Here's A Couple Of Nice Early Washingtons

Any help in ID is appreciated.

Top stamp is Scott #267. Very nice, I'm a bit jealous. I cannot distinguish between the color varieties for you based on the scan, though.

Bottom stamp is Scott #213. Same note about the color varieties. It appears to have a magenta cancel, which has a very small additional premium (+10c).

k

If it helps, it is filed in grandpa's collection as 1895... for which he won awards.

Yeah, that helped me get more jealous... thanks a lot.

k

Surprise , surprise, I always considered them

(on US that is) On philippines, expected.

wow, I love that first stamp.. first mint version that someone I know has one of..having the plate number is cool.

could be a 252 as well or even a 279c and never hinged has a premium value..
check perfs and watermark..

No, the plates used to print these stamps are well-documented. Plate 470 was never used to print those stamps, only used to print Scott #267. However, you cannot use the plate to distinguish between the minor color varieties within the #267 listing.

It should not be necessary to check perforation/watermark unless you want. Who knows, you might have a watermark variety!

One of the advantages of collecting plate number singles/blocks, is that helps positively identify certain stamps varieties without having to sit there and measure perfs or check watermarks or paper types.

So does MNH apply if the hinge is on the tag?

Ahhh, that's a very very good question.

You do have to disclose that the selvage has been hinged, because that affects the plate number single premium significantly (don't ask why).

However, you can quote the MNH price for the single as reference, since technically the actual stamp is not hinged. Again, you DO have to disclose the selvage is hinged so that there is no misunderstanding.

As a selvage collector, this has always been one of my pet peeves. People please quit using the selvage to hinge stamps! Put the damn hinge on the stamp and leave the selvage MNH! Many a good selvage inscription has had its gum ruined by this nasty practice!

don't hold it against me that I got it wrong.. I was using my "little black book" as I was at work...
Didn't know about the plate numbers because the LBB doesn't show much of them..

Not to worry.

I'm an inherently lazy person. Any short cut, I'll take it... especially if it means I don't have to get my watermark fluid out or my perf gauge out!