What Are The Diagnostics Of An 1865 Special Print?

I am learning about the 1865 special printings. In reference to the "scissor cut" stamps, are the stamps that have in fact had perfs cut with scissors special print? I believe that the second stamp from the left is a special print. I just wat to make sure I understand what signifies an 1865 special print.

I believe that you mean 1875.

You can learn a lot here:

http://www.stampsmarter.com/index.html

rogdcam, yes pardon me I did mean 1875. Thank you for the reference.

http://www.stampsmarter.com/1847usa...tml#Scott134

Bottom of page discusses Special Prints; please note that the odds of the second stamp from the left being a special printing are virtually zero.
Don

stampavalanche, just to clarify and add to what stampsmarter.com will tell you: scissor separation is not a sufficient criterion to define the 1875 special printings. They were often separated by scissors wielded by USPOD clerks in Washington fulfilling orders in order to speed up their work, but the special printings are properly identified by color and by paper type. The stamp in your photo would be Scott #167, but it is not. The perfs at left are not scissor-cut, they are simply blunted, probably from being torn. In addition, Scott #167 is either extremely rare or unknown in used condition (in the past it has been unvalued in the Scott catalog in used condition).

This Chronical article on the Special printings of the 1870 issue may help.

http://chronicle.uspcs.org/PDF/Chro...81/11878.pdf

The stamp below was also part of the Special printings of June 1875, and shows scissor cut margins on all sides.

dudley, from what I learned until now, it's not possible for an average collector to tell a CBN or ABN special printing on its own, as it is mainly based on provencance and color. So if you have additional information about the paper types, it would be interesting for me and perhaps others to read here.

Scissor-cut perforation (for CBN) and rough perforation with fibers inside (for ABN) are both things that can also happen for normal printings. The same is true with good impression (for CBN) and poor impression / worn plates (for ABN). So to me, only provenance and color remains? Maybe the very white paper (for CBN, not for ABN?), but this also happens for normal printins that stamps have very white paper.

stamperix, having personally handled only about 3 or 4 examples of the 1875 special printings in my collecting life I have no additional info beyond what the specialized publications offer.

Thank you. I did not find any paper variety in the specialized literature for the special printings, that's why I asked. So I guess you meant the very white paper for the CBN special printing? Ok, this could be at least a first hint (not working for the ABN special printing probably?).

I have seen several of the 1869 special printings; they were all on a very thin, very hard, very bright white paper that is thinner, harder, and much brighter then the issued stamps when looked at together. They are very sharp impressions.

Yes, this is also mentioned in the literature. But about the Bank Note special printings? The ABN printings are probably not on a distinct paper, the CBN appear to be good impressions on a bright paper which could also happen on normal stamps. So from what I understood now it's only provenance and color to really decide if it's a CBN or ABN special printing?

Thank you gentlemen for the insight and advice. It's very much appreciated. Jon