1857 One Cent Scott #22 Vs #24

This was listed in an album I acquired as a Scott #22, but I think it's a #24. Any help with ID is appreciated.

Here is a step-by-step ID tool
https://stampsmarter.org/features/S...Plating.html
(click on 'Step-By-Step Tool' tab)

Don

Thank you for the link!

I see tons of 24s misidentified as other issues. The key is to notice how the design on the sides is cut off. Yes it's a 24.

Also the huge break at the bottom, when visible.

Big Questions on this one:





Are these plate cracks or an extensive repair?

Characteristics of the right side say #24, but top and bottom lines and design features, plus some of the left side characteristics don't seem like a #24 to me.

If this is repaired and a #24, why would anyone go to this extreme to repair a #24? If not a 24, what do you think it is?

Looks to me like a blue cancel. Not a 24, the bottom frameline is much too complete. Type II?

James - I agree with revcollector - the 'crack' looks like cancel ink. Plate cracks tend to be thinner, more sharply defined, and more solid. You can see through this (admittedly, oddly shaped) ink in places to the design behind it. There is something funky going on with the perfs along the right side, too. Some appear to be 'elongated' along an axis pointing directly out from the stamp. Although perf holes from this era may not be perfectly round (some say perfectly round holes can be a sign on shenanigans, too), the ones on your stamp are way beyond the norm for out-of-roundness.

As to which type this is, I don't know, but I could accept the 'II' on the reverse as the best clue you may get. The best way to determine would be to plate the stamp and I'm not going to be any help there.

It's an altered AND repaired #24. Probably F-relief from the bottom row. Just another ebay gem...

How would a beginner like myself, see the alteration, and repair, please.
Can you explain?

Dipping it would be the first step. Plus using a high power glass, 30x or 40x.

The whole left margin was probably added, and there are some real experts out there who can do amazing work.

rod222, the alteration consists in portions of the design drawn in as an attempt to resemble a more valuable type. This has occurred on all four sides (see photo). Familiarity with the characteristics of a genuine #24 Type V reveals this clearly.

Surprised that it was not finished. If they did one side, why not do the other. Such things are usually much easier to see in person, too.

Awesome explanation Dudley!! Thanks a bunch man!!

Here's the best quality image I could get to upload plus one from postmark-reveal. Shows more detail of the repairs and alterations.

I can't understand WHY anyone would go to the lengths this person has apparently gone to in order to produce this. The effort required to do this would seem to be considerable.

Can any of the experts here see the alterations and forgery more definitively?

I think this one is a real education piece that I don't think MOST of us would catch easily. (The red speck is a particle of something in the mount, not on the stamp)