Second Try At Plate Identification Of Scott #11

I chose 9L3...How did I do?

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

I'd say you nailed it. Is that on a cover?

Yes, I'll post a picture tonight or tomorrow morning.

I have two questions about the cover:

Should I try to erase the pencil markings?

Should I expose it to peroxide fumes?

I haven't erased pencil marks, not sure what more experienced collectors have done or what they would recommend.
Same is true for on cover stamps and peroxide treatment.

Thanks, stampcrow. I've only learned a little so far about the colors of this stamp. I'm curious as to whether the original color is different than how it appears now.

Very nicely centered stamp! I have used a very eraser before with good results. I would not attempt it with those on the end of a pencil though. I, like Stampcrow, would balk at trying a peroxide treatment to a stamp on cover. Others may be more informed.

Thanks for the advice, I'll settle for kind of brownish for a color description.

Set the cover on anything to support it above the bottom of a Tupperware type container, add a cotton ball dampened with peroxide, cover it over night. It won't lift the stamp. Although, it's an interesting color on my monitor.

I've erased dealer notes from covers using art gum, but who knows who made that note, I'd leave it. If you do erase, rub the eraser in one direction per stroke, avoid back and forth!

I've done a lot of erasing of pencil marks from the backs of stamps, and from covers. If you are careful, erasing can improve the appearance of stamps and covers a great deal.

The best erasers I've found are kneaded erasers and dust-free erasers shown here. The kneaded erasers are like putty, and they can be formed into a any shape, like a point for focused erasing. They leave no residue at all. The dust-free erasers are excellent, and they will leave a single rolled bit of residue that can easily be brushed away in one piece. Sometimes, I will use both, starting with the kneaded eraser, then touching up with the dust-free eraser. Neither of these erasers will discolor the stamp paper.

These can be bought in the art department of craft stores.

Thanks everyone for the advice. I'm going to get the recommended erasers and practice on other material. I think I'll take your advice, littleriverphil, and leave this one as it is. As far as the color goes, It most closely matches the plum color on the USPCS website. While I don't expect it to be plum, my next task will be to learn how to rule that out.

I've had success with polymer erasers for getting rid of pencil markings. Much like what was posted above. The one piece of advice on getting rid of pencil markings is be sure what you are erasing is a marking added after the cover was done going through the mails. Some PO's would use pencil notations for rates or boxes at times. I don't see any issues with the cover posted off-hand.

Regarding peroxide on cover, I've done that many times, using a q-tip to apply the peroxide. I paint the stamp with H2O2, and then paint it with water with a different q-tip, to stop the reaction fairly quickly.

In regard to erasing, there is a preferred method. Do not erase 'back and forth' but instead erase in one direction. Erase using stroke from the center of the cover outward only. This reduces the chance of introducing damage to the cover.
Don

Excellent advice, Don. Thanks for adding that critical bit.