Here We Go Again - Help Please US Scott 65?

Perfed 12 no grill but I cannot tell color. Is there someone out there with more clues than me about this stamps. All help always appreciated. Thanks in advance. - Jeff



Untouched scan

Jeff--
I'm fairly sure it's a 65. Color undetermined, looks like there could be some red in the stamp-- in my opinion, not pink.

Of the 55 color varieties that are published, several are described with the word "red" and something else. (Colors in CAPITAL letters are listed in Scott) Here they are--

Brownish red rose, early '62
Bright brown red, early '62 (rare)
RED ROSE, early '62
Pale red rose, early '63
Deep red rose, mid '63
Dull red rose, mid '63
Reddish claret rose, late '63
Brick red, mid '64 (rare)
BRIGHT ROSE RED, early '65
Pale rose red, early '65
DULL RED, early '65
BROWN RED, mid '65
Pale brown red, mid '65

Grilled stamp colors on non-grilled stamps (all rare):
Brownish rose red, April '68
Lake red, May '68
Rose red, May '68
Dull rose red, July '68
Orange red, Aug '68

I think the stamp you've posted could be any of those underlined, but to really know you'd need a reference copy to ID, and either on cover with month and date, or month and date on a loose stamp. And it could be just a shade of rose.

All have been published in "The Chronicle" by Mike McClung, who looked at over 6000 dated covers, and found that the colors were found in date ranges, and were predictable.

"The Chronicle" is the quarterly periodical published for members of USPCS (US Philatelic Classics Society). On the uspcs.org website you can search for the name McClung, and find which issues his articles are in, and the back issues are available for purchase (that's how I got them, anyways).

Also in The Chronicle, they have a rarity rating 1-9, 1 being the most common, and 9 being "pigeon blood pink", which "The Seal" has shown several times in other threads here on SCF. The varieties above that I listed as "rare" all are at least 7. To give you an idea of how rare a "7" is, all of the "pink's" are a "7", so some of the color varieties are as or rarer than the pink's (64).

64b, rose pink is a "4".

These are also published in a reference that you can purchase on line from the literature dealers, named, "Three Cents Washington, 1861-1862, Color guide for Scott #64 and #65". It gives a lot of nice information, but is basically worthless in identifying all of the varieties, because they've never been published, YET. I asked Mike if he would sell me any faulty reference copies, and he couldn't because he needed them for a project he's working on for The Chronicle, so maybe they'll get published at some point.

Another point to ponder-- Lester Brookman lists in his volumes on the 19th Century US Postage Stamps (btw, a must for those who like the classics), quantities minted of each stamp. Something to think about:

64, Pink, quantity approximated at 100,000 (includes all the pink's including pink, lavender pink, carmine pink, rose pink, and pigeon blood pink)
65, Rose, 1,781,000,000

So if one is looking through a shoe box full of 3c 1861's, your chance in finding a pink (even rose pink), is 1 in 17,810.

This was long, but I had some time, and thought it might be useful.
Hope it helps-- Ray

Very useful ray.Mac: you keep adding to my lists of needs and wants..books, magazines, stamps...uggg

Ray thanks for the information. That was amazing. I will have to get over to the Spellman Museum and see some other reference copies hopefully. I am terrible with shades and want so much to be able to put each stamp in its proper pigeon hole. I will rescan this one and not do any touch up so you will get exactly what the scanner gets. That may help, but most of all thanks for all the GREAT information. - Jeff

Here is that stamp "untouched" off the scanner, but I cant see ANY color difference. Ray?

Jeff, here's another pic--



Top row:
-Yours is top left
-Next is on cover I bought from Mike McClung-- 64b, not certed, but if he says it's 64b, as the authority on 3c 1861 color, I believe him.
-Next ID'd as 64b by Bill Weiss

2nd row:
- First two were ID'd by Weiss as 64b-- 2nd one is in my album
- 3rd is certed by Weiss as 64b, as genuine and sound in all respects- nice buy for $19
- 4th is certed PINK by Weiss, top right "tiny perf crease" otherwise sound, 64.

I think this will illustrate that you can't tell with an image. Compared to others, with my scanner (which I've been told needs to be calibrated), not a lot of difference.

Jeff-- Look for an email from me.....

Hope this is helpful, but I highly doubt it will be.

Ray

Thanks for the email Ray, off Tues and Wed. Amidst buying a car, I am going to respond and follow up, thanks. - Jeff