New Scott Introduction For American Bank Note Paper And Definition Of Linen Paper

Hello, I thought that this was for sure discussed somewhere in the forum, but I did not find any topic, so I open this. If I missed the other topic, please let me know and perhaps delete this one.

In the new Scott specialized the introduction "identification by paper type" was changed to my surprise. Now the ABN paper is called "soft porous linen paper" for all stamps that follow Scott 182.

Does this change in general the collecting of the Bank Note stamps?
(Probably not as it is still about hard vs. soft paper?)

How could this be discovered now after 150 years that the paper fibers are not rag (cotton) but linen? This should be an obvious thing for microscopy experts.

And does the "linen" mean that the paper is really just made of linen (more than let's say 90%)? And is this valid for all ABN stamps then with the large design, so until Scott 218?

Could you please provide a reference to the year of the catalog, page number, and the wording of the "header" that includes discussion of "linen paper?" My last full Specialized was 2023, and the 2025 edition of the Essay-Proof material omits the introductory pages.

If the notation only occurs in the latest edition, would you be willing to reproduce it here in its entirety?

It is about the Scott Specialized 2025, and the introduction text ("Identification by paper type") before Scott 182.

To start with, here is where I found the information:
https://www.linns.com/news/us-stamp...s-and-covers

The text seems the same overall as in earlier versions. I usually don't post text and images with copyright. But perhaps I may just give the information how I read it. The new information is actually quite short.

They say that in January 1878 Continental Bank Note could not get their rag paper anymore, wood pulp was not used either, but the supplier suggested their raw flax based linen paper. First stamps on linen paper appeared in July 1878. When the consolidation came in 1879, American Bank Note company took over many things (plates, paper, employees) from Continental. The paper of the American Bank Note stamps (beginning in June/July 1879) was always considered by collectors on similar soft (they say here again "linen") paper.

All American Bank Note stamps in the new Scott Specialized then have as heading "Soft porous linen paper". Unfortunately I don't know about the Continental headings (probably not changed), as I don't own the Scott Specialized 2025 neither here at home, but only saw a library copy. My last one is from 2013 :).

After all there is no source in terms of a paper fiber analyzing study, but more the history (probably letters) that the supplier could only deliver linen paper in 1878. This is Continental, indeed, but the new name is for the American paper :).

I am not an expert, but it surprises me that the used paper fibers (=the paper) of the American Bank Note stamps are now defined or discovered in a new way.

I read earlier that some collectors think that the soft paper was soft because of the usage of wood pulp, which is to that time really not likely (neither in small percentages). Most of the articles I read said that the Bank Note era stamps are 100% (cotton) rag paper, and this is what I would expect as well from the paper history. But of course new information can happen. Just wanted to know if this has been discussed.

A bit strange that the terminology changed after these many decades. I wonder who pushed this. On its face it doesn't seem to mean much if anything practically speaking because as you say it is still soft vs hard. Kind of like saying that the sun is no longer hot but scorching.

I did a quick search on AJ Valente in the forums and he's a member here!
https://goscf.com/t/66357&SearchTerms=Aj,valente

Maybe it's best to ask him?

Yes, of course, we would appreciate it, although not sure as his last posts are some years ago.

But after all, the new terminology, new headings and so on, this is the decision of the Scott editorial team. They probably had different sources and input for this decision. And I don't think Scott team will answer here :).

That is why I wanted to know if anybody else here has some background information about it. Or information about recent research about the Bank Note stamps paper. How can it be that even today with all the technology, some collectors of US stamps say all stamps are 100% cotton rag, some say there is wood pulp in it, now some say it is (from 1878) only linen raw flax :). I am not a longterm US collector, but I used a microscope in other areas, and if there is a cotton fiber or a linen fiber in a stamp, should see it, I guess.

I would assume specialists could figure out who convinced Scott to make the editorial changes.

Al's id here is locked.

It does appear as though he instigated the change.

I don't know what kind of peer-review his update got.

I have found at least two mistakes in the latest Scott on EDU's, which were not properly vetted before getting udpated, and as such, took us backwards, sadly.

I think that change has been long overdue. The part about it being linen paper is new to me, but that there are papers that don't fit a firm division between the companies has been known for a long time. A small book I have on the 3 cent banknotes claims 11 different papers, but only details a few. There was also a paper from the analytic philately group that used xrf to see if the stamps of the two companies during that 1878-9 transition could be told apart with science. The conclusion was that there were differences in papers and inks that could be identified with the right equipment like an XRF machine.

Collecting the officials, I have separated what I call intermediate paper, neither the hard paper like the early issued and 1869s, or the later soft paper that looks more like cloth when held up to a light. There's at least one that's usually on very soft paper too.
I haven't made pages for that paper division yet, but should soon.

Thank you all.

plate40: The change and my topic here is indeed only about the "paper to linen paper", all the other information, that also you give, is not new and has not made any change in Scott Specialized (at least as far as I can compare to my 2013 version, where many parts of the introduction text is already the same).

So it is no question of course, that there was a consolidation with a transition, and that there was already a "soft" paper by Continental. The important change is that for American Bank Note paper the paper is defined by its paper fibers (raw flax linen, so does this mean, not even linen rag?). For other stamp issue this is not the case.

Do we really not know any research the last decades where somebody looked if he finds linen or rag or wood pulp fibers in the Bank Note stamps (and which company)?

I also know many articles by the Institut for Analytical Philately, but the material from which the paper is made, is mostly only a very small part of the research. From what I saw, the result was always cotton rag.

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PS: Why is this important at all to talk about the change... well, first it is a surprising and large change, then secondly indeed the paper fibers (like linen if you want) could be some hint or new discovery when it is about the transition and the difference between the Continental transitional paper, the early American and then - most interesting - later American paper, to see if we can find different papers under the American papers. So in theory this could be important, but then we need sources for the later and latest American paper as well, which is not mentioned in the introduction. The new information is mostly what I wrote. Perhaps somebody with a new Scott at home could check as well.