Reunion Question. Close Cross Version?

Nothing mentioned in Scotts, but I see that Stanley Gibbons lists a "Cross close to 5" version of this stamp. It also differentiates two versions: Overprint in Red, and Carmine.

The only reason that I am asking for confirmation is that the drawings on my empty pages seems to show a version with the cross much further away. Do you think I have a winner? (SG 85a red, or 86a carmine). I am leaning towards carmine, though I have been found to be wrong once or twice.



Addition. This is Scotts B2.

This looks to me like the illustrations of the surcharge in Gibbons and Yvert, but Gibbons unfortunately doesn't illustrate the "close to", which isn't listed in Yvert.

There are two listed here, look at the word OCEAN.

http://www.stampworld.com/en/stamps...65&year=1915

Hmm. Those examples show slightly different colors of the "+ 5c", and one of them has the surcharge slightly lower on the stamp, but both seem to be the normal spacing. That is to say that the spacing between the "+" and the "5" is more than the same spacing on my stamp.

I'll try to pick up another in the future and make a better comparison. Thanks for your help.

Partime

Give me a day or two, and I'll unearth my copy/copies to scan.

Geoff

Partime, I agree with you. I do not see the difference in the two on stampworld other than one is much heavier inked. I looked at the word "ocean" but do not see anything unusual there either.

Peter

Michel lists 3 versions of this overprint: One in black (1915) and two in red (1915/1916). The two in red are priced identical at 1.3EUR both mint/used. There is an illustration in Michel showing the two overprints - very easy to distinguish.

Your stamp is the one from 1915.

Note: The cross is broken on your stamp. Might be a variety. Anyone with a Maury catalog care to comment?

Geoff. I'll try to do an accurate measurement and picture of the spacing on my example. Thanks for everyone's comments.