A Dark Lilac 24c 1861-6

I just received some certs from the PF and one of them was a big mystery to me. It's the second stamp in the image below. It came back as dark lilac. Perhaps that's the best match, but I can't find any dark lilacs in Siegel's records or in PF images that look anything like this color. I assume the PF has the best reference material, so I'm not questioning it, but I feel it is a pretty unusual shade. I read somewhere that there is a theory that the blackish violet and the dark lilac were probably made around the same time. So there you have it: a genuine dark lilac for your amusement. The other stamps are not certified - just there for comparison. I'd call the first one lilac, the third red lilac and the fourth some sort of gray.

Sent to me for adding to this thread.



Don

That looks like several of the dark lilacs I've seen online. Much more of a grayish lilac than a violet. It's hard to see in the scanned image, but there is a definite purple or true lilac coloration to the one I posted.

Siegel has sold a lot of Dark Lilac's:

https://siegelauctions.com/lot_grd....nwwin=qdbvut

Agreed, but I still say they don't look either as dark or as violet as mine. To be clear, I'm not saying it isn't - just that it is especially dark, and the violet is very strong in person. I don't believe it is a 70c - in fact based on my earlier color comparisons the closest one was #60. In any case it's just the darkest colored 24 cent I've come across.

My Bad! I misread your post. I see what you mean. There was one that came somewhat close but not as dark as yours.

Risny I have a dark violet 24c that has 1961 PF cert saying it is a used 60 premiere gravure that looks very similar to your stamp with target cancel. In 2018 the PF changed it its mind and called it a 70c "reddish violet" variant

The new 2021 US SCOTTS specialized catalog will be listing it as 70c var. reddish violet. Only one known.



https://www.stampcommunity.org/uplo...13390CF.jpeg

RLSNY - this listing may be of interest to you... https://www.ebay.com/itm/F31-USA-TR...143199395337

Using old scans to judge shades is always a bad idea. We don't know what equipment was used, the time of day. the conditions at the time, or any other info. Unless the stamps were scanned at the same time on the same equipment, they are useless for telling anything with regards to shade or color.