SC #261 Or #276? Type I Or II?

I'm glad I was able to help.

To the best of my knowledge, Scott does not categorize watermark orientations as variations on United States issues.

Thank you very much once again... before you have placed the schematic image of the sheet, I was been confused a bit. Now, I have a clearer image of the USPS watermarks from that period.

Btw. is the fluid also useful to the better determination of the grills somehow? Or is there any other better way for the observation of them?

I've found fluid to be useful in helping to identify grills -- an example of a stamp before and after dipping is in the image below.



Another method is to rub a pencil back and forth on a scrap of paper, slide your finger across the paper to pick up the graphite, and then transfer the graphite to the grilled portion of the stamp by gently rubbing it over the grill. This will highlight the grill points and aids in measuring/counting.

Thanks again for the great advices. Fluid seems to make a good job, I wouldn't like to harm the stamp with the graphite or with my finger.

We have a language problem thing going on here, and it has left me confused.
I know from a post in an unrelated forum that " in Croatia the (liquid) stuff you pour into cigarette lighters is called "benzine". OTOH, the stuff you pour into your car at a gas stations is also called "benzine" - but it's not quite the same. Some cars use diesel fuel, though :). 'Naphta' in Croatian is a term used to describe the raw black oily stuff that is being pumped out the earth in oil-rich countries, which then gets transported by tankers, and, unless they spill it along the way, goes to refineries, where they process it into various liquid and non-liquid chemicals - mostly for fuel."
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/for.../t-2545.html

Most English speakers in this thread have made the equation benzine=benzene which is not correct. So when filipo tells us he is using "medical benzine" as a watermarking fluid, just what exactly (in American terms) is it? Since they use in open wounds it ain't naphtha (or napthalene) and I don't think it's benzene. It volatilizes quickly so it isn't hydrogen peroxide, which would destroy the gum on stamps anyway.

I'm stumped at what you've got there. Ethanol? Iso-propyl alcohol?

Hi essayk. When I say "medicinski benzin" ("medical benzine" on English?), it is a product which you can by in the Pharmacy, and is similar to the stuff you pour into your car, but, the MEDICAL benzine is refined of the Sumpor, Lead, colours, and all other harmful supstances which appear in the standard benzin (which you pour into your car). It is completely clear, and it dissapear in a couple of seconds, and it doesn't living any residues. Because it is refined/depurated from the standard benzine, the medical one is using in some medical institutions. instead of ethanol, but for the same purposes. But, the medical benzine is even better, because it can dissapear in seconds. Btw. it is also using for a degreasing etc.

Ah, "medicinski benzin" that helps. That I was able to search. This is taking me back to my early years in collecting. Some collectors in my acquaintance in those days used a substance that we called "white gas" as a watermarking fluid. That name can refer to two substances, one of which is like the fuel we use in camping stoves and lanterns, which is a form of naphtha (not the same as lighter fluid). The other is a highly refined gasoline without the tetraethyl lead or colorant additives that went into the gasoline we put in the car. You seem to be describing the second form, which would have all the properties you mention (though I have no thought about its use on open wounds). I would think that the high rate of evaporation might make it a little hard on the skin, but what do I know about it? Anyway, if anyone else on the list has experience with "white gas" please chime in.

As for availability in the US, I'm not sure. I stopped looking for alternatives when Ronsonol came to my attention. Speaking of which, filipo, you mentioned having to rush the photography. The drying time for lighter fluid may be slower than with your benzin or white gas or whatever, and it may not be taken into the paper as quickly either (which darkens the image at saturation). I have found that I can get a bit more time to study or photograph a watermarked item in a small bath of lighter fluid than with the more volatile liquids. I get another second or so to compose the shot. For that, you might find watermarking with lighter fluid would be useful to you too.

"highly refined gasoline without the tetraethyl lead or colorant additives that went into the gasoline we put in the car"

that should be the right description.

"medicinski benzin"... we are using it for the disinfection of the small wounds, and also for the disinfection of the medical instruments. in fact, it has all functions in medicine just like medical 70% ethanol. it is also good for the degreasing, can clean the stains on the clothes better than anything else etc.

of course, it is very flammable, dangerous, and could be very easy inhalated, which is extremely toxic... it could be a reason why in U.S. it is not used in the medicine, and it is not easy to find at all.

Here is 3c blue (1869 pictorial) in the Zippo fluid... is it useful to determinate a grill now?? I really don't experience with that... don't see anything...

I am really confused with that stamp... are the sporadic dots which are visible remnants of the grills... or I missed to made a scan on which the grills will be visible? This is sc#114, and it should have the grills anyway? On the other stamps from that issuse, which I have seen, grills are much more visible.

Sometimes the grill were not well defined; not well pressed into the stamp. I've a few copies of #114 with weak and/or incomplete grills. I've a couple that you really have to look closely at, and a an oblique angle to a light source to see part of a grill. And, then I have others where the grill is very strong and eaisly seen. I can't really tell by your scan if there is any grilling or not. As far as I know, pretty much all the grill issues have some weak impressions on some stamps.

Thank you, Al E. Gator.