#65 On Cover Postmarked Sep 4. Enclosed Letter Dated 1861.

In a series of very helpful articles in the Chronicle, Michael McClung provided some extremely detailed information about #64-65 color variations. For Aug 1861 he recorded the following colors:

1. Pink
2. Lavender pink
3. Carmine pink
4. Rose pink
5. Deep rose pink
6. Salmon rose pink
7. Brilliant rose
8. Bright rose
9. Salmon rose

The next color group is listed as "late 1861". So at least 9 color variations for the first few months of production!

I thought this cover might be a shot at a pink. Postmarked Sept 4, and the enclosed letter is dated Sept 4, 1861. I struggle with the 64, 65 color variations. To me it looks more red than pink. Color thoughts?

Image from my scanner, but using a phone app with no settings. Image looks very close to true to the original.

Maybe I'm asking the wrong question, since it's hard to judge online image colors. Given the date of Sep 4, 1861, is the stamp more likely to be a 64, 64a, or 64b than it is a 65? With the 9 color varieties found by McClung, it seems that the 64 varieties have a very small window.

Hmm... is it not as active here as it was a few years ago? Or is this just one of those annoying topics, like "I think I have a 613!"

So I've decided to send it to PSE and see what they think. Although I'm not sure if that's the best place to send a cover like this, ive.never had anything certed.

I cant help but wonder how many color varieties they could have printed and delivered in the first 20 days or so. At the very least it improves the odds.

Ray

Sorry, but I sense at some point the audience tires of "what shade is this?" questions (asked by countless others), which are impossible to answer and often asked by novice treasure seekers. The points of different scanners, image processing and monitors have been beat to death also. I don't see how we can be of much help without comparing it in-person against a reference collection.

Thanks for the response. I get it. It was definitely the wrong way for me to approach this cover . I realized too late that I should have asked if anyone knew any other sources of information or had any other insights about the early days of this stamp. Anything rather than a color guess.

(I have 2 photos in different lighting, and it looks like 2 different stamps)

The impression and date of use certainly put the stamp on your cover in the range of better shades. If you wish to sell it, the PF has better acceptance that PSE in the public auction arena.