Learning The Perf Gauge - I Believe It Is A 552, I Feel I Am Not Doing It Properly

Recheck the rate on the 3 cent stamp, it is not 12.

Sorry rate? Does that mean perforation measurement?

Yes.

Ok, I'll try again.

Yes, except that perforations are not really measured, they are counted (the number of perforations within the space of 2 centimeters).
Don

11. Maybe a 502.

A perforation gauge is not a measuring tool. It is a filtering tool. It can be used to determine how many perforations (and half perforations) fit between a pair of lines 2 centimeters apart. The Kiusalas gauge designed for US stamps would y yield a more accurate assessment. The actual pin spacing on line perforators is determined by the diameter of the cylinder and the pin mounting rings. The number of pins equally spaced around the cylinder determines perforation spacing. Pin spacing center to center must sum to the circumference of the ring or cylinder holding the pins.

To answer Turtle2900,

You are most likely measuring the design on the stamp. So measure the inked portion and NOT perf to perf.

mrita75,

If you look at the perforation gauges that you have, you can see that they both measure the number of perforations for a 20mm (2cm) section. Big stamps and little stamps are all treated the same. Just slide your stamps along the gauge until you find the closest match to your stamp. Most top/bottom will be the same perf. Then check the sides. If a stamp is perf 11 all the way around the catalog will say "perf 11". If the top/bottom are different from the sides it will say "perf 10 1/2 x 11" or something similar. With world wide stamps a catalog might say "perf 10, 12, 14" which would mean that various printing used different perf but that an individual stamp would be the same number all the way around.

Take your time and if you get frustrated just put that stamp away for a while. Also keep good notes with the stamps that you are working on so that you don't have to do it all over again later.

Thank you to all who have given advice. I put them away for now. I think I am starting to understand a little better and realize now it is not a "perfect match" - I will do some more reading on stamp smarter etc and try again another day.

Mrita75,
Properly identifying the Washington/Franklins of this era are very challenging. But the good news is that you are off to a great start; in other words it appears that you have a basic understanding of the identification steps.
1. Stamp Design
2. Denomination
3. Perforation
4. Watermark
5. Printing Type

You have also dodged stepping in a hole which far too many others have fallen into; assuming that you have a rarity and then struggling with confirmation bias.

You have approached this logically and with purpose, whenever you felt comfortable with trying again the folks here will be happy to assist you.
Don

Mrita, sometimes the best way to learn is seeing something done. I'm a visual person, so as much as I come here to learn I also check out videos on youtube. Check this out to help:


*** Edited by Staff to add YouTube tags. Please use them in the future. We prefer embedded video. ***
Good luck!

Thanks all, everything you have guided me on is helping and I feel like I have been able to positively identify a few. I decided to try again tonight - I am still having trouble with the watermarks, but I am getting close.

Hoping you can provide insight on the two I have attached. I went through the process/steps, confirmed the perfs to be 10 vertical - I checked the hairlines and the first one I felt confident that it was a 599. The second one, I went through the same process and it seems to also be a 599, however it seems larger to me and the color seems different. Am I on the right track? are these both a 599 with normal color variation? Thank you for your time and patience.

Ok, I went back into search - after no answers :) ( I figured the answer was too easy) and yes they are both 599s Type I. No three dark hairlines and the scroll has a faint outline on both. I assume color variation is normal. Ok I will try a harder one next time - right now I am using my cleanest ones - some of my others are rough so it is harder.

onward and upward.