Top and bottom perfs are dead on 11 3/4 (I'm using Scotts Multi-Gage). I enhanced the contrast to help show the watermark on the back I am tyying to figure out the Cat #.
I see the conundrum you're having. If the perfs are all 11 3/4 on all sides, then yes it was re-perfed but only on 2 sides. Neither stamp is really worth anything of real value, so why re-perf?
From design and printing I'm going with Scott # 96. The difference between 96 & 96a is really the perfs. Both have a combination of 11 3/4 perfs with 96 having an 11 1/4 perf and 96a having a 12 1/4 perf.
Trying to differentiate the color from photos or scans is always problematic. However, 96a has a dark Green also on the stamp with the Blackish green. If you can see 2 colors on the stamp than it would be 96a if not than 96.
That's my 2 cents worth, I hope it helps. Good luck.
StampHunting, Thanks! The color is green, not blackish green. I have quite a few of these stamps. Is there a catalog you can reccomend that whoul help me identify early Switzerland stamps? The crazy thing is the perfs are dead on perfect 11 3/4 x 11 1/4. If it was reperfed, you would think that some would be slightly off.
Zumstein is the catalog you want to find. ebay is usually the best bet in the US. The newer ones, 2010 on?, have a section that shows all the perf variations, and a scaled box you use to set the stamp on to check perfs all around at once. Also remember that dates are an important factor, even the catalogs say it's the best way to determine which stamp you might have.
Green 50c Standing Helvetia was with 13 teeth was only issued twice. Only one of those two has the cross in oval control mark which this has. Scott 96, Zum 74D, Mi 69YC. Issued 1899 ish. I've inquired with Zumstein about weird perforation matches and they said that sometimes the stamps would get stretched when pulled from the envelope. However, might be worth flagging in case, at some point it is realized there was a limited run with a different perforation type.
Disclaimer: While a tremendous amount of effort goes into ensuring the accuracy of the information contained in this site, Stamp Community assumes no liability for errors. Copyright 2005 - 2026 Stamp Community Family - All rights reserved worldwide. Use of any images or content on this website without prior written permission of Stamp Community or the original lender is strictly prohibited. Privacy Policy / Terms of UseAdvertise Here
Posted 01/07/2025 08:59 am
