Is The One On The Right A 211B

Is the one on the right a 211b??

No

What distinguishes a 211b?

I wondered that myself, and found a very interesting 1993 article by Bill Mooz. http://chronicle.uspcs.org/pdf/Chro...59/11360.pdf

It's funny that 211B is supposed to be the special printing for #210, but certified copies are mainly (entirely?) stamps from an 1885 steam press printing.

As I understand it, this is the only "Special Printing" that could be found used. Special Printings didn't have gum, but the Steam Printings did, so theoretically the stamp could have been used as postage. No used copies have been found.

I would be interested in clarification, corrections, or any new information that has come to light since.

the helpful answer by essayk is here:
https://goscf.com/t/36865#313968

Mooz theorizes that the special printing for #210 could be identified by color variety, as the other special printings are. Since the color identified for the 211B is based on the steam printing, then all of the special printings would be lost in the sea of 210s.

Is there a general consensus that there were two separate printings? If so, why would the steam printings continue to be listed as the special printing for #210? Even if the special printings are no longer identifiable, there should be some clarification.

I realize that very few of the special printings exist, and I am not trying to find one.