France Scott 183 Question

I just noticed that the top of the 1 appears to be cut / malformed. Is this a common error?

No variety is listed in Maury, which usually catalogs these things if they are a plate defect.

Thanks for checking. I'll just assume an inking error one-off. I must get a Maury someday.

I was at least "considering" the possibility that the stamp is a counterfeit; the lettering (especially at the top) is very poorly formed, and the whole appearance of the printing is rather smudged and muddy. I'd like to see the OP's stamp side by side with another 1.40 franc, lightly-cancelled.

Interesting. I don't have a duplicate, but this is an older scan. I can try and scan better later tonight, and put it side-by-side with another of the same series. I wouldn't doubt the possibility of a counterfeit, as Grandma's collection appears to be loaded with them, but I didn't think this was a high enough valued item to make it worth anyone's time.

Somewhat off topic, but in my experience this is one of the harder "common" French stamps to find. I am missing only three or four French regular/issue commems in my Scott 1840-1940 Blue International and this is one of them. It has never shown up in any of the Volume I albums I've bought or the France APS circuit books I've been receiving for several years. I don't mean that you can't find it (there are 4 for sale on Stamps2Go between $8-16), but it is strange that it has never shown up in the sources that provided the other 99% of French stamps in my collection.

1840. I am missing the lowly Scott 174 to complete one important page. I'll pick it up sometime.

Here are some better scans of my Scott 182 and the 183 shown earlier. Both show similar characteristics, like poorly formed letters. But there are some differences, like the flowing hair. Hmm

OK, I wasn't thinking at first. Of course I have a copy of 183, but with the surcharge (Scott 240). Here they are, side-by-side. Though difficult to see, the number 1 in the surcharged version is a complete 1. All other features look good, so I think I just have a washed out or some other small error on Scott 183.

Im out on a jobsite {we are paving a Wal-Mart} so I have no reference material, but it could be just a worn plate or a war printed issue ? but not a forgery.

Not a forgery for me, but an inking defaut. Nice small variety :)