Is This Russia Number 3 ?

I think this is Russia number three....any thoughts?

It's perforated 14.5 by 15 by my measurement.

I realize it's missing a couple of perfs.

Any thoughts welcome.

Does it have a watermark and if so, what is the watermark?

And is the paper wove, horizontally laid or vertically laid?

In other words, we need to see the back!

Hi Rogdcam,

I can't make it out...this is a scan of the back side....

The 1858 issue would have a clearly visible large curly "2" as watermark. Wove paper without watermark suggests that it's the 1865 issue (Scott 17, SG 16). Beautiful stamp, shame about the damage.

Thanks!! It is a shame about the damage and if it had been a number 3 it would have perhaps made sense effecting a repair.

I don't collect Russia and got it in an album of an old collection so wasn't sure.

Again, much appreciated and indeed then it will be Scott 16.

It's not clear to me but this looks like the horizontal laid paper issue of 1866, SG 22.

As well as the horizontal laid lines there also appears to be part of the wavy line watermark.

Thanks Nigelc,

Indeed, in my catalogue it would be Scott 27 for the 20 but I see your point. If Scott 17 is unwatermarked, as I believe the catalogue would indicate, then Scott 27 would be the correct designation as the stamp is definitely a 14 1/2:15 perf and does have a watermark, but not, seemingly the clear one that would define Scott 3. So by process of elimination it would be Scott 27.

Thanks!!

Hmm. It still looks like wove paper to me, but I'll defer to the specialists.