Scott #66tc Or Scott #65

stamp is not good, but if this stamp a scott #66TC?



thanks.

65

Other than the color being wrong, "used" 66s usually have a few pen strokes on them to cancel them.

The stamp is probably one of the lake brown or brown lake (and there is a difference between the two) shades that are very commonly found on covers dated in 1864. Nowhere near the shade found on "The Lake" 66TC. Sorry.
Ray

ok, thanks @chipg and @ray.mac

The stamp on this cover is difficult. The colors are corrupted in the scan, sorry.

We have had a number of threads where images of the same stamp have been presented with vastly different colors. I hope this drives home several points;
1. We need to pay attention to the way we generate images and stop using various post operation "tools"
2. We need to promote the building of reference collections and in-hand experience and limit the practice of supporting online identification based solely upon images.
3. We need to educate newer hobbyists that color determination is but one piece of the identification puzzle. And it is a piece that is difficult to master even with a stamp in hand (never mind trying to use images).

Beyond the technical problems we are also facing some 'human' issues. Time after time we have witnessed how newer hobbyists gravitate towards using color determination as the first (and sometimes only) method for identification. This may be because it seems easier to simply look and think 'hey this looks like carmine' as opposed to going to the trouble of watermarking the stamp or determining the correct perforations. Or it may be because 'wishful thinking' makes it easier talk oneself into a non-quantified determination like colors as opposed to more definitive identification methods.

I think we need more education on this topic; both on the technical limitations of images and best identification practices.
Don

Sorry @Don, I have two stamps and compare the color of the covers.
I thought to go to # 65, the left stamp could be a # 66 or a # 65 trail color

Don hit the nail right on the head with his post from which I quote the above. Mastering the complexities of color identification and electronic reproduction are not newbie problems, but attempting to rest an identification of a stamp entirely on an online consideration of color is definitely a newbie tendency. I personally feel we should be taking reasonable steps to discourage the treasure hunter mentality that plagues so many who are superficially attracted to the hobby. Treasure hunting is ultimately driven by greed and greed does not breed good philatelists. It does breed contentious ones though.

I do not put Dittrich in the category of newbie, and his inquiries delve into the technical aspects deeply enough to suggest he is trying to understand what he has rather in the fashion of a philatelic purist. Nonetheless, even he is subject to a newbie failing too often seen in inquires on the list: i.e. to assume that one has a rare and valuable variety until it is proven otherwise. I have seen that he is trying to get free of that, and I applaud him for that (and also for leaving his early U.S. stamps on their covers.)

"Wishful thinking" aspect is a huge driver for the treasure hunters. To me, when I see it, it shouts, "NOT SERIOUS."

I did not try to clarify the color, I just tried to display the clear fine drawing of the lines without making a statement that it was a # ??? Since this is too decentered.
I personally find the clarity of the linen and the color impressive. Seemingly this stamp # 65 is as normal as any other.

Sorry I'm probably wrong in the forum and yes I underwent a mistake while scanning. I corrected the error since the reference came from you.

And no, my goal is not to hunt values and money. Apologize my text, I am sorry to google translator.

dittrich,
No need to apologize, my post was not directed towards you. I agree with essayk that you do not make 'new hobbyist' mistakes but rather work to research and do your due diligence before posting.

I was taking advantage of the thread to make a general point about improving our community.
Don

Would it be possible to have some sort of standard "color chip" (for want of a better term) that users could scan along with a stamp to allow for correction?

Color is such a hard topic, partly because issues with color vary by stamp issue and the color itself.
I think that one of the best things to do is to scan one or more reference stamps adjacent to the one in question. At least that way, those are scanned using the same methodology as the stamp in question. There is some value in that.