Need Help With 1c Franklin Stamps(Green)

First photo- I'm wondering if this is the 594 or 596? Also, how exactly are the perforations counted? Meaning what point does my count begin. Was pulled from a postcard. What's that green line on the reverse??

Second photo-Any idea on catalog number for this? Also is there anything special about this beauty? Thanks in advance.

QUICK NOTE: so yesterday I purchased a vernier caliper and I have no clue how to use it. Again, unsure of where to begin my count for measures

594 or 596? I hope there is a third choice! I've noticed that you have been asking the forum to help identify stamps that you think might be worth $10k's to $100k's. If you really think that there is ANY chance of any of your stamps being that valuable, I cannot stress strongly enough that you NEED to buy a perf gauge, preferably a metal one. I mean, isn't the $10-$15 investment worth it? I bought one like 40 years ago (I still have and use it) and found that my stamp was a #632, which I would suspect is what you have there. That being said, the perf # is defined as the # of perforations in 2 centimeters. That # can also be a non-whole #, like 10 1/2. A properly used perf gauge will give you a more accurate measure of your stamp than any number of scans on an internet forum. I am not trying to be mean, but this is the God's-honest truth of the matter.

Now that was easy.

https://www.linns.com/news/us-stamp...t-594-or-596

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

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

The green line on the back of your stamp is part of the letter / postcard that the stamp was torn of off. It needs a good soaking to get rid of the extra paper. Also, the above advice is great - you need a perforation gauge. It does not really have to cost a lot, I you have a stamp dealer nearby they may have a reasonably priced one. Lastly, I have collected stamps for over sixty years and never needed calipers yet.


Peter

Sorry for the double post:

After you are fairly sure that your perf gauge us telling you that the stamp is perf 11, and that it is a rotary press printing, then the next step is probably to send off your stamp to one of the certifying entities, like the APS or the PF (there are others, too). They really are the experts. My experience of sending off stamps that I thought (or hoped) were rare, and getting them back as the more common type, was a financial motivator to do my due diligence, first. It made me learn more about what I was doing. I realized I had to either learn more, or walk away from the hobby. I realized that dabbling, without learning more, was no way to do this. By learning, you can cull out the obvious low-value stamps from the candidate gems. ALSO, learning allowed me to realize, BEFORE BUYING, whether the stamp was a great deal, or not. You would be surprised at how many stamps are misidentified, just waiting for someone with a little knowledge to buy them, and make a killing. Knowledge allows you to focus your buying habits. After all, you can't buy everything that you think might be valuable. Also, if a dealer won't let you inspect a stamp to your satisfaction, then you should simply walk away.

Fixed
You would be surprised at how many stamps are misidentified, just waiting for someone with a little knowledge to buy them, and get ripped off.

Don

Haha! That, too!!!!! Your version, moreso than mine!

Ok thanks for the advice and feedback! In no way will I be offended by anyone's words so I understand your tone and the message/information that follows! @mooter a bit exaggerating Due to the fact that I've never mentioned numerals when I asked questions. I'm sure of WORDS I've used like Rare, valuable, scarce, etc! But I get it you've seen my previous posts..obviously read over comments and I believe that makes you say what you've said. Anyway, appreciate your words ! Thanks

@peter it's definitely not the line from the postcard. That line on the postcard is a bold blue. I'm positive of this

I saw the line, too, in the reverse shot. I suspect it may be on a piece of selvage attached to the bottom of the stamp (the stamp being from the bottom row of the sheet), and folded over before the stamp was affixed. I believe this indicates that the stamp comes from a sheet made on a Rotary Press. Just a guess, though.

@mooter very interesting! Gonna look for more information on that if it's floating around

@mooter I just thought f something. If you look closely at the line on the reverse, it too has perforations. So is it even possible that it'll be a bottom stamp? Aren't outer edge stamps not perforated?

Sometimes yes, sometimes no. It depends on what issue we are talking about. For example, Scott #632 (this design, Rotary Press, perf 11x10 1/2) has selvage all around, so all stamps on the sheet have perfs on all 4 sides. Flat plate printings of this vintage or slightly earlier tend to have stamps at the edge of the sheet on a couple sides of the sheet, so those stamps will have a straight edge. Of course, there are 'freaks' or errors where these rules do not hold, nor do they hold for all eras. As for 594 and/or 596, I do not know - I do not know what layout to expect from either issue.

Cool thanks much appreciated!!