Nice Cover - Your Guess As To The Stamp Type

Here is a nice cover. It has a stamp that has several types. I am leaning toward Type 1 or Type 4 or Type 5

Cover from SHASTA, Cal 1860 postmark, with receiving mark of "Pension Office" September 15, 1860. The 10 cent rate paid for the postage from Cal to WAshington DC.




Here is close up of stamp, so you can figure the type...





If any of you can figure out "pearls" "clam shells" and what is complete or not complete, please let me know!

Type V.

Used in 1860? Wide margins at the sides? Dead giveaway.

Type V, Scott #35

*Edit*, Took too much time reading. Looking for plate marks now...

Definitely agree with #35. To me, the postmarks are more interesting than the stamp.

Big margins and no pearls, absolute giveaway to a #35. And the markings are more interesting. I'm sure the pension office marking is less common than a #35 on cover.

Thank you all for your input. #35 it is! I think the cover was kinda interesting as well.

I have seen the pension office marking one other time...

My wife has a honey-do list for me else, I'd try to use my new Neinken book to plate this.

I cannot make out the city in California in the cancelation. Could you please tell us what it is?

Kimo: As mentioned in post # 1, it is SHASTA, CAL ( a small town in northern California, near the mountain of the same name. Hope that helps.

Here is the above cancel on the cover (pulled from a catalog of California postmarks). This marking was used between 24 Feb 1858 to 6 December 1877.

It's a Scott #35 Type V.

edit: I see almost million people beat me to it but, I will say that I love this cover! I love to see these 10 centers on cover!