Need Help With Scott # 210 Or # 211B..

Hi guys..Have trouble distinguishing these stamps to whether they are Scott # 210's or Scott # 211b's...I have more, but there are so many shades to look at..Thanks for any help.
Robert

Aside from having a distinctive shade, 211B was printed on a steam powered press and has unusual clarity throughout the design. The cross hatching behind Washington's bust will be clear all of the way to the bottom of the oval. Very few 211B examples exist used. The odds of finding a 211B in a used mix are very low, perhaps lower than buying a winning Powerball ticket.

Clark

So are you saying cfrphoto it is as clear as some stamps are today..??

[quote]Aside from having a distinctive shade, 211B was printed on a steam powered press and has unusual clarity throughout the design. The cross hatching behind Washington's bust will be clear all of the way to the bottom of the oval. /quote];

Expanding a bit on Clark's correct statement, I do not believe that this "secret design diffference" has ever been published or illustrated anywhere, but it is a valuable and definitive method for identifying 211B versus a normal 210. The crosshatching that surrounds Washington's bust, both in the front and back, generally stops being visible on a #210 about half way down his head (a bit below nose level) but on a 211B, the diagonal crosshatching continues down the entire oval. You need a good (10x-20x) glass to clearly see thus crosshatching. Once you "see" a 211B and the great difference in that crosshatching, you will not forget it.

Ok Bill, as soon as I get some time I will use my 30X to see what you are referring to..Thanks

I got this picture of a stamp...Is this cross hatching what you are referring to Bill..?



Robert

Robert,

Yes indeed. You will find that as you go lower in the oval area that the diagonal lines will weaken and stop. Can you give us a shot down farther, showing the oval area below where you showed here?

Hi Bill...Here is a shot at the bottom of the oval..

Robert

My vote is 210 based on Bill's criteria. Bill, may I go to the head of the class?

ahhhhhh...burst my bubble cjpalermo1964....

Oh well...i got 25 more of them to look at....

Yes indeed, cjpalermo1964 may go to the head of the class! But I must say that at the magnification you showed here, even an ordinary used #210 looks like the diagonal lines go down really far, but at the very bpottom they fade away. I can send someone an example of #211B (PF Certified) and if they can blow up that same area, we should then see the dramatic difference. Someone who wants do it send me a private email and I will send them a 1200dpi scan they can work with.

And as Clark pointed out, there is virtually zero chance you can find a USED #211B so my advice is to only bother looking at unused copies.

Bill,
You can send it to me.
Don

So Bill, even this one the cross hatching is fading which makes it a 210..correct..?

Robert

Thanks for the scan Bill.

Robert

Robert,

Is it possible to see side by side shots of your used copy and the scan I sent you? (just the lower oval areas of course).

Remember Bill, your scan is 600 dpi and mine is from a USB Microscope, but here it is..

Right Robert. Mine is pretty fuzzy. But honestly your great pictures makes me want to rethink whether this supposed "secret design difference" is even really valid? Your picture of the 210 shows the crosshatching nearly complete all the way down. My picture is too fuzzy to really see if there is a dramatic difference or not. I do know that the reference copy I use of #210 along side of this certified 211B is dramatically different from eah other. But I'm wondering if it's only useful by using lower magnification (such as the 15x I usually use)?

I wish cfrphoto would see this and add his comments.....