Nova Scotia #9 - How To Identify; Let Me Count The Ways

Hi guys...I am running a little contest for a Nova Scotia Scott #9..1863 Mint (hinged) stamp.



Here are the rules..How many things can you think of to recognize, identify any one stamp..?

What I mean is say you said perforations, that is one, add colour now its two and so on..Give me a number only and the closet to MY number (even if I am wrong or forgot something) of things to identify stamps will get this stamp mailed to them free of charge.

GOOD LUCK...
Robert



<<MODERATOR NOTE: The "contest" is over, but I think this is a good "teaching thread" so I've moved it to the Canada forum --KirkS>>

Well, I'll throw out a number

13

My guess, though, is based on some assumptions of my own. For example, if I say "paper type", I am including silk threads, direction of wove, etc., all as only one number.

Let's see what else comes up. Thanks for a neat contest and a nice prize.

Eleven (11)!

AND the really interesting part will be HOW these are defined and counted (I expect MUCH debate and a few ego's bruised...)

Cheers,

Dave

there is only one thing to count , whether you need it for your collection or not...

Well, I came up with FIFTEEN.

Looking forward to seeing everyone else's identifiers!

Oh... eligies wins the "no-prize" for the BEST ANSWER!

Easyone also has 15, so don't count them out.

Now, here were my ideas for ID'ing a stamp:

Country Indication
Perfs
Color
Watermark
Paper (silks, etc.)
Year Marking(some are the same, but with different year)
Value Marking (same reason)
Double Transfer, Re-Entry, etc.
Grill
What is the main content/person shown
The Cancellation date may help
Is there a guide line?
Other misc features

I'm sure I missed many others, but with these, I can usually get it pretty darn close (except for those darn Washington Franklins ... I hate those.)

Partime...GRILL..??
Hey we are talkng Canadian stamps here...haha

Oh no..easyone...sorry, forgive me..so 3 MAYBE trying the bonus round...haha

Hi Wert....I would love the prize..Thanks so much

Nice contest and prize, wert. Congrats to the winner.

I know this won't change the outcome, so thought now we could add to your list. One I had was type of press used to print stamp.

raymodj..There were lots more if I had taken the time..Hey, maybe in a week or two I will put another 1800 stamp in a contest..

Well done to the winner, and thx Wert for the competition. For anyone who is interested, my selection criteria are:

perf number up / down
roulette number
perforation varieties (e.g. compound, missing perforations, imperf. varieties)
watermark type
watermark errors (missing parts, inverted, etc.)
paper type
paper thickness
paper colour in natural light
paper colour in UV light
gum type
gum colour in natural light
gum colour in UV light
graphite lines and spacing
phosphor lines and spacing
surface ornament (e.g. embossing, etc)
stamp colour in natural light
stamp colour in UV light
retouches
consistent printing flaws
other engraving differences (e.g. different dies)
printing method (recess, rotogravure, etc)
printing quality (e.g. first and second printings, etc.)
relative position of stamp (tete beche, etc)
font on stamp
overprint font
overprint colour
overprint orientation (top to bottom, bottom to top)
overprint errors (inverted, letters missing, etc.)
postmark (type, date, location, etc)

johnstamp...Just so you know, I mailed your stamp at 9:30 this morning...enjoy.

Robert