Help With Bluish Papper

Does anyone know of sure fire way to ID bluish paper for issues 357-367. Even though I've said I specialize in #331-546 the bluish paper thing has always been trouble for me. Sometimes even a cert. copy looks iffy to me any thoughts or opinions.

They actually look grayish, but that probably is little help.

I searched the internet and found several posts about this subject from this site from 2010. Found some good info. but not anymore than I already new. I guess my question is has there been any improvements in the way we ID bluish paper?

See if this thread helps.

https://goscf.com/t/6958


-IBFS

IBrakeForStamps, I've seen this thread, maybe Bill could help me? How would I get ahold of him. I don't know enough about this site, or how the email works here. Help please!

I assume you are already familiar with this website.

http://www.theswedishtiger.com/x1909c.htm

If you can find his screen name above his avatar in blue (yours is wash 500), click on it and under Contact Information click on Send E-Mail. You have to be logged in to do this.


Hope this helps
-IBFS

Yes smauggie, I have that bookmarked in favorites, I love that site. Thanks for trying though.

There have been no changes in the way to identify bluish paper, which (as has been pointed out here many times) is actually "grayish" rather than "bluish". The paper has 35% rag content which gives it the grayish appearance. The best tips I can give (and I might have given them here before or others may have too....) are;
1. Buy examples of the lowest values (#357, 358) in defective condition but accompanied by expert certificates and use these then for your reference copies;

2. Lay your suspected bluish paper stamp on a YELLOW or ORANGE piece of paper, which tends top make the grayish color "pop out" and be more distinctive;

3. Observe the watermark carefully when in fluid - the bluish paper watermarks appear to be heavier/stronger than on non-bluish paper (again, because of the rag content);

4. Lay your suspect overlapping a definite non-bluish paper copy of the same stamp. If the suspect is really bluish it should show rather clearly next to the non-blue example.

That's about it. There is a device that now exists that can analyze the chemical composition of the color of paper rather exactly, with graphs showing the content, so I would assume it could easily ID bluish paper this way. But I believe it is a very expensive thing and know nothing about the price or general availability of it. I believe the NPM has one or has access to one. I saw a demonstration of it I believe at the 2011 APS Summer Seminar.

Thanks Bill, I guess it's still hard. it's really the only thing in my favorite group of stamps 331-546 I haven't yet mastered. My guess is I never will. But I'll keep trying.

wash500, the W/F's are also my favorite US stamps. they are endlessly fascinating

Oh wow, I just noticed that I hit 1800 posts yea

wash 500 and rohumpy, I totally agree! The W/F's are also my favorite stamps. Especially the 2c Washingtons. I'm not at all an expert, but I'm learning quickly how to identify them all.

Yes indeed, the W-F's are the best.... the ones from 1851 and 57 anyway.

sinclair2010, those ones actually look very fun to identify, but I've never seen any of them in person...