Help With 2c Franklin Line Pair 454?

I believe what I have is a Sc #454 line pair, MNH, but am always a bit uneasy with WF coils. The stats:
1) Perf 10
2) Appears to be Type II, and close-up shows no scraping to make a Type III appear to look like a Type II (i.e. a 455 conversion).
3) SL watermark, strong and clear.
4) Rotary Press printing (no set-off)
5) frame size 19.5 x 22 mm.
6) total stamp height 25mm give or take 1/4mm.
7) no evidence of hinging of gum disturbance.

There are some odd markings on Washington's neck and a line crossing the white oval at the bottom - not sure what that is all about. Opinions/comments/help welcome.

Hello Caper123,

I saw your thread and it reminded me of a thread I started 11/10/2016. https://goscf.com/t/51601&whichpage=1&

It was titled ""Scar" On Washington's Neck? SC # 496".

You were one of the folks that responded to that thread. I did have that line pair certified by the PF as small hole variety, but also in regards to the "Scar on Washington's neck". The PF opinion is below. They declined to offer an opinion on the "Scar".

"JOINT LINE PAIR, RIGHT STAMP SCAR ON NECK.
AND WE ARE OF THE OPINION THAT
IT IS A GENUINE SCOTT 496, BUT DECLINE OPINION WITH RESPECT TO THE ORIGIN OF THE MARK ON WASHINGTON'S NECK, AND ATTRIBUTION AS A "SCAR", THE JOINT LINE PAIR WITH THE LEFT STAMP PREVIOUSLY HINGED ALONG THE PERFORATIONS AT LEFT, THE RIGHT STAMP NEVER HINGED. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *"

Imperf with fake perforations added.

Look at the way the middle perforations weave; they are not straight.

Also, the biggest giveaway is that all three columns of perforations line up exactly with each other.

If you disagree, I'd highly recommend getting a certificate. I could be wrong, but I don't believe I am.

I do not believe that it is fake. The perforations can line up. The middle row looks OK to me. And why would someone take an imperf pair and make the fake so poorly centered on top of having a printing flaw. It makes no sense.

Perfs DO line up on rotary coils.

The misalignment of the two stamp images, one higher than the other, is also indicative of the plates abutting together in the curved/rotary plate fashion. Thus the line is from between the plates rather than a cut line from a flat plate stock.

Looks good to me.

I agree that the perfs look OK for the era. Still might be worth getting a cert.

I would attribute the 'neck anomalies' to some kind of plate-wiping issue.

The neck issue appears to be an "ink smear" versus a "plate scratch", based on the erratic shape and a second smaller ink smudge above the main smear. I am more prone to agree with John Becker, Rodcam and Mootermutt987.

Hal

No imperf type II or type III coils were issued. Watermarks on horizontal rotary press coils are vertical (sideways to the design) while flat plate coil watermarks read horizontally. Rotary press coil perforations were punched with a bar perforator with pins on bars mounted on a drum. Holes stretch in the direction of the coil. Flat plate coils and stamp perforations were punched with line perforators with holes slightly elongated in the direction of the gutters between stamp designs. Misaligned rotary press pins are more likely to deviate from the line of perforations while bent flat plate pins are more likely to slightly affect spacing between pins. No science here, just observation. Misaligned flat plate perforations may indicate that the row was added long after the stamp was issued.

The lock of hair to the right of George Washington's ear should be examined when determining the type. The lower hair is longer if type II, slightly shorter if type II and much shorter if type I or type Ia.

The perforation gauge of perforation 10 gauge flat plate coils is Kiusalas 10-79 = 9.97 where as the perforation gauge of rotary press coils is Kiusalas 10-80 = 9.84 or 10-81 = 9.72

I have disagreed with a professional coil expert who believes that all U.S. perforation 10 gauge coil stamps (both rotary press and flat plate instead of just rotary press coils only) were perforated by perforating bars.

However, the slight difference in perforation gauge between the two supports that the flat plate coils were perforated by perforating wheels which gauge the same as those used for perforation 10 gauge flat plate sheet and booklet stamps.

Also, the non-alignment between perforation holes on opposite sides of the stamps indicates perforating wheels where as the alignment between perforation holes on opposite sides of the stamps indicates perforating bars.