a 205.

Look for the thread in the "Expert Opinions" area, and it is well worth reading the entire thread, if one is interested in the "Special Printing" U.S. Bureau's.

Hope this is helpful.... Ray

Thanks for the good thoughts ILS, but I'm pretty sure this is a regular grey brown 205. The paper of the 205c is described as soft and porous, while mine is a hard crisp paper. I'm content with the $12 value.
Now I just have to figure out if the other one is brown or yellow brown. It's always something!

well ya never really know sometimes so just good looking out was all. Besides I trust the collective opinions and views here over any one source so it's safe to say that your right. -Jeff