J3 Vs J10 ? ~ Could Either Be J10 ?

Arfken in his work on Postage Dues (available from the Chicago Collectors Club as a free download) notes that the impression should be very clear, the color a deep shade of brown (slightly different from the color of J1-J7), the paper - granite white and the gum white and crackly, different from the gum on J1-J7). In my experience I have found that the Postage Due Special Printings have a slightly grayish cast to the color and the impression is extremely sharp and crisp.

I have learned not to make shade calls based on computer scans as they are notoriously unreliable. I recently bought a stamp on e-bay as it appeared to be a shade I had not seen before. I took a gamble on it. While it was nothing like the scan on e-bay it turned out to be a scarce shade and easily worth 3 times what I paid for it. Whether or not the unused Postage Due is a J17, I can't answer without seeing it in person.

The first two series of Postage Dues come in a considerable gradation of shades as the red was gradually added to the color. Most all of the J17s that I have seen come in a distinctive deep rich shade that starts to approach the third series, but they used a different ink that looks completely different under UV. The third series looks much brighter under the UV light and fluoresces similar to the 2c First Bureaus.

Edit : I totally agree with you in regards to scans versus reality,
as neither of the stamps I have are the color they appear on computer.




Bill... I would happily and respectfully send both stamps to you for
your expert view and pay you for your services, as well as additional
compensation for cert(s) if either or both prove out as other than J3.

Please advise...

Randall