Red George Washington And Green George Washington Questions

Hello everyone,
First of all I am sorry as this is probably a pretty common set of questions.

I was going through a box of old letters and books and came across these stamps that were originally placed inside of an old book. I attempted to identify these by looking at all the information and photos on the internet until my head started spinning.

I do not believe they were "stamped" to the book but I believe time has stuck them there. One of the green ones is only partially stuck. I dare not pull on them.

I am not a stamp collector. I am a lover of history and do not want to see these thrown out.

Are these rare or common?
Are they valuable?
Are they ruined because they are stuck in the book?
What should I do with them?

I have several more of the red ones on letters with the postage mark on them.

Thank you for your time and information!

Welcome.
Indeed, these designs came in a number of varieties and differentiating them can be a challenge. May I recommend that you take a look at the following link to help you better understand the scope of those varieties. http://stampsmarter.com/1847usa/was...gn3main.html As you will see, understanding the perforations gauge is quite import. On the same site, you will find information ('How To' section) and downloadable perforation gauge which you can use in a pinch.

Do not attempt to remove them, leave them alone for now. In the future, you will want to try to reomve them from the newpaper since the low quality paper will eventual damage the stamps.

Since you love history, stamp collecting might be a good hobby for you. Stamps offer great insight into history and cultures.
Don

Finding the perforation of stamps stuck on paper by someone who has no clue what they are doing and bad eye sight is not going well

The two cent reds are either Scott #425 or #463. The one cent greens are either Scott #424 or #462. #424 and #425 are on single-line watermarked paper; the #462 and #463 are on unwatermarked paper. Value will be minimal for unused stamps with no gum, which these will be after removal from being stuck down on the paper. All of these are perforation 10x10. The site 51Studebaker posted for you is where you need to go if you're interested in learning more about these stamps and their "cousins" in the Washington-Franklin series. I second his recommendation that an interest in history go hand-in-hand with stamp collecting, especially in postal history (stamps on their envelops, post cards etc.).

Water and soak them press them to dry I like coffee baskets anyway you need to get them off the newspaper

I really appreciate everyone's input on these. I feel like knowing nothing about them I would hate to use water to try and take them off. They are not completely stuck down. They were just placed in the book I think for safe keeping about one hundred and two years ago.

I certainly think I could easily become interested in stamps if I were not so busy and I shutter to think of all the old letters I have thrown out.

That being said this is beyond my expertise and I think I will throw them on ebay and if someone wants them so be it.

I really appreciate every ones help, thank you!

I did not recommend soaking because there may be some things you can do before that. For example, you can try freezing them. Sometimes the moisture delta between the newspaper and gum will allow you to 'snap' off the stamp if they are frozen solid.
Don