Distinguishing Between 255 And 712?

Can anyone give me some help regarding how to distinguish between Type 255 and Type 712?

I am looking at Bartow, FL, and the lettering looks identical, although catalog says:

a) 255 is 1.6mm between town and state

b) 712 is 1.8 mm between town and state

c) 712 is "narrow" letters

d) 712 is a metal hand stamp and may vary in width between the lines and in inking

However, my eyes can't distinguish between 1.6 and 1.8 (maybe they could if I had one I was sure of, but not without).

And while some of my examples look very sharp (therefore probably 255), some of them are fainter or rougher, which might mean they are 712 or might mean nothing at all.

And I can't see any difference in letter width.

Below, I am thinking top line = 255, bottom = 712 and middle = ??

Thanks!

From the info you have given, you'll need a quality mm measure such as is found on better perforation gauges but even most of those only measure by 1.0mm. A clear plastic gauge with extremely fine lines would be the easiest to use. There is only 0.2 mm difference which is so tiny that I think most of us would have difficulty detecting with the naked eye. The measurement is from the bottom of the letters of BARTOW and the top of the letters of FLA.

I wonder if you had some high resolution scans and some decent editing software like Photoshop. (I'm sure there's some free ones out there too), I'd bet you could superimpose one on top another until you found one larger than another

Looks like the "O" shows different. The "R" also. With some, it appears, the bottom half of the R looks more like the bottom of an h. Where others, it appears the right leg flairs to the right a little more. Looks more like the R typed here. Seeing that in the green 1 cent Washington's and the orange 1/2 cent Franklin.

Some constructive comments about identifying these two precancel types were made at this previous link, however, they are very close in appearance and can't often be told apart without some detailed measurements/comparisons with known examples:

https://goscf.com/t/27660

wt1 --

You are amazing. I *promise* I tried searching for any prior posts on this topic but something about me and the Search facility on this site doesn't gel. It whirred for about 5 minutes finding nothing, until I ended up shutting the web page and starting again. But how even more embarrassing that the prior plea for assistance on this subject was from ... me. Sometimes I feel like I'm going around in ever-diminishing circles with my precancels.

stampcrow --

I don't think I am seeing what you mention in the O, but I do see it on the R. Interesting thought to pursue with daylight and a magnifying glass.

Thanks to you all.

Thanks everyone.