Stamp 156 Or 182 - Colors And Paper Tell The Difference

The single stamp is on a Postal Card cancelled Sept 1, 1880 the secret mark is on the stamp. I believe this to be 156. The pair of stamps also have the secret mark on a cover dated Apr 14, 1884. I believe this to be 182. Neither show any grilles.

The first vertical pair shown is the re-engraved Scott 206.

The single shown could be either 156 or 182 (soft paper), and is likely 182 due to the date of use.

orstampman - why do you think the vertical pair cancelled 4-14-1884 is a 206? Is it because 206 was issued after 156/182 and before 1884? Just trying to learn so I can decipher better. Thanks

There are a number of changes in the design for the re-engraved 206. For example, the upper arabesques have curved lines inside, instead of being blank. Also the vertical shading lines in the upper part of the design have been boldened, making the top part of the design appear to be darker.

orstampman - thanks - also it would appear that the "secret mark" is NOT on the 206 stamp - correct?

US #206 does bear the original secret mark as applied by Continental to what we call #156.

Since a picture is reportedly worth a thousand (or so) words ... 156 on left, 206 on the right.

Additional information can be found here
https://stampsmarter.org/1847usa/18...Note01c.html
Don

ok, im stumped..... Can anyone tell me, secret mark or not? Sc 156?? I think not, as I believe its soft porous paper - Sc 182??

206, which was reengraved without secret mark.

Compare the upper scrolls in the beautiful stamps that JLLebbert posted above.

Ok, if I may, and hope not to confuse this. I started a draft after I found some more, but thought it might be better to continue on here.

Since then I've been pulling out my hair about soft paper, wove, hard paper, etc....

I now throw out a SOS. The single right above in the last post, is the left most below, then 2 more - center and right.




And the backs:





They come to me as, from left to right: Sc 156, Sc 182 and Sc 206. If the above is correct and the left most is Sc206, then the left and the right one should be the same - but to me they look different - the right one, the top background looks darker than the left one ( to me). The left one, the paper seems to have a checkerboard type pattern throughout that I dont think I see on the others.

So , what are they : From left to right - Sc206, ??, Sc206 ? This paper bit is puzzling to me also - but if I can get some help with these, I have 5-6 more, 3 im drying now, that id like to figure out too.

Thanks for any help. Wm

The way to determine a 206 is by the design. There are extra lines in the design at the top etc. If those design changes are there it is a 206 and neither the paper nor the secret mark matter at all. Both the left and right stamps are 206. No doubt whatsoever.

In the scroll work?? I see the detail image in the catalog - but as usual it's hard to understand what they are describing.... This:





Any way to tell what the middle one is?

Which lines are you referring to? Tks.