Need Help Counting Perforations On NSW 61g

According to my Scott, New South Wales 1p red #61g should be 13 x 13.

The example I have measures 12.5 x 12.5 however many times I try to persuade my eyes otherwise. One fact is certain: all four sides are the same, and no 1p red, watermark 55, other than 61g meets that criterion.

Is there that much variation in measurement (perhaps due to humidity, or other factors) that 12.5 can be accepted as 13, or am I ignorant of some other circumstance to explain the imprecision?

*** Moved by Staff to a more appropriate forum. ***

Are you sure it is not Wmk 54?
Are you able to scan the Wmk?

A more specialized catalogue for Australian stamps might help.

I always use the Australian Commonwealth Specialists' Catalogue (ACSC)

Rob041256 - there is no ACSC (Australian Commonwealth Specialists' Catalogue) dealing with Scott 61g, which was issued in NSW in the 1880's.

heironymous - a scan of the front and back of this stamp (showing the watermark) would definitely help.

The perforation 13 was 12.5,13 so it's possibly Scott 61g.

Hi fairdinkumstamps

That's true, it was an oversight on my part, but when it comes to properly identifying Australian stamps of the Victorian era, in my opinion I find the Scott catalogue too simplistic (I was given a Scott catalogue).

I use the Stanley Gibbons catalogue, though it does have it's limits.

But heironymous is referring to Scott, and I shall sit back and read the comments with interest.

Rob

Thanks to all responders! Yes, it is possible to scan the stamp. Yes, I did scan it. No, the watermark was not identifiable; in fact the scan failed to show but the barest hint of a mark. Nevertheless, there is quite clearly a visible crown with what appears to be a wide NSW. Unfortunately the cross on the bobble of the crown is close to the northern set of perfs and gets much less visible in the mist and murk. In the old days, before the enlightened days of scanners, substances such as lighter fluid were used to bring the marks to the light. Are such antique stratagems still used?

Hi Heironymous,

Wmk 54 is more easily seen than Wmk 55 but there are only 4 known copies of Sc. 61g. The N and W in Wmk 54 have pointy angles and in Wmk 55 the N and W are rounded. This will help if you can't make out the top of the crown.

There are two distinct shades of the Scott 61, a salmon and an orange to scarlet. A perf.13 of the former is unpriced in the current Gibbons catalogue.

The 'Carrington' collection (Millennium Auctions 7 November 2012) had a mint hinged example of the latter as lot 697 which had a hammer price of A$750

If you're sure it's Sc. 61g I'd suggest getting a certificate as you have a very rare stamp!

I hope this information helps.

Bobby DLR