US 205, 205c (A Dream), 216 : Color Toning/Changing

This set happens to be one of my favorites because of the indigo color of the 216 and the beard and hair details of both. I still have to keep looking to improve these two as they are both MH, so at some point (when I hit the lottery) I need to upgrade to the MNH.

Yeah, I'm a bit goofy for mentioning the 205C which I will never own obviously, but I do have a question on this one and the 205 considering toning/chemical changes, etc. I know the 205C is on soft porous paper and was issued without gum and I am guessing a used example will never be found (or has there?), yet I have this one 205 that appears to be the grey brown (nearly black) color of the 205C and seems to be on different paper than the other. I have used numerous different color wheels and all seem to fall into the grey brown with this one.

I guess my question goes to how much of a change can one see over the years in color of certain stamps from this era. I am curious and wanting to continue leaning on these subjects so any and all information would be greatly appreciated. I am not suggesting this stamp is the 205C, I am using this set for the continuation of the conversation on toning/changeling which was mentioned in another thread.

I have taken some photos of the stamps and tried to get the colors to show up well, but I do not think I did too well even though you can see the difference. I am going to have to get the scanner out and get it going at some point.












Thanks all.

sirruspoe, I had the same question about a month ago. Our friends here were very quick with the answers. Basically there are three different colour variations on the 205, not including the 205C.

Here's a link to that discussion.

https://goscf.com/t/21052&SearchTerms=205


(catch up Bob )

It all is relative. What kind of atmosphere did the previous owwner/s have this piece kept in ? Many things can cause the color to fade and it can fade anywhere from a little to a lot. Why would you upgrade to a never hinged ? Those examples you have are very nice and I just can't see spending the difference on MNH, unless of course you display the gum side of the stamp or find a deal you can't refuse. Also be careful with 100+ year old Stamps which have full original Gum, if bought in a block then usually OK but if single, consider perhaps that it might be a re-Gum. Lovely items you have there.

Thank you for the link Jamesw. I was looking at the one on the left in that thread and I might be seeing things but the word "five" on that one seems to have the yellow brown color to it.

Thank you stallzer for the information. I guess I am a dreamer and it will/would be years and years before I got to looking at better ones since I just started out not too long ago and need tons and tons of US stamps.

Yes I noticed that in the scan too. But the original shows no sign of discoloration, it's evenly toned.
I think that's just a vagary in the scan, probably because both stamps were scanned together.

Thank you again jamesw. I just wanted to mention it as I am the one doing the learning and wanted to see if that may have been a toning issue I could ask more about, but now I know it was just the scanner.