Postage Due Pair. One With Watermark, One Without.

Well the top stamp in my scan would be a J52 (issue of 1914). The watermark is clear in my scan. The bottom stamp would also have to also be from the 1914 issue. However if the bottom stamp were a single and I could find no watermark, I would id it as a J59 which is much more valuable. Any other thoughts? I really appreciate the advise.

Can not be. Both have to be the same catalog number

Peter

Wow, just wow! Connected stamps are the same stamp, so if you positively identify one as J52, then the other one MUST be J52 also, whether you can see the watermark or not.

If you want to pretend otherwise, then go ahead and separate them, and then send in for certification. Who knows ... the J52 carmine lake color may magically change to J59 rose color when they are separated.

Good luck.

OK guys. So the color is what would make the difference. I'm not good with the different postage due colors. I said in my post that the two stamps had to be from the same issue. I know that. Just trying to figure out how I would know what the bottom stamp is if I had found it loose. Hey, I'm just not as smart as ya'll. Trying to learn. Got blasted again in the same post. Goodness, this has not been a good experence for me...

You might not be able to. Single line watermarks may be difficult to find, or in this case rule out. It might be possible to see the watermark on the lower stamp with Clarity, generally more effective than any other watermark fluid. Since the position on the other stamp is known, it is likely that a VSC-6000 could expose the partial watermarks on the lower stamp. PF, APS, PSAG and PSE all have VSC machines. If the watermark does not show, the pair is still worth more than a J52 single and an orphan single of a color that might not cert.

When in doubt most collectors would assume the stamp is the more common variety.

Logically, you would think so, but apparently not always. The item below is one of the most idiotic cert opinions I've ever read, that some stamps in the block are R41d and others are R41c. No. That's not how it works at all.

I get what they're trying to do, to guard against what happens if the cert is broken up and someone tries to use the cert for the multiple as evidence that one of the stamps that does not have blue silk threads is a silk paper. However, they are approaching this in a completely illogical manner.

The block is NOT comprised of two different paper types. ALL of the stamps are silk paper, however some of the stamps do not exhibit all of the identifying characteristics of silk paper... but that doesn't make some of them "old paper", i.e., R41c.

If the multiple were to be broken up, then each of the individual stamps would have to stand on its own merits... but the cert as written is wrong.




http://pfsearch.org/pfsearch/pf_grd...lledfrom=lkp

I read the cancellation date as April 6, 1917. Doesn't change the basic argument that the two stamps must have the same id. If one of them can be definitively identified as J52, then the other must be also be J52.

Outstanding R41 block, one one the silks I am still searching for. Hopeful that that the digital age will soon allow different opinions as photos will be available for conformation. If you get the time , would love to see the backside.

Edit for clarification, I assumed this was your block to post reverse scan. Sorry for any confusion.

Thanks for the education. The pair is now in my collection with a note about hard to find watermark.