Looking for some validation on this one.
It looks like it might be U78 which is in the 1870-71 series. My stamp has small circular ovals and short thick numerals. However, the engraving doesn't seem very good. The catalog says the engravings in the 1870-71 series are finely executed.
It was previously marked as U139 which is in the 1874-86 series. The illustration that best matches says numerals are short and thick. I'm not convinced this is correct.
Here's my thinking...
In the 1874-86 series, there are 5 different illustrations (U36 through U40 for the brown 2c):
Illustration U36 says thin numerals and head of P is narrow.
Illustration U37 says figures of value in long ovals.
Illustration U38 says similar to U37 but the figure 2 in left oval touches the oval.
Illustration U39 says similar to U37 but the O has netted center and G and C have diagonal crossline.
Illustration U40 says numerals in ovals are short and thick.
My cut square has thick numerals in a small (rounded) oval. There is also netting in the O of TWO.
Clearly, my cut square is clearly not illustration U36, U37, or U38. It might be U39, but my cut square isn't really similar to U37 nor does it have diagonal crosslines in the G and C. It might be U40, but that illustration shows ovals which are larger and there is no netted center of the O in TWO like there is on my cut square.
The illustration for the 1870-71 series cut square clearly shows a netted O in TWO. Combine that with the small thick figures of value and perhaps my cut square is U78???
The other issue is that U78 supposedly has a narrow bust at the back, but my cut square doesn't seem to have a narrow bust.
Posted 05/03/2021 9:09 pm
