Scott 196...perforations

Hi guys...I was just grabbing stamps at random and doing a little perforation testing...Came across 2 concerns.

1 - Why is it that Unitrade/scott classifies the Scott 196 as perforation 11.0 x 11.0..??

THE TRUE PERF. IS 11.2 X 11.0..i KNOW UNITRADE/SCOTT ROUNDS OFF..BUT IF IT IS TRULY 11.2 X 11.0 ON ALL STAMPS..WHY NOT INCLUDE THE TRUE PERFS..???



2 - Found out that the darker 196's had thicker paper...??

Take a look at the stamps and colour samples I posted below and let me know if it is worth chasing..

Robert





colour on left is the top stamps.

I would say 'no,' but I don't make such fine distinctions as do you, wert.

I can offer an opinion on the perforation question only.

The earlier stamps were listed many, many years ago. Back then, perforation guages were based on half and whole numbers only, based on my own that I've owned for about 50 years. I didn't have the newer perforation guage until a few short years ago.

I'm guessing that the editors didn't know that there were 11.2 perfs.

IMHO - Going back and remeasuring all of the issues would be a monumental task requiring at least two or more opinions on each stamp.

The same would apply to 195 and 197 as 11.2 x 11.0 rotary press printed while for 198, 199 and 200 it would be 11.0 x 11.0 flat plate printed.

Exactly guys...But why isn't unitrade and scott changing it..??
Very frustrating.

Robert

I have heard that this change will be made to The Walsh British North America Specialized Catalogue. British American Bank Note (BABN) postage stamps (1930-1935): Rotary press printings are perforated 11.25 x 11.00, Flat Plate Printings are perforated 11.00 x 11.00 It is always important to add any help that helps collectors.

Robert,
Hey buddy, how are you? I am not sure if your question was meant to be rhetorical, but I'll offer an opinion if it was not.

Changing legacy methods, printed materials, gauges, and folk's perspectives is not a simple or easy task. (Just ask the US on how that change to the metric system faired, or ask Coke Cola how the change to the 'new Coke' turned out for them). Just updating every stamp in a catalog would represent a pretty big time and money suck. I am not sure that the majority of collectors would embrace buying new tools and relearning the gauging process when they have managed to get along with things the way they are.

Perhaps when the day arrives that we all have laser comparators on our desktops perforation gauging can be revisited. Imagine being able to determine perf differences down to 2 millionths of an inch (0.05 micron)! Who knows how many 'new' stamp varieties might be found using this type of technology.
Don
APS #094826

This is similar to U.S. rotary press issues from 1926 onwards. The Scott catalogue has them as 11 x 10.5 but they are more like 11.25 x 10.50 Sometimes it makes sense to go down to the quarter perforation rather than just the half one.