The stamp color and print quality are consistent with American soft paper, as is the flatness of the fluorescence. "Woodsy inclusions" are also not uncommon with the softer paper, as opposed to straw particles on hard paper (the so-called "straw paper").
The sparse colored fibers in a hard paper were once thought to be indicative of silk paper, but most students now reject that idea since the analytical work by Barwis et al.
All I can do without actually handling the stamp is respond to the visual cues. You have access to the auditory cues from the snap test, as well as the ability to palpably observe the texture. If those convince you it is hard paper, I cannot add more. But on this side of the monitor screen, all signs point to soft paper. If still in doubt after all that, then call it "intermediate" or better yet, "indeterminate."
Posted 08/17/2015 2:05 pm
