Washington Frankiln Scott 500 Yes Or No

Recently purchased the following stamp. It is a perf 11, unwatermarked 2 cent Washington. It was sold as a Type Ia flat plate Scott 500, but in scan 2 it appears to be a Rotary Press stamp. Scan 3 is included for completeness.



The cut stamps are known flat plate stamps



But if it is not a Scott 500 what is it. According to Stampsmarter, a 2 cent, rotary press, unwatermarked, perf 11 has to be Scott 546. But Scott 546 is a type III with 2 lines of shading in each side of the ribbon. Is the most likely case that somebody removed the 2nd line?

What does the back look like ?

Peter

Back is clear, no ink. The used stamps I used for size reference all have ink

One other observation. Look at how the black vs white background changes the apparent color of the stamp.

The Type II rotary would be Scott 539, the perf 11x10 coil waste stamp. Your stamp looks like a Type Ia Scott 500 to me. The color is right as are the Type Ia characteristics.

Hi Rodgcam, I agree with the fact that it looks like a Type Ia or Type II, but doesn't the fact that it is wider (scan 2) make it a rotary press stamp, or am I missing something

The rotary press Type II, Scott 539, is perforated 11 x 10. Is your stamp perf 11? The other difference between Type Ia and II is that the shading lines of the Type II sideburn have a vertical line on the extreme right attaching them.

Edit: Forget trying to measure the design. It is too difficult, prone to inaccuracy and in this case is unnecessary.

The stamp is perf 11x11. I did measure the image with a dial caliper and got 19.3 x 22.25. The calipers are accurate but there is error in aligning with the edge. I thought comparing to a known flat plate was more reliable according to Don

It is but you do not need to compare it. Perf 11, Type Ia = Scott 500.

Flat plate stamps shrink across the paper grain (mesh) as the paper dries after printing. It appears that the top stamp had more shrinkage. To determine that the stamp is not a rotary coil or coil waste stamp, compare the width with a horizontal rotary press coil stamp and the height with a vertical rotary press coil stamp. The strong Type Ia toga button outline and the vertical Type I/Ia gap in the lines below the ear only appear together on Scott 500 and 482A. The ear gap also appears on type I rotary press coils, especially Scott 449, but also 453.

Well I think I am convinced that it is a Scott 500, I was just very curious why its width was greater than some of my known flat plates. Cfrphoto has helped answer that question. Rodgcam thanks for your interest and advice. Have you published a photo of your 500 over in "show us your recently purchased stamps", if so I will go take a look. You have some beautiful stamps and I enjoy seeing them all