Help Understanding Scott # 65

Hello, I am new to this sport. I got this stamp in a lot from ebay. I would like to understand how to interpret this stamp. It was in a little holder that indicated it was a Scott #65, a hopeful 'Green Cancel?' written on it. (it looks blue to me) and it has a little check mark that says VF.

When I look at #65 on ebay, most are not nearly as attractive as this stamp. So that is what I am wondering. What do I need to look at on this stamp? How do I evaluate it? (beyond it is 'neat' looking.)

This stamp also indicated that it was #65, but how would I know the color? bright rose, dull red, rose red, etc? If it did not have #65 on it, how would I know it from a #64?

What do you think?
Thanks!

Looks like a Scott 65 to me. Always hard to tell the true color from a scan, because it depends upon lighting and the scanner, but it looks like a rose or brownish rose to me. Definitely not one of the pink, rose pink, etc. colors.

The target cancel is blue.

The centering is more of an average to fine, but not very fine.

I agree with orstampman. #65, blue target cancel, average-fine centering (perfs cut into design on two sides). Looks like a pulled perforation at the upper left as well.

The difference in color between #64 (pink) and the different reddish shades of #65 is best seen in juxtaposition. #64 has almost a bluish cast to it and there is not a great visual contrast between the colored and white areas of the stamp design (first image below). #65 is in general darker in appearance with a much greater contrast beween the colored and white areas of the design (second image below; both images used with permission from Siegel website).

The answer is easy, comparison copies. Finding those for comparison can be your challenge but that is what stamp clubs and helpful dealers are for.

I do not see a "green cancel."

For most US stamps the value varies based on three primary factors:

1) attractiveness - if there is a heavy cancel obscuring the face that will reduce the value. If the colors are faded or toned, that will reduce the value.
2) centering - this is essentially also attractiveness but is specifically examined - if there are 4 evenly balanced margins between the stamp design and the perforations it will be much more valuable than an off-center stamp. F,VF,VF-XF,XF, Super, Jumbo are all words that talk about centering.
3) Faults - Faults have a very large negative impact. The impact depends on the severity of the fault. A tear or a hole will reduce the value a lot. A pulled perf, not nearly as much. Many faults are hidden or only visible on close inspection. Regummed stamps, reperforated stamps, thins, all can have a quite large effect.

Of course color, variety, paper type, perforations all are important for determining which stamp you are looking at, but I'm trying to actually answer your question about how to interpret your 65. Hope it helps.

Use the search function for threads on "green cancels" for more information.

Green cancels tend to be a green color.

The best description of the color of a US 64 was what a dealer once told me: it's the exact same color as Bazooka Bubblegum

This is a blue/black cancel. There are many stamps that, due to the color of the stamp, make a blue cancel appear to be almost green. The two colors in close proximity (or one on top of the other) can fool the brain. Also, remember, this stamp is over 150 years old. I suspect the cancel started out as bluish-black and has faded a bit over time - I've seen this a lot - and has now taken on 'shades' of other colors in the aging process.

If it were truly green, you wouldn't have to ask. Green is a scarce color for a cancel. If it were a color midway between green and blue, it would be green-blue (or blue-green) and priced as such.