Another Newbie Wondering If He Has A Scott 500

Hello everyone,

Have been a lurker on the coin forum for a while, and starting here now (used to collect as a kid), after picking up a couple of albums and a box of mostly US stamps at a flea market last weekend. I really appreciate all the detailed information shared here, and tried to do my homework before posting!

I started to look up the stamps I found, and spent some time on the one posted here - the potential 500. I used the Stamp Smarter tool recommended on earlier threads, as well as their guide to types. And read through the couple of very detailed posts listing the difference between a "Type 1" and a "Type 1a".

Based on all the excellent information that I found here, and contrasting this stamp with others of the same kind in my recently acquired small collection, and my new perforation gauge, my findings are as follows:

1) PERFORATION: Is 11 horizontal and vertical

2) WATERMARK: Could not see any (saw it on other similar stamps), but have to properly test with watermark fluid, which I have yet to acquire.

3) FLAT OR OFFSET OR ROTARY: Had a hard time trying to figure this out. Didn't have the courage to try cutting any stamp corners yet!

3) BUTTON: This stamp has what seems to be a well-defined button.

4) TOGA ROPE: Has a decently thick top toga rope border compared with a couple of other similar stamps.

5) LINES ON RIBBON: Having a hard time seeing these! But I believe I have 1 line of shading at the ends of the ribbon (going by stamp smarter's guide).

6) LINES BY SIDEBURN: Can't tell

CONCLUSIONS:
- Not Type 1 (button and rope line do not appear light enough);
- Not Types II and III because of 11 perforation; also not Type III because no clear "V" / distant bird outline in top right berry;
- not Type IV because no clear "DID" on button and clear top line on toga rope;
- Not Type VI because line in Left 2 is pretty slender;
- Not Type VII because no dots on top of head

That leaves TYPE 1A = Scott 500 (if Flat press) OR TYPE V Scott 527 (if Offset).

I am entirely willing to accept that there are flaws in my reasoning at various stages, especially given that its 4 AM . I look forward to learning more!

Hard to get the exact type as the photos are not sharp, but it has the look of an offset stamp.

100%, an offset printing.

Agreed, it's an offset stamp.

Looks like a Type VI.

Thanks for the information! Is there something particular that conveys this is offset?

Offset is not engraved, so it just has another look. You can't find the ink being like raised. But mostly I look at George's eyebrows, if it's full ink there without shading lines, its mostly offset.

Interesting, thanks

Go here to learn more about identifying Washington-Franklin issues.

http://www.stampsmarter.com/1847usa/1847Home.html

For offset printings, if you lightly scrape your fingernail vertically across the horizontal lines, the ink will feel smooth.

The stamp is the more common type VII Scott 528B. The interior line in the left "2" is complete but not heavy enough to be a type VI. The dots below Washington's nose shows three vertical rows still visible in the slightly fuzzy photographs. The complete toga button outline surrounding an unprinted donut shaped area inside is characteristic of offset printings. A Scott 500 type Ia would be more heavily inked and the color would not be as bright as a typical offset.

Positively offset, 528B, Type VII, as Clark states...

For reference, here's what a 500 looks like... you might consider
saving the image to your computer...

One of these days, some is going to post and it will really be a 500.

Jack

see above