The "What Is This 1851-60 3c Stamp?" Thread

10, 10A, 11, 11A | 25, 26, 26A
-----Imperforate----| --Perforated--

One place for people to post their "which is it / I think it is" for comments and discussion. Will centralize the conversations without worrying about "hijacking" someone else's discussion thread.

First off, if you're trying to make the identification, here's a good starting place:
http://www.stampexpertizing.com/pdf...1_ver1.0.pdf


or here:
http://www.ebay.com/gds/Scott-10-11...01293/g.html

Then, when you are ready to move a bit deeper, look here:
http://www.uspcs.org/the-1851-1860-...51-3c-issue/
(also look at the links at the top of the article for more info)

Feel free to post other useful information or any stamps you want to discuss.

To start it off:

Here's a US Scott 26a:

If only all potential 26a were so well centered. The one I posted is not.

chipg thanks much for starting this thread. I'm quite lost when trying to ID US stamps and the stamp on this cover is no exception I'm not even sure if the Boston Paid cancel is small or large. With all the commentary on this cover, I'm sure the stamp is quite easy to ID (just not for me LOL). It's appears that #10 was written in and then erased at bottom left.

I really only can answer with certainty that the paid cancel is not the "small" Boston paid cancel. The small is small enough that the entire cancel can fit (if SON) on the stamp. I have read that you can have the large cancel on a #10. But...

Now for an uninformed opinion... The crooked top frame line that's mentioned in the pencil notation and clearly visible, *I believe*, will give an easy clue to the experts here, I am not one.

Is there any proof that it's June of 1852?

That's a large Boston paid.

I can't confirm a year but it's certainly not June of 1851.

The stamp is supposedly from position 53R1L. I am not going to check the plating which is probably correct. It is pretty clearly a Plate 1L stamp at least. All Plate 1L stamps are Type II, Scott #11A. Some of the 1851 printings from Plate 1L were printed in the semi-rare experimental orange brown shade. I think this stamp is just a nice, early '52 printing in a brownish carmine shade.

I forgot to add.... Go Patriots!

Here's one I'm not sure about. Can't decide if its #10A or #11A, possibly an orange brown or experimental orange brown?. Leaning toward #10A. do have trouble with color on this issue. Two things: Left inner frame line runs up too far and one vertical line recut left lower triangle---I think?

I think it is an 11A. A July '51 usage is all but ruled out because it doesn't look like a Plate 1E or I stamp at all. Chase only lists 79L1E as a position from Plate 1E/i with a left inner line running up too far. I checked the photos and your stamp is not 79L1E or i. Since it doesn't appear to be a Plate 1L stamp, your stamp can't be in the experimental OB shade either. Looks like a '52 brownish carmine to me.

Thanks Sinclair. That's good to know.

Thanks all. It's great to have an ID