Help Identifying French Morocco Semi-Postal 1914

Is this Scott B2 or B4? Or even B5? The red cross with its thick red bar in (seemingly) two sections would suggest B2, but the shape of the surcharged 5c seems much nearer to those of B4-5. Any thoughts?

It's hard to tell the difference, but here's what I know. Yours looks like a B2, based on the construction of the cross.

From left on the image - B2, B2, B4

B2 has a thicker horizontal bar divided into 2 pieces horizontally. It also has has the top & bottom bars each divided into 2 uneven pieces. You can see that best on the middle stamp, top bar. Scott mentions that is due to the use of small metal pieces (quads) for the bars. Each cross is different - in my two copies very different - and presume the 5c is as well.

B4/B5 has a thinner central bar, without the horizontal dividing line. Overprint on B4 is vermilion, B5 is carmine and considerably rarer.

I'm no expert, so apply grains of salt liberally...

Thanks, gmot. I too felt that mine was B2, mostly because of the thick, divided horizontal bar on the cross. But I was puzzled because my 5c doesn't look like Scott's illustration for B2. Now I see that mine is the same as yours, so you're probably right in thinking that the 5c can vary (even your two examples of B2 differ slightly in that respect), and that it's the cross that's decisive. Appreciate your taking the trouble to send the scan: very helpful.

From Maury

Very useful - thanks! Agrees with Scott on the horizontal bar being divided into 2 horizontal sections for B2 (Maury #49), and not in B4 (Maury #51), but with much more useful info. Interesting that it doesn't mention the top/bottom bars being sub-divided in B2 as a distinguishing feature.

Also nice to see the distinct overprint colour of B5 pictured right beside the B4.

Thanks also to GeoffHa. I'm not at all familiar with Maury catalogues. Seems I should consider getting something that detailed. Otherwise, I'll continue being confronted with identification problems such as this one, i.e., problems that have available solutions.

Further info from Yvert catalogue on these stamps. Basically agrees with Maury, although not as detailed. Apologies for the slight skew on the scan.