Sc711 6 Cent Washington Color Variation

I have what looks like an SC711, 6 cent Washington. The Scott catalog indicates that the color is "red orange", and all the images of SC711 that I have seen online are reddish orange. In fact, I have 2 or 3 of the orange SC711s. However, I have the same 6 cent Washington, but it is brown, much like SC704, the 1/2 cent Washington. So, what's up with that? The catalog does not list any color variations for SC711. Am I missing something here? Is there an SC# for the brown variety, and I'm just not finding it?

Sun damaged, or oxidized. You may be able to recover with hydrogen peroxide, but probably not worth your effort.

https://stampsmarter.org/learning/H...idation.html
Don

More information here.
https://stampsmarter.org/learning/H...idation.html
If you ever want to restore the color on a more expensive stamp like a C1 or 287 that also is common to see oxidation or sulphurization, it is best to experiment on an inexpensive stamp like this one first.

Or, keep it as-is for a novelty or reference item. There is an ethical debate about whether chemical tampering with a stamp to restore it to its original condition is a good policy or not.

Bottom line, it is not an error nor a color shade variety. Just exposure to environmental conditions that caused the orange pigment to tarnish in that way.


Edit: D'oh, Don beat me to it. No surprise. :-)

Thank you. I guess I'll just keep it in the album as a novelty.

"I guess I'll just keep it in the album as a novelty."
Uhm, no, bad guess. The badly oxidised stamp may infect other stamps nearby. If you want to keep it, put it in a "Damaged stuff" album.

How will an oxidized stamp "infect" others? Honest question as I thought the reaction was from oxygen from the air reacting with ink on a stamp?

Maybe there is such a thing as "stamp cooties?"

In any event; truly an honest question.

Another thread just mentioned foxing on stamps or covers. That, I think, is caused by mold and could be prone to spread, so I would discard any low value stamps with foxing.

But oxidation, I don't know, @drkohler do you have any more information on that? I've pulled browned stamps out of a glassine of orange stamps in the past and it didn't seem like the browning had spread, but maybe. Next time I uncover an envelope of 711s or 336s that haven't been touched in a few years I'll unwrap them more carefully and see if there is any sign of oxidation spreading adjacently.

Andy- I don't know anything about possible oxidation spread from one stamp to another. That's for a much-better trained philatelist than me. But what I would say is if you see a stamp in your collection that looks like it may have oxidized since you've been the owner, then you may have some sort of environmental activity causing the stamp to oxidize where it is being stored. The same effect will also oxidize other stamps stored in the same place. Something to watch for.

Foxing is a problem that can spread given that something live is causing the problem.

Foxing is a nebulous term which covers several possible causes including metallic particles in the paper literally rusting and fungi (Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus fumigatus) growth. Foxing caused by metallic particles can create small holes in the paper while foxing from fungi growth does not.
https://cool.culturalheritage.org/c...3_foxing.pdf

The turning of a stamp to brownish hues is not really oxidation but rather sulphurization.
sulphurization can occur when a stamp is exposed to sulphur, a common chemical element present in many substances. When exposed to it, the color of the stamp can be dramatically altered into a much different and/or darker color. Most often seen is an orange or yellow stamp that has turned brown-color. But any color can be darkened by exposure to sulphur.
I am not aware of this condition being transferred to surrounding stamps but agree with shermae that if environmental conditions exist to allow one stamp to sulphurize than other stamp are also at risk.
Don