Help Please: Is This A 150 Or 209?

I don't have all that many classic US stamps, so maybe this is a very easy question to someone on SCF. Anyway, here it goes...

As best as I can tell the options for this stamp would be 139, 150, 161, 188 or 209. I cannot ascertain any grill nor secret marks, which would reduce the choices to either a 150 or 209. The latter being the "re-engraved" version of the stamp.



Which one is it? In either case, I know it's not particularly valuable, I just have never been able to positively make the choice.

I think it is hard to tell from this scan as the Scott criteria for differentiating from 150 from 209 depends on the number of engraved vertical lines between the left side of the oval and the edge of the shield. Assuming your prior observations are correct - if there are four vertical lines in said area then you have the re-engraved #209 otherwise if there are five then you have #150.*

*disclaimer: I am only a novice collector armed with a Scott Specialized Catalog.

Indeed, a better scan would be helpful.

WT1,

Agree with the others on the need for a higher quality scan.

You can avoid the frustration of the forum's 100K limitation by using one of the online media hosting services to post your images and then linking to them in your post.

Edwin turned me on to ImageShack and I've been extremely pleased with its ease of use and the quality of the images I can now include in my postings.

Something to consider...

Steve

nice stamp, four nice margins.. very good shape..

A possible 187, perhaps?

George

Identification Guide To US stamps Regular Issues 1847-1934 by Charles Micarelli, in my opinion is a must for the student of US classic regular issue stamps.

Try this link via ImageShack. Hoping this resolution is better:

http://img821.imageshack.us/img821/...can0006c.jpg

Any further comments are welcomed. Thanks!

In the higher res image, it looks like 5 lines. In any case, not four.

Thanks. I guess that means I have the #150.

I don't think you've reached closure yet.

The higher resolution shows the secret mark (small semi-circle in the scroll at the right end of the upper label) so now you have to differentiate based on type of paper. The stamp is likely not one of the two special printings (#172 or #197), although I guess it could be. I think more probably it is either #161 or #188.

Steve

Thank you for clarifying. I never even noticed the "secret mark" until I looked at the close up on the link provided. (I was more concerned about posting the image, as I hadn't used ImageShack before.) Anyway, based on your comments, I looked closer and you're right it probably is either a #161 or #188. (I, too, doubt I have any of the special printings.)

According to Scott Specialized, if the stamp is removed from a cover and carries no date, and since there is no real distinction between the two stamps, it "traditionally has been considered an American Bank Note Co. printing" (#188). Short of expertising and/or chemically testing the paper, I guess I'll live with that. Fortunately, there's only minimal value differences between the two varieties and since it's not that valuable of a stamp in either case, it's not worth expertising.

I really appreciate the information, though. What I thought was such going to be such a simple stamp to identify has turned into a complex study. But I guess that's what stamp collecting (er, philately) is all about.