Can You Please Help With This 4c Orange Brown Perf 12 Washington ?

I'm struggling to figure this out, who it is .... is it only watermark that can decide?

i tried to read about this stamp, this one is 12*12 and then it has to bee 377,360 ore 334 ? but 360 was never used ?

334 or 377. See you post for "332 or 375" for finding watermarks.

Looks like time to learn about watermarking, just read two of your posts, both about possible watermarked stamps. Back to StampSmarter, some U.S. watermarks are hard to see. You might see the mark holding to light. Read how to recognize the piece that you may see. Use Clairity, a specially made fluid, or Ronsonal lighter fluid. A black ashtray works great, and so does a 102 card. A few drops should do.

ok, I have read a little bit about watermarks, that it can be difficult and that I might have to get more equipment ... whatever this may be a good stamp ... and wow the 360 had a fantastic value :-)

I have found some weird 3 cents wash, both are p11, the one gray / purple and the other light purple, but different sizes, the light purple has narrower prints but the larger total mark and the other is the opposite, is this known?

Here's some suggestions for someone just getting into US stamps.

1) get the basic equipment: tongs, magnifying lens, perf gauge, watermark fluid (or alternative)
2) don't bother measuring stamps designs - it is one of the least used aspects of a stamp for determining identification
3) take some time with a few pages at Stamp Smarter and other online resources. Explanations for finding watermarks, removing hinges - you name it, it's out there.

A word on color:

There is a lot of color variation in stamps of the same issue. It can be caused by exposure to light, chemicals on paper, or in the air, etc. There are only a few Scott catalog accepted color variations. Color determination can be quite difficult and error prone. In many cases the best thing to do is find an inexpensive stamp with the color you are looking for and holding it side-by-side with the stamp you are checking. Of course many color types are only possible on the specific issue and get can expensive. I wish I had a better reference collection myself.

rlsny,
I read a lot, learn a little every day, have equipment but not for watermarks ... and it is not always I must have a 100 percent answer, it may be that I think it is nice to hear what others think, because if I know everything - why be here? :-)
I'm really just trying to get the skills out of those who have it.

Glad to here all that. I'm sure you'll understand that the experts will also encourage you to learn more!

Hi Dronen,

Yes - your stamp has to be either 334 or 377. The only difference is the watermark. 334 is a double-line & 377 is a single-line. If you're going to collect early US, and especially Wash-Franklin series, you have to get comfortable checking watermarks.

360 was not regularly issued & no value is given for used. If you search for blue paper discussions, you'll find alot & some easy ways to identify them. The orange paper background works best.

One of our members just completed a full set of these - you may want to take a look!

https://goscf.com/t/64653&SearchTerms=blue

I followed the link and read all the posts, for me it seems that bluish paper is more difficult than watermark.

And that's logical, watermark is more concrete, I actually found water mark on a 5c lincoln perf 12, very dark paper, but it should bee DW, I se only SW, so...