Scott # On 3¢ Washingtons

I would appreciate some help on identifying the below stamps. I see no grills, but identifying their color is challenging to say the least. I think however they are Scott 65.

If no grills, Scott #65.

Thanks stallzer. I use a Wonder Color Gauge that I've used for years. It generally is not very helpful. Is there another tool for color identification you would recommend? I recently looked for a copy of Colors of United States Postage Stamps, but couldn't locate one.

Hey Papa,
If the stamp is without grills, it's going to be a 65, 99.99% of the time. And I'm afraid that the only way to know is to have a reference copy in your hand, and then still it's difficult.

I've collected this stamp for over 10 years now, trying to ID the various shades that have been published, but not listed in Scott. I thought it was a good, challenging project for a guy who is red/green color blind!

Your best bet in finding something other than 65, would be with year-dated covers, and the year date should be 1861. The pinks and rose pinks were the first color of this stamp, and were actually printed in August of 1861. Chances are if it's 1862 or later, it's not pink. There are some 1863-printed 3c'ers that look very pink, and they are sometimes listed as pinkish-rose (which is a 65), but would never be certified as pink, because they aren't 1861's.

There are plenty of articles in The Chronicle, which is the periodical for the USPCS (U.S. Philatelic Classics Society), which is a great sub-organization of APS, The colors of the 3c 1861-69 can be found in The Chronicle.

Good Luck! Hope this is helpful, Ray

To DON-- notice I didn't use the word SHADE!!

Thanks Ray! Very helpful. As you know, Scotts lists 6 or 7 different colors for 65 with varying values, so I'll pursue it further with what you provided.

Ray, thanks again for pointing me to The Chronicle! I began in 2008, the first color issues, and after reading many interesting articles, found the color charts in 2012, vol. 3.

Now I will continue forward in The Chronicle as I presume it has the colors for 279B, which, as I'm sure you know, varies sharply in value depending on its color.

Here is the 'ungrilled' color list that Ray mentioned above
https://stampsmarter.org/Learning/I..._colors.html
Don