Victoria Stamp I Need Help With

Can anyone help me with this one? These early stamps are still a bit of a mystery to me. Small Queen, correct? It's a 37, but there's a bunch of varieties in my Unitrade.

Just to be clear, I'm under no delusions that I have a rare stamp. I just can't make sense of what I see and measure. It doesn't seem to coincide with what I see in my catalog. I'll just place it in a mount and put it on the same page as the other small queens, until I find out what variety it is.

Dave

What are the perfs on your 3c SQ ? and what gauge did you use ?
What about color ? (hard to identify on a scan) - Good luck
I cannot help you based on your image....sorry

René

Hello DaveG28
Do a complete perf measurement on all sides of your stamp and post your findings here..Hope GPORTCH is watching, he is out go to guy for small queens.

Robert

Dave,

These stamps are very difficult to identify as to variety. A better scan is needed, and you will need to measure the perfs accurately. It doesn't look like 12.5 at the top to me.

You said:




It is too hard to tell from your scan to be sure, but it may well be a 41.

Jan

Thanks for the responses. I'll see about getting a better scan posted this evening. You're looking at the perf gauge I used. I kept getting 12.5, and I'm sure that can't be right because I don't expect this to be a $900 stamp. As far as the color...I need help from you all here with that.

There are two options you might consider - buying a better gauge or counting the perfs. Either will give you a better result than what you are getting.

The continuum gauges will give you a more exact reading than the ones with the dots. However, you can always count the perfs. The gauges are just measuring the number of perfs in a 2cm space. See the image from my website for more details.

For what it may be worth, my best guess (based only on the original scan) is that this stamp is a Montreal printing of 1877 and it is likely perforated 11.75 x 11.9.

To DaveG28: If you are going to play the Small Queen game using perforations (definitely the best way to identify) you MUST get a better perf gauge. Go online and find a Stanley Gibbons Instanta gauge with the yellowish appearance. It will likely cost about $20 but it is worth every cent.

GJP

I concur with gportch's advice. Find a Gibbons Instanta gauge.

DaveG28..Try the link below and see the gauges and their prices...Roll down about 1/3 the page to see the gauges...You will see 8 different ones..

http://www.unitradeassoc.com/Stampacc.htm

Robert

from jarnick



$16 difference between the SG Instanta and Uni-Safe "Perfect" Gauge and they look the same. Any comments on Unitrade's gauges - I have 3 but not the "perfect gauge model.
Thanks !

The "Perfect" gauge is fine for most collectors' needs. With a bit of practice you will get good at measuring gauge within maybe 0.2; you will get more accurate readings measuring the bottom of the perf holes.

I can see from the OP's scan that the stamp perfs less than 12.5 (probably close to 12) and appears to be a shade of #37.

I have to dissent from gportch's advice a bit. The old yellow Instanta gauges are hard to find, and many are no longer usable as they have cupped or shrank.

archerg has a good point.



Gportch is advising you to use a great product, if it is new and not damage.

DaveG28,,check stamp stores, ebay and get one or more that you like..It is a learning process and I think you are capable of getting adjusted to using it..enjoy.

Robert