1894 - 1903 2c Washington Toga Buttone

I apologize ahead of time for asking what may seem to you to be a stupid or redundant question.

When differentiating Type 3 and Type 4 issues, examination of the toga button may be required for proper id, and as I only recently saw the Stamp Smarter acticle on these, I have to ask:

When examining the toga button width vs hieght, do you JUST look at the cresent area, or do you look at the entire image including the left side "tail" that extends outward and up?

My guess and logic say just the original cresent shading. But both guessing and logic often fail me.

I'm not sure what you are looking at. Are you talking about early 20th century 2c Washingtons - 1910-1920ish or something else? 3c purple Washingtons? Type IV of the 2c 1920ish stamps has a number of features including what looks like a reverse D in the toga buttom. I guess that's not what you are looking at. Give us a little more specifics. Cheers.

Subject line states 1894-1903, but to simplify, lets just talk about the difference between an 1895 Type III and the 1898 Type IV, scotts 267 vs. 279B. I've read plenty on toga button size but didn't know exactly what area the measurements apply to. The articles indicate that the cresent's shading was changed in 1898 and that if the Toga Button is wider than it is tall, it is a Type IV. I'm not sure if I should just look at the cresent on the right side only, or the entire area of the toga button image, including the shaded areas attached to the left side of the cresent that extends the image to the left and upward.

Geez, I know I'm not good at painting a picture so bear with me please. Sometimes I'm a bit too analytical and read more into something than what is there.

and thanks rslny, for the reply to my question.

Darn, rlsny....

jb100056,
It's largely in the crescent at the lower and right sides. BUT... this is one of the worst ID points. Why don't you look instead at the shading lines opposite the you for Type III and Type IV. The most definitive.
Of course if there is a cancel there, you have to go to other points, but then the sleeve lines are usually the next port of call.

Sorry about missing your subject line - lol. At least we got this thread moving now.

I don't use the cresent but I thought, due to heavy cancels that I may. Thanks for the input!