2457 And 2458

I only have one of these and it sure is hard to tell which one it is without having the other to compare it to. It looks like 2457 has a green blueish looking truck and the 2458 has a grey looking truck.

I used to look at the precancel inscription. On #2457, "Additional Presort Postage Paid" appears gray; on #2458, it appears black (Andreotti Press). You see something similar with the 1976 Christmas/Currier issue (#1702, #1703). In that case, #1702 was printed by the Andreotti and the lettering at the base is black. In #1703, the lettering appears gray.

Agreed, it is a lot easier to ID when you have both stamps for comparison.

Carabop. I totally agree. Here are the two that I have, and I THOUGHT they were different, but now I am having second thoughts.



In fact, I have (3) different sources of information that don't seem to agree too well.

First, the 2011 Scott Specialized states that the 2457 has the additional presort postage paid in gray, while the 2458 has the same in black. Otherwise, the Scott Specialized doesn't help too much.

My Mystic American Heirloom album states that 2457 has a cream background, while 2458 has a white background. This helps add a little more information.

Lastly, my StampManage software tells me that 2457 is perf 10.02 while the 2458 is perf 9.8.

Based on these hints, I think that I have the 2458 on the left, and the 2457 on the right, but I may just have the same stamp, with one overinked. Not at all sure now.

My Heirloom album lists the 2458 as gravure. So if you compare it to the other gravure stamps in the series (circus wagon and canoe) , I'd think it would stick out like the others do.

I haven't actually filled the 2458 spot in my album so I don't have the 2 to compare though.

But maybe my thought process on that one is wrong leading to why I've never filled that spot :)

There is a set on ebay right now that has a nice scan and the background colors of the two do appear to be the difference http://www.ebay.com/itm/2451-68-245...em4865f0ddc4

These two are not easy to tell apart. The difference in perforation is not very much. If you have the two as a plate number strip it is easy enough; 2457 has a 1 for the plate number, 2458 has either 11 or 22.
The stamps have different paper and gum. 2457 has a yellowish tint and dull gum whereas 2458 has white paper and glossy gum. Also, the sentence "Additional Presort Postage Paid" is in gray on 2457 and black on 2458.
Based on that last clue I think Partime's two stamps are both examples of the reprint, Scott 2458, but that maybe hard to tell. They both seem the same!
By the way, after re-reading the above I must state that the gray print is actually gray and does not just appear that way. Also, both stamps were printed with the same color green!

Peter

One can see finer engraved lines on the one on the left since the lines on the one on the right appear to be not as clear and separate.

The one on the left side appears to be overinked. If one of the two was the other number the paper color would give it away; they are very noticeably different! If Partime rings in later today I would love to know what the gum looks like on both stamps; I believe both would be shiny gum!

Peter

Unfortunately, both are used copies that were soaked off envelopes, so no gum remains. The right hand stamp, though, has a paper color that is noticeably yellower from the back. (I did adjust the exposure a bit, but to be fair, it applies to both.)

Partime, I believe you do have both varieties! I scanned two strips, one plate 1 and one plate 22, and it shows the same color difference. The black and grey look just about alike on both. I also do not believe that one of them is overinked; mine showed the same!

Peter

Agreed ... 2458 on the left, 2457 on the right. Another difference is that the surface of 2458 will appear a bit shiny (reflect light) when held at a slight angle to a light source. 2457 does not do this. This is a test that ought to work on used stamps. The gum is a dead giveaway on mint stamps ... dull for 2457, low gloss for 2458.

Whew! I'm glad that's decided. I was losing some sleep over these Scott valued 20 cent stamps...

Just having fun, of course. Most of the draw in stamp collecting is in the hunt. Thanks for clearing up my issue. (I actually had them backwards for the longest time.) I hope that Carabop can figure out hers now.

Don't lose sleep over those stamps ... remember the latest catalogs have already increased their CV by 25% (from 20 cents to 25 cents)!

Does that mean I can start putting them in my portfolio?

Peter

I am going to take another look at mine with the suggestions given here and see if I can figure it out, thanks all.

Without looking I think the American Heirloom Album lists one as cream and one white background. I used the other stamps in the set and the first one I got was cream. Finally I got another one and it was white so I was correct with my first time trying to differentiate between the two.

The one on the left is the 2458 (gravure printed, shiny flat paper) and the one on the right is the 2457 (engraved, dull rough paper)