Is This An R48A Imperforate?

Just curious if I have identified this revenue stamp correctly. I assume I'm correct in that that there is enough of a margin all around to correctly reference it as imperforate, but I'm confused because the Scott Catalog refers to the R48a as "red". Is this merely a faded example or is the color "red" a blanket reference for any lighter shades as shown here?



Also note the cancellation of "E. Whitehouse, Son & Morison". Based on an internet lookup I guess they were a stockbroker and banking house back in the mid-19th century, located on William St., New York.

What is curious is the spelling of the name "Morison" with one "r". It is misspelled with two "r"'s more often than not in period documents.

Yes, this is a real imperf. "Red" is kind of a generalization of the color. All imperf and part perf stamps are early printings, and the early printings of the red stamps (1, 5, 25 cent and $2, $5 values) are invariably in this very dull red shade, or something very similar. The later issues, basically from 1865 on are much brighter and darker red.
There was much cleaning and reuse of stamps during this time, even one cent was real money (the economic value of a penny in 1865 is equal to over $16 in today's GDP). Because of this there was a concerted effort to make the lighter stamps darker and the darker stamps lighter so that a cleaned stamp would be more obvious, even in the candlelight that was still in everyday use.

Thanks! One more revenue stamp properly identified!