Need To Know Scot#211B Or Not?

Hard paper-did the corner snap test-you can hear it,
Need a scott number. Listed as #211B in the collection I bought-
I thank you in advance.

Lee

From Siegel Sale 1137, Lot 312:

2c Pale Red Brown, Special Printing (211B). Bright shade, partial strike of blue cancel at right, the "Th" of "Third Assistant P.M.G. P.O.D. May 23 '85" cancel is visible, Fine and very rare, a top right corner margin vertical pair is known with the same cancel, this stamp adjoined that pair (the pair realized $8,000 hammer in a 2010 Spink Shreves auction), this favor cancel is the only way to collect this issue in used condition since it cannot be distinguished from the normal printing without the presence of gum, with 1958 A.P.S. and 1974 P.F. certificates, Scott Catalogue does not list this in used condition

Further, the 2c Special Printing must show distinct fine shading lines below the shield and below the heavy outline of "TWO 2 CENTS". An early print from a new plate of #210 could also look similar. Those features are worn/missing on your stamp.

The #211B is on soft paper, too, not on hard paper. The snap test is for comparison with Continental and National Bank Notes and is not absolute for proving hard vs. soft Bank Note papers. The visible threads in and around the perfs show that this is soft American Bank Note paper.

OP said:


If you heard the sound of hard paper you did the test wrong. Seeing the hinge remnant makes me suspicious that you tried to do the test on that end. But as someone else noted, by 1883 American had moved away from hard paper all the way to a cotton paper with starch sizing. Strictly soft only.

@rogdcam wrote:


That item came into my collection from that sale.

The cripsness of some lines is important, indeed, but perhaps not only present in special printings. So the color is the only thing left to decide if it's an unused 210 or a 211B. But some other point I saw with many 211B: they have perforation holes missing or their paper adhering. Most obvious in a large block like this one:
https://siegelauctions.com/2003/869/3157.jpg

Is this another indicator perhaps? And why would it be?
Is it similar perhaps to the perforation holes of the American Bank Note special printings before (1882, maybe also 205C and 211D)?