Washington/Franklins = Finally Done I.d.-Ing Mine :)

Well I finally sat down last night and made up my mind that I was going to learn my way around the mess that was my Washington/Franklins page. I used both "AskPhil", "1847" and S.C.F. and to my amazement I got them done! it was arduous at best but I made absolutely sure that they were ALL I.D.'d correctly. The 2¢ & 3¢ Washingtons seemed to take the longest for me but I actually gained a good working knowledge of what to look for and the different types and after it was all said and done it wasn't nearly as bad as I initially thought it would be, in fact it was really fun! I'm kind of proud of myself actually.

Here is a scan of my full identified Washington/Franklin head page.

Before:





After:

Bravo! These are not trivial for sure.
If they are supposed to be in Scott# oreder, it looks like the 3-cent with straightedge on top should be sorted down at the bottom with the other 3-cent offsets.

I believe I know the one you mean maybe?- Is it a possible booklet single? I thought it had to have at least 2 straight edges touching? I'll have to look and see if it has a partial cut away guideline.. Thank you chasa.

this one? Marked it as #501 Type I It's a perf 11



I believe they are 2 different stamps as the perfs are 11 and one is 12.

It's either #501 or #502 It's unwatermarked and now that I looked at it with "fresh eyes" and blown up like that I think it may be a Type II instead of the Type I I had originally thought. Look right to you?



It could be a #529 if you suspect it's offset but there are "specks" -look

Type III offset

Thank you Russ!
I also just found a 358 hiding in the 375's top row. if you look the difference is quite obvious. I found watermark 191 on it and paper is almost certain bluish from the contrast when I flipped them over it was easier to see.

back to the drawing board I guess...lol

That is a lot of hard work. Congratulations on a job well done, they look nice.

Thank you sfgoda! Well I realize that most of the stamps are in deplorable condition and terrible centering but I figured they was good enough to learn what I was doing and teach me what to look for when I am looking for the better specimens. It was fun and I believe I got em' all I.D.'d correctly now.

That is awesome - I wanted to do that but usually got frustrated. Maybe I will try again with your "inspired" post.

Congratulations on the work done with those W/F heads.

I have several hundred to sort out myself as well

Well worth the effort, I am sure.

Chimo

Bujutsu

Ugggh A very well deserved pat on the back . I just can't seem to tackle this one. Have 100's and I'm sure baby steps would work but I just can't seem to sit and deal with it. Should be a support group at least every few hundred miles and maybe a 1-800 number for frustrations.

Well, you could send me a little pile and I would sort them for you and if your happy with the work send another little pile and so on.. I actually really enjoy doing it and am getting quite fast at the watermarks as I use both the S.G. detectamark and the good old black tray and lighterfluid. The only thing that challenges me is the 2¢ & 3¢ Washington heads but I been really studying them pretty hard. Fascinating stuff really.

ILS I thank you and may one day take up your offer. This type of thing would be great to do as a team along with another collector but locally there just isn't any interest or there may be skull and cross bones underground society I havn't found yet. SCF is home and quite comfortable at that.

I like the Washington-Franklin Series too.
Still have some that I'm unable to identify (by the type, not watermarks)
The watermark issue is another difficulty - If I can't find the watermark, is it because
it just isn't there meaning it is one Scott #, or is is because I just can't see the watermark
and it is a different Scott #!
But I still like them.

Dave N.

As long as this thread is on the Washington/Franklins can someone confirm if these two stamps are 512 (claret brown) and 512a (brown carmine) respectively? I think I've identified them right, but they are the only two I have with such distinct color differences, I'd like to make sure I have it right. (By the way, both are perf. 11):



Needless to say, I like these issues as well, even though it can sometimes be a bit overwhelming to identify them all correctly.