3c Washington Fancy Cancel Help

I do not know which number this stamp is, have never looked one up before.

Is there a web site good for these? Pic A25 in Scott I think, from one web site.

It does not look to have a grill. Picture is from a friend so I do not know the perfs (should I?)

Looks faded, dent in center of stamps, toned perfs here and there, short perfs too. So, unless this is a rare stamp, I see the only saving grace being the fancy cross cancel, which is rather nice.

Am I more or less correct?





Much thanks for any help.

It almost appears to be a Maltese cross doesn't it?

It is Scott #65, faded copy, and one of the most common 19th century US classic stamps.

Looks like a Maltese cross at the top, but the appendage at the lower right of the stamp doesn't look like a Maltese cross. So, could be, but also may not be. Again, the cancel might be collectable, but not valuable, simply because it's not a very good or clear strike.

I tried to find it in Skinner and Eno, and don't see one that has an appendage like the one on the bottom right. That doesn't mean it's not a Maltese Cross-- just that it's not listed in S&E, and there are thousands of cancels not listed.

Not much help here....Sorry. Ray

Thanks for your trouble.

Do you think it may be a double strike, where one part of the cancel showed clearing with the first strike and then the postmaster tried to remedy the under-inking of part of the cancel with a clearer (on another part of the canceler) second strike?, which was done at a bit of an angle to the first? I realize I am reaching here.

Puzzler, absolutely could be. Just hard to tell anytime there isn't a good strike of a cancel.....Ray