I Found A Scott #544 On A Postcard!!

I got my Sonic Precision Multi Gauge today and found what looks like a Scott #544, perf 11 x 11, on a 1922 postcard from Maine.

Check it out.



Here is the measurement from side to side, from the leftmost pixel to the right. The distance equals 1.89 cm, or ~18.9mm. Rounding error due to fuzzy pixels.



Here is the measurement from top to bottom. The distance is 22.2 cm, or ~22.2cm:



Here are the perf measurements. The top and bottom show clearly as 11-73 on the gauge:



Here is the side perf, between 11-70 and 11-72 on the gauge:




What do you guys think? Do I have the real deal?

Per the Scott catalog the earliest documented use of #544 was Dec. 17, 1922...almost 7 months after the date on the postcard.

It's Scott # 498 Flat Plate *not* #544 Rotary Press coil waste

The Sonic gauge actually has rectangular overlays for quickly verifying flat vs. various rotary press dimensions. Is there a reason you didn't just do that?

I did and it passed the 22.25 line and looked like it was right on the 22.5 line. That's why I had to measure it electronically. I'm not sure if the gauge is accurate.

http://dubinweb.com/USpostagestamps/onecent.html

This site here says that a perf. 11 is a 544 when it measures 19mm x 22.5mm and a 498 if it measures 18.5-19 x 22mm.

Mine is > 22 mm.

if you are sure what it is, you should send it in for a certificate, then it will be saleable

Sorry to say, but it's a 498, but don't stop looking - you may stumble across one... The color is also too bright green to be the
544, should be more of a duller gray green.

This is a certified #544 (on card date 12/20/1922) for comparison. If you feel yours matches this, you should send it for a certificate. If it proves to be a #498 (most likely) the cert. fee will be minimal.

Nice stamp!

I thought Mr. Gator might just chime in on this one!!
Hey Al!

Thanks Ray and you too David! Hope you two are doing well!

BTW, several others have told you it's a 498, but I'm not so sure. Just eyeing it up, the aspect ratio looks "tall" to me, not like a flat plate stamp. And there are some genuine 544's that look like they could be this guy's brother (see PF certs 197728 & 197729, for example).

The date on this would be a new EKU, but I don't believe the Scott 544 production is very well-understood. IMO, it's possible the EKU could move earlier than the current Dec 1922 date.

Anyway, I'm not saying it is or isn't, simply that it doesn't look "flat plate" to me from your scan. If you can post a scan with the stamp aligned with the Sonic overlay, that would answer a lot of questions (and yes, I believe those Sonic gauges are pretty accurate - in fact, the Sonic and the Kiusalas are the only two gauges I've kept after 20+ years of dealing full-time). As a second option, scan that item with a 498 next to it & graphically overlay the designs.

If you're "sure" of the measurements, I might take a chance and send it off for a cert. Let us know how it turns out!

I'm not so sure anymore. The Sonic rotary frame is kind of useless for these Washington/Franklin issues. The stamp hits the black line, and I'm measuring it slightly longer than 22mm, not 22.50mm. Maybe it shrunk? I got a bunch of false readings with the Sonic gauge yesterday showing rotary on flat press stamps. The red Scott #595, #634 and similar are a nightmare, since they all show up as rotary on the gauge.

I think the Phil-a-meter gauge is what you need. It's quite accurate while the US multigauge is not.