Help Indentifying This 1920 Stamp (Perforated On 3 Sides)

I extensively collect Newfoundland, but am a complete idiot when it comes to U.S. stamps....and so I need the community's help identifying this one lone stamp that was left over from a massive collection that I sold for a deceased individual.

what caught my eye is that it is perforated on three sides, and imperforated on the top.

My limited research indicates that it is either worth $1 or thousands.
I am guessing that it is either #542 (the perf is 10x11)
or perhaps #543a (10 perf and imperforated on the top).

I welcome any observations or suggestions, especially the good or humorous ones!

Sorry for the image, it is on the corner of a post card..but trust me that it definitely has an imperforate edge on the top.

Thanks

It is a 542. The 543a is a special horizontal PAIR that is imperforate in-between. I'd love to see one, but yours is a normal 542. Sorry, keep trying.

It looks to me to be a Scott #498 (11x11 perf) with what is called a "natural straight edge" on the top. The natural straight edge is the result of cutting panes from a press sheet of 400 stamps into panes of 100 and also smaller panes for booklets. An un-natural straight edge is the result of someone cutting off the perforations with scissors.

Looks to me that it is an off-set printed #525 gray-green in color. It should measure Perf. 11 on the three perforated sides. The top is a natural straight edge,as defined by quigngt. The off-set printed stamps was a method of printing used during the years of 1918-1920.
Refer to www.1847usa.com for some info. on this method of printing as well as deferentiating the W/Fs. Maybe others will respond with their opinion too

You may be correct Al E Gator. I assumed the color of the scan was off giving the stamp an overall incorrect yellowish tone. It does appear to have the gray tone for a gray-green #525.

Thank you to all three of you. What are the approximate Scott Catalog Values for:
#525
#498
#542

I'm feeling the vibe around #525, and it is more grey that yellow (and I will check the perf again tonight) but I'd love price points for all three suggestions.

Tommy, 2010 Scott Specialized (newest catalogue I have) #525--.90, #498--.25, #542--1.50 all for Very Fine Condition in U.S. Dollars and Cents.
#498 design should measure 18-1/2 to 19 x 22mm & 11 x 11 perfs.
#525 Same as a #498
#542 should measure 19 x 22-1/2 to 22-3/4mm & 10 x 11 perfs.

This post shows just how confusing this hobby can be.
1 question, 3 different answers by experienced collectors. This should explaine why all new stamp collectors should have a perf guage, a good catalog, watermark fluid, a good scanner and lots of patience. Stamps are not always easy to identify especially with all the tools listed above.

Good luck Tommy & welcome to the forum.

Art

I would agree with Al E. Gator...