Is This A San Francisco L-6 Hs?

Is this a SF L-6 HS? That is the only one in the book that this appears to resemble, but the lack of a lower bar bothers me a bit, even though the printing is faint (much enhanced in the pic). Also, (edit) the letters are almost 5mm tall and the ones in the catalog are barely 4mm. I know HS can vary due to pressure, but it seems maybe too much variance?

So if not L-6, then fake or ? Thanks.

I don't believe your stamp is a fake.
Here is an L-5TS

which you may compare to the L-5; big difference.

/Users/rkdesign/Desktop/L-6 HS California.jpg


Hoover T-7 | similar L-03 E except dim d 13.5 mm to 14.0 mm | at least 2 devices are
included in this listing


Your image closely resembles an L-10 HS (Minus the integral added company information.)
L-10 INTEGRAL HS

(description L-10)
often perfinned & not
well printed | large caps between bars
11.0 mm apart | most commonly
applied over Buro prints | used
1938/12 and 1939/01

California is not my strongest area In precancels. I suggest contacting the Precancel Stamp Society:
Michael Hynes
P.O. Box 866
Folsom, CA 95763
Email: mike@precancels.com

He'll get you directed to the correct CALIF specialists.

Good Luck,
Hal Klein
(Yes, I'm a PSS Member.)

Hi Hal, thanks for the info - I'm a member, too, if it hasn't lapsed (again ...).

Not sure what you meant about the L-5 in your pic -- are you saying that when you measure it against the catalog, yours is way off on the measurements? If so, I am tracking. If not, I am lost!

I had not considered L-10 for mine, because of the Integral, so I just measured it and it is way off (my letters are too big and the gap between the top of the words and the upper bar is much wider on mine). Nice idea, but unfortunately, no.

Thanks again.

My guess, a fake - although not listed in Cummings. It doesn't match any listed type. The postcancel on the stamp suggests somebody was playing around with a rubber stamp to 'improve' a worthless stamp. Bring it to Boxboro and get some more opinions.

Sadly, I can't make it to the convention this year. One day, I hope to go. :-)