Double Paper?

Hi again Guys. I am asking for opinions/advice as to whether this stamp might be a 'double paper' variety? I only noticed this flaw when I was double checking which type of paper it was. It looks like a corner of the top layer has been torn off, exposing the thinner paper underneath. I am afraid to try and separate the paper and destroy an (almost) perfectly good stamp. Thanks

If that's Scott 185, it was printed on a soft, porous paper. Is it a yellowish-white colored paper?

Try holding the stamp up to strong back light. If the stamp happens to be the American Bank Note soft paper, it is likely to show a mottled "basket weave" pattern. Double paper won't have a discernible pattern. The other tell is that some, but not all, double paper will be bright under long wave UV light. Soft paper will appear dead (grayish) instead of bright under UV. Unfortunately, the test is not definitive for double paper unless the paper is bright. The damaged corner where the back of the top layer is exposed may look different under UV than the rest of the back of the stamp, a good indication that the stamp may be double paper.

Clark

Forgive my ignorance, but wouldn't the top layer of double paper be thinner? ("Top" being the side receiving the image.)

Possibly a repair?

Regards,
Stampalotapus

Hi.. I am 95% sure it is a 179, yellowish wove.. yes, the top is the imprinted side I think, my bad. And I am not quite sure the stamp would have been worth repairing.

Something looks odd on the upper left of the front too - Maybe a closer scan of the front?

You could also soak it in water. At best the hinge remnant will float off. At worse the corner would float away as well if it's a repair.

Someone could have had 2 damaged stamps and one more appealing stamp out of it

Here's a photo of back lit Continental papers, Double, Soft and Intermediate.

Looks like a repaired corner to me.

Looks like someone added a corner.

Hi guys, thanks for all your comments. Well I did end up soaking it in water (rest of hinge did fall off), layers did not separate and repair work did not fall off. I did inspect the front side more and see that it is very thinly torn. I think you guys are right :) I had never seen a repaired stamp before. Even with a 20x21mm glass it is still hard to be sure. A lot of effort I would have thought for a not too uncommon stamp.. Thank you.