Worthy Of Sending For Cert?

If it turns up to be the real deal then it would also be the first mint copy of it, if I am not mistaken, as to all genuine copies found only being used copies so far.

The gum looks to me like a flat plate. Could you take another picture of the group from an angle with the light reflecting off the gum?

For a potentially valuable stamp, I wonder does the agency ask for the full payment up-front for the valuable variety before they will look at it, or do they just ask for the minimum $27 fee (read: free money) as a deposit assuming it is the common stamp?

Also remember when you mail the stamp to the Agency and insure it for the full amount, that could cost you another $100 or more which is not refundable if the stamp turns out to be not genuine or not valuable.

My vote is still "no", as we have not seen a proper template overlay demonstrating rotary height.
Secondly, the setoff on the reverse side does not occur on *all* flat plate impressions. Consider the first sheet of the day, which is the bottom of the stack, or the first sheet printed after lunch, etc Thus its absence in not necessarily confirmatory for rotary.

Rotary press sheet stamp gum tends to have vertical streaks/striations. Also, there would be horizontal gum breakers, but only for those rotary press stamps that were regularly perforated by a web-fed bar and wheel perforator which 613 was not.

If you really want to know send it in. No one else here can match that.

Hope it is a 613 ... but my money is on a 610. Incidentally, your chances of winning a multi-million dollar lottery are IMO significantly greater than your stamp being a 613. But hope springs eternal. Good luck.

So… I'm 90% confident that I could very well have a Scott 613. I've checked my 1923 2c black Harding stamp against all ways that I know: Perf 11, longer than a flat-plate template laid on top of it, no ink dots on the back. Are there other "inspections" that could pass it? The result of my poll is to PAY to have the stamp authenticated. The previous forum discussion on "choosing an Expertizing company/person" helped. Thank you for your posts and information.

I measured the printed design of the "stamp in question" by using the old wax paper sheets for making envelopes… and it measures 19x22.5mm, so I'm going to send it in. Two people that I sold stamps to on ebay looked at some pictures of the Harding stamps, and both said it was a 613. I won't believe it until an expert says it is. Thanks for the info. Peace out#9996;#65039;
Kara

Your "MeritGauge" is clearly positioned about .25mm too high. It is also not parallel to the stamp frame, further increasing the wrong measurement. I'd say the real measurement is short of 22mm in height.

kollectomaniac, can't you see your two gauges aren't even Evenly spaced apart from each other, how can the MeritGauge which is clearly askew, be giving you a careful measurement?
This certainly raises doubt about the care taken in other tests. (Also, drop the "ink specks" test, you are using it Backwards. Its presence mostly means it's a Flat plate printing, its absence cannot rule out anything as johnbecker has already pointed out.)
Finally, you don't have a scanner? Do you know you can scan the #610, #612, and test subject together, then Photo-Edit overlays what-have-you to check out the perforations and frame line dimensions? Of course, if the stamps are not laid down on scanner glass absolutely straight and true, the same can be done with photo-editing but you have to work at that. You should get your answer by then.

I don't have a scanner. And honestly, those POS perf gauges are bent lol
I will get some "spot on" pics soon, for y'all to render an educated opinion. And thank you for the input. Sending the stamp in for certification seems like a daunting experience, let alone sending one in unnecessarily. Stamps are hard!

I feel like Rodney Dangerfield with yous guys…"this is a tough crowd" hahaha

The crowd here is tough but fair. It can take some getting used to, but these people are smart, knowledgeable, and in some cases experts. Personally, I'd rather hear the harsh truth than not.