#184 Paper Question

While going through a large bunch of 3c Washingtons (that resulted in the "Which would you choose" topic), I noticed that the 184's had various degrees of paper toning (more easily seen from the back because they tend to have a slight greenish background on the front from imperfect plate wiping), and that is was worse on the 184's than the 147, 158 and 208, and I'm wondering if this is normal or if I was looking at a bad batch?

Normal.The problem was due to more due to fiber content (Cotten, Rag, Silk, Wool etc). in the pulp paper slurry mix and the paper manufacturing processes of that period.

Hal

In general, you should find the paper for 184 and 207 to more on the off-white side compared to the whiter, hard papers of previous issues. I would not say that 184 paper should be any more "toned" than 207 paper.

Since you bring up paper... I intended to post in the other thread and wasn't able to finish my post before I had to move on to more productive uses of my time. The 158 at the bottom left of your post is quite likely on ribbed paper. Also, you didn't tell us which one you would have chosen if you could only take one.

By the way, if you check the references of the paper production of this issue, you'll might be interested to know that common "straw" was used in some paper. Anyway, I thought everyone might be interested in an article written by the late Winthrop S. Boggs, a "dean" of collecting of the period. The article appeared in the Chambers Stamp Journal, Vol. XV, January 19, 1942, No. 14 and is entitled, "THOSE ANNOYING PAPERS" or "The Intelligent Collector's Guide to the Hard and Soft Papers of the Bank Note Issues with Some Remarks on the Special Printing Papers." Please enjoy…

Sinclair - if you put a gun to my head I guess I would select the first one with the face free cancel - yes it is off center, but the margins are so big that the small one at the left is still ample.

I erred in sufggesting the 184's were more toned than the 207's - they are similar (and more toned that the 147's and 158's).

Hal,
Interesting article, thank you. A while back I had purchased a collection from Europe that had a 'experimental wheat paper' Black Jack in it. I really didn't pay it much attention since I purchased the collection for its cancels. The 'wheat paper' Black Jack was unused but damaged. The paper appeared very, very toned and was extremely brittle. I would post a picture but the stock book I put it in was loaned to Southpaw last week. Does anyone have a copy of a wheat paper stamp? Does this kind of paper deteriorate or age badly?
Don