Cape Of Good Hope Identification Help Needed

Hi Guys I have looked at some of the other posts on this stamp and I am still at a loss to identify it with any conviction. It is almost lake in appearance under normal daylight, or maybe brown red? It does not seem to have a watermark, although I am aware that it should. And I don't think it is any way blueish paper to look at, but I am just not sure as this is the only one in my collection. Please help
The pictures show front, back and in watermark fluid.

Some helpful images here

http://stampforgeries.com/forged-st...triangle-1d/

Here are some more hints: http://www.kelleherauctions.com/php...ter=5&page=1

I have to say, your stamp looks convincing.

Hi and thanks. I think it may be genuine, but genuine what? What priting

Can't really say if its blued paper or not. Gibbons lists 1853 issue as Paper deeply blued,or slightly blued (blueing not pronounced on the back). I don't think its the 1855-1863 issue primarily due to color description. I'm banking on 1863-1864 issue brownish red with watermark sideways SG18ca

The paper isn't blued in plain light (blueing is usually best seen at the margins of the stamp against the red colour), and it certainly doesn't look carmine-red, which makes it either SG18b (deep brown-red) or 18ba (brownish red), the 1863-1864 De La Rue printing. I can't see the watermark clearly but it may be upright.

I'd be reasonably confident that the stamp isn't a forgery. The stamp has a rather mucky postmark and also has poor margins; you usually see good margins and a very clear postmark on "used" forgeries.

As for value, assume about 75% catalogue value because one of the margins is cut into the design of the stamp.

Hi Tim and thank you. That is exactly the type of information I was looking for. The stamp is very dark in colour when viewed by the naked eye. The lack of a watermark threw me as I know it should be there, but just can't see it no matter at what angle I hold it in the fluid. The estimation of its' value is nice to know but of no real consequence as it will be passed onto my son, eventually. Unless it turned out to be Rare- then I could do with the money. Thanks again

The watermarks on these stamps can be surprisingly difficult to pick out, so I sympathise with the trouble you're having. Here's a couple of pictures I should have put up in the original post. The first is SG 5b, which is the 1855 Perkins Bacon printing on blued paper, and you can see the very distinct blue colour. They aren't always this clear!



The next is the stamp I think you have, SG 18c, shown together with SG18ca which is the inverted watermark variety.