2 C Washington #358 Bluish Paper? Now Easier

Hope this better images give some light.

I tried scanning Plate III-18 from my RH White book of "Encyclopedia of the Colors of the United States Postage Stamps" but it still is very difficult to see the difference. Suffice to say that a bluish paper is a significant bluish tint, when held over an orange background, where, "the orange grid absorbs most of the blue component of the viewing illumination, as well as eliminating the competing blueness of the stamp paper and the color plate stock."

My opinion is that you don't have the 358 variety. I'll have to check mine again, though ...

This is one of those situations where no reply is going to be that helpful.

Until you have seen one of the bluish paper stamps it will be very difficult to recognize.

Plus, if you are looking for a distinct blue tint, you are not going to see it. The one that I have (I bought it--not cheap) has a color much closer to gray, rather than blue (bluish). When I compare it with a non bluish paper, it is obvious. But as a single you might not see it as bluish.

Here is an image of the difference between a #367 (normal on right) and a #369 (blue paper on left) on an orange background. Just as rohumpy (and others) mentions, the blue paper varieties are actually grey colored. If you are seeing an actual blue color to the paper than be suspicious and assume that the stamp has been dyed in some way. Hope this helps
Don

Hello guys,

I was wondering if mine are fake like the above commentator argues and if they are genuine where are they listed ?



The first stamp in row 1 is really printed on white paper,

The others are very Obvious printed on blue-ish/blue paper

hope the foto's are good enough to see it.

thanks for helping !

greetings,
Eric

Eric, none of the stamps you show are even listed as being printed on blue or bluish paper. Perhaps the color you are seeing is from when the stamp was soaked off the envelope

Sometimes the plate was not wiped off well enough, and so the paper will have a bluish tint.
The Lincoln above is a true bluish paper variety, very likely the only example in the thread.

Another example ... Scott #358 is on the right. What I find interesting is that my inexpensive scanner renders the orange background as a shade of yellow.

@ JLLebbertHave you calibrated your scanner properly ?

No. I doubt that calibration is possible ... or, if possible, is worth pursuing ... for my device. I occasionally use the scanner feature on my cheap HP printer. The scanned colors have generally proven accurate, at least until I tried to scan something with an orange background. Will have to scan something orange with a dark background, just to see what happens. If I get energetic, maybe I'll scan a color chart just to see which colors the scanner doesn't handle well.

seems like every five cent blue I have has a bluish paper look to it. Then with the old gum on the back......




When I finally see one that looks different than this then I'll raise an eyebrow.

mestal, to me none of your stamps look like they're on bluish paper. However, if you think so, consider getting them certified.