Three 3 Cent Washington Imperfs... Colors?

These classics sure are difficult!

Sinclair, Am I to assume (I know- just stay with me here a moment..) That plating is a better way to more accurately find colors? What I mean is, do certain colors show up along with certain types which, of course are found from the different re-cuts,re-entries and wear and tear (states) on the different printing plates? Just an educated guess really but, since color can be more than a bit deceiving to the eye, due to oxidation and time in general, would that be a way to do it? Or is that just fraught with problems as well?

Edited in:
I just have to add- ..Or is this one of the issues, not unlike the Washington Franklins of 1908-'20's, that demands you see a pile of them and become familiar enough with them to ultimately just be able to spot them?

Recognizing what plate a stamp is from is pretty important. Combine that with a known date of usage and it almost gets easy. Some stamps are just not good color specimens. It is important for people to realize that there are a lot of nondescript, in-between colors. Having good references and a lot of experience is also very helpful.

Learn when the colors were used and learn how to distinguish the "dull red" stamps as being from the following groups/plates: Plate 1L, Plate 2L or 3, Plate 4, Plate 5L, Plate 6,7, and 8.

Thank you Sinclair! Very valuable information and I really appreciate it. Thank you!

Don't get the wrong idea. This website has been of great value to me in identifying certain stamps.

http://www.theswedishtiger.com/ID.html

Comparing colors from the screen of another website to a screen here, when you think about it, can't be an accurate comparison at all. Although it might give you an idea if it's dark, medium or light in color name. But you won't get an exact match, no way.

Also...My words on colors on old stamps is, if they're valuable, have them expertized. If they aren't valuable, take the consensus of the best guesses. Over so much time, too many things can happen to a stamp to change it's color hue. It Isn't important what happened, it's just a fact that most likely "things" have happened. This fact can't be escaped. Getting the right color from when it was printed is most of the time nearly impossible with old stamps. It is the color that it is now. There is no known reliable source on stamp colors (I've tried). What I'm saying is probably why. The only solution is to have some expertizer have the final say. (And not all expertizers are "experts").

These kinds of topics with the words "color" and "colors" in the title is where the members with the most experience in colors need to kick in and give their opinions and/or scans. They should maybe even look for these words in topics so as to contribute. That is what makes this the best of all the forums, and even the best can get better. I guess this is sort of a plea for help from those of us who have less experience in this area. I have posted color issues too.

Stamp colors are the dilemma, as collectors, we will always suffer with.


Whew.
-IBFS

But not all stamps can be plated. And using this stamp as an example, even if you find the correct plate, how can you get the stamp color from knowing what plate it is from? Couldn't they use the same plate to print the same stamp with a different color of ink? Or many different colors of ink?


-IBFS

IBFS, The Swedish Tiger site is good for some basic information but realize that it is a compilation of knowledge and factoids from various sources. My biggest beef is with the ebay dealer ranking. Some of the worst dealers on ebay get his awards. Novice collectors who are in the most need of help go to his site and are mislead in the worst way. It is a real travesty.

IBFS, Not all plates were used on the first day or the last. For example, Plate 1L was used from October '51 to early '55. You will not find a Plate 1L stamp in a '56 yellowish rose red or brownish carmine. You will not find them in any of the 1857 colors either. The "dull red", Type 1 plates didn't come into use until March 1855. You won't find them in any of the 1852-54 colors. Plate 2L and 3 was basically used the whole darned time and can be found in every color of the rainbow. Plate and date of usage is very important.

I can only add that, if serious about colors of this issue (or any of the well documented & plated issues) then get the stamp on cover with a nice CDS strike. That way you have a much better chance of finding the info your looking for.

-IBFS