Help Identifying US Scott #315??? 1908, 5 Cent, Blue, Lincoln, Imperf? Or 304 With Perfs Removed?

Really stumped on this one. At the top I see the remnants of a straight blue line, more so on the left hand. Not sure what that indicates. The pictures below will show the item in question by itself front and back and alongside known 304s. I thank you in advance for helping me figure this out, your assistance is appreciated.

I think it's a cut down 304. Two reasons:
- There is a perf remnant at the top right.
- The line does not go all the way across - you can see the end of it at the left, and with the top margin flaring out at the right, you should still see the line continuing.

Since 99% of the 315s offered without certs are 304s, with this issue, you have to assume that it is a 304 and look for reasons why it couldn't be - such as a multiple or imperforate margin, etc.

Therefore, based only on the scan and my inherent presumption of trimming, I'd call it a cut down 304 with the guideline drawn in.

Single 315s must measure at least 21.5mm x 25 to get a cert.
Don

I concur, I see a trimmed perf top right

Thank you gentlemen. I am grateful for your help.

Certing a single is an uphill battle, but let's take a slightly different perspective ...

For the perforated version, this stamp was printed in sheets of 400, then cut along the guide lines into panes of 100 for retail sale. The guideline at the top is a natural straight edge. It was never perforated. Any nicks, dents, or indentations along the top side are NOT perforation remnants. I do not believe the line was added. Any incompleteness is due to some very minor surface scuffing apparent at the UL as well as below the S of CENTS.

In regard to minimum dimensions for certification, since perforating and pane-cutting are two separate passes through the machinery, the measurement from the straight edge to the opposite perforations can vary somewhat. In this case the height, this measurement should be viewed cautiously against the certification minimums - and doesn't seem to help the #315 at all. The width is now the more important dimension, and your straight-edge-at-right stamp is as wide as your 315 candidate, so I would conclude your stamp is not large enough to be certifiable as a 315.

All that said, what are the exact dimensions of the stamp in question? How close do they come to the measurements given above by Don?

John, thank you I appreciate the insight. Will upload later this evening some measurements.