2c Washington Perf 10 Type 1: Scott 425 Or 463?

This perf 10, type 1, 2c Washington is on cover and I haven't been able to detect a watermark with either a bright light or a Morley-Bright roll-a-tector.

The stamp is either a Scott 425 (single line wmk) or a 463 (unwmk). The postmark is September 2, 1916 from Fort Worth, TX.

My 2011 Scott Specialized lists the EDU for Scott 463 as September 12, 1916. The odds appear to be against me but stranger things have happened.

Unfortunately, both stamps were printed in several of the same colors so I don't seem to have anything to go on at this point without removing the stamp from the cover.

Your thoughts are appreciated.

Steve

The watermarked paper was exhausted on Aug. 17, 1916. The first unwatermarked printing probably would not have hit the gumming tables before Aug 27. Sept 2 would be very tight timeline but not totally impossible if there was no break in the 2 cent printing.

Edit: Ft Worth would be a 2 day stamp parcel transit from the BEP.

Russ,

Thanks for that great info! May I ask the source? The odds are that it is the earlier issue but I just hate not knowing.

Steve

From the annual report of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. It was also reported in the American Philatelist Oct 1916.

Thanks