Error Stamp 1880's Washington Scott #211B?

Stamp collection accumulated by a banker in Lancaster, KY. They were hidden in a false wall within the retired bank. These documents with stamps were bound with hemp string.

It looks like a scrape or a "plate drip". I have an example of that around here somewhere. Also, why do you assume 211B rather than the much more common 210?

Here is my plate drip.

https://goscf.com/t/38090#324818

Partime, Could be a common 210 not sure how to distinguish between the two. Also, not sure if it's a plate drip due to crisp edges without ink stain inside error. Thinking it could be a foreign object between plate and stamp. There were over 600 stamps and this was the only one that had this mishap.

"Could be a common 210?" It is without question a #210. There are plenty of existing discussions on SCF as to why this is not #211B. These are all archived as a resource for you and others to use.

Thank you Partime for the info. I appreciate your patience with newcomers. I will look into plate drips a little more.

A plate drip is pretty interesting, and if the cost isn't too much, I would collect them just for fun. However, you could probably make your own without much effort.

As far as evaluating your stamp, the common advise is to always assume you have the least valuable version, then work from there. Doing it this way tends to ground newcomers in reality quicker than assuming the highest value, and then be told (by many) that you are wrong. Best is to say, "This looks like a 210 (the common version) but I think it may be a 211B because ..."

Keep searching that false wall. Sounds like fun!