US Scott #1 - 1847 5c Franklin - Help With Color Variety

I'm restarting my USA collection from scratch after a few decades away from the hobby. I thought I'd start at the most natural place to start, so I purchased the iconic Scott #1, 1847 5c Franklin. I intend to get is certified, but in the meantime, I wanted to get some opinions on the color variety. Without references, the color looks red-brown (1b) to me, but using other online references as examples could also point to red-orange (1c) or brown-orange (1d). What do you guys think?

Online images are just about useless when trying to compare minor color differences. This topic has been discussed here exhaustively. One of the SCF moderators, Don (RIP) was all over the color topic (it was a passion) and a search on this forum will produce a ton of results.

https://stampsmarter.org/learning/G..._colors.html

Ask the certifying agency to tell you the color. Most likely, your stamp is the "common" color.

My experience is that the PF and PSE will not always tell you the color and will just default to the Scott-listed color unless you ask them to specifically double check the color - this is especially true when there is no value difference in the colors.

Pre,
I am curious as to *why* you wish to get this certified, whether for shade, condition, grade, etc?
Versus buying one with an existing cert which met your criteria?
If it comes back with a hidden fault, would you return it?
Clearly the Scott # is not in question.

For anyone interested in seeing every color, printing variety etc. of the 1847 issues please see the link below to William Gross's eight frame exhibit (Credit USPCS):

https://www.uspcs.org/resource-cent...-1847-issue/

Pre-1900s_Only as you have been out of the hobby for quite sometime, if you get this stamp certified as to color and condition do not ask for a grade. While this wonderful four margin stamp has good to wide margins, it will not be "officially" graded well as the large margins are not balanced. It looks wonderful and I would happily have it in my album. However, "collectors" of high grade stamps are not normally caring for anything about color varieties nor much else beyond centering and equal margin perfection.

@parcelpostguy. I don't agree that this stamp would grade low because the large margins are not balances. The PF and PSE will judge the centering as if it was rectangular with the smallest dimensions that will fit. Unless there are hidden faults, it would grade 85 or 90. The stamp certainly doesn't need to be graded, but if OP wanted to grade it, it would grade well - and he can specify a minimum grade on the cert application in case he's worried.

Comes up on my monitor standard red brown (but could look different to others) . I would agree with Philazilla grade 85-90, presuming it's without faults .