So, Why Are These Stamps Colors So Badly Different?

Scanned on the same scanner at the same time one on a white paper than the other.

Beautiful stamps by the way...

Most of the 1c, 2c, 3c '61 were printed on steam-assist presses.

The one-cent steamer printings exhibit very sharp impressions that are easily identified by the fine and sharply defined cross-segments (diamonds) directly above the top of Franklin's head.

The top stamp is a "dot-in-U" variety in dark blue. The dot-in-U variety was among the first printings of the one-cent issue. This stamp was printed on a steamer press.

The stamp at the bottom is a more pastel color. The cross-segments (diamonds) are not nearly as sharp, making it appear to be the product of a hand press. Hand press printings are scarce, and the colors often appear softer and warmer in stark contrast to steamer press printings.

Note: The pastel blue colors are subject to uv-fading. Some people have posted very pale versions of the above, but these are not a printed varieties IMHO.

Hey AJ...thanks for the info
They are a work of art once you enlarge them!

AJ doesn't the second one also have a "dot in the U"?

Which "U"? I see a tiny dot in the large "U" of top stamp. No dot is in the large "U" of the bottom stamp but something is going on in the small "U" of the bottom stamp.

On closer review, there is a dot in the you of the lower stamp, albeit rather feint. Most curious.

AJ, I believe you are correct. I can see it now. But the dot appears to be slightly higher than the dot on the top stamp.

I wonder if could be re entry or a plate repair?
Or just a printing smudge if they were hand pressed?

All the National plates were single-entry transfer rollers and the dot(s) were there for alignment purposes. As such, the guide dots were engraved on the plate before the entries were made. For this reason the dot(s) float around and are not always in the same place every time.