daver
**Member** 
Posts: 33
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Post by daver on Feb 3, 2022 3:19:16 GMT
I have run across this 2 cent Washington stamp which I think was sold via a vending machine made by the Schermack Company. It is a type III perforation used from 1908 to 1928. The stamp has no watermark.  My research using The Expert's Book for identification of the Washington/Franklin issues of 1908-1923 by Paul Schmid indicates it might be a type Ia which has the following traits: - Single shading line in top fold of left ribbon and bottom fold of right ribbon.   - The top line of the toga rope, the outline of the toga button, and the shading lines of the toga are all strong. The button is often so strong that it appears almost as if it were recut.  - The first shading line after the first fold of the right ribbon often appears as an unbroken line but there may be one or two distinct breaks.  - The lock of hair on Washington's cheek will have a vertical line along its left edge, joining about 3 or 4 of the horizontal lines in the cheek. - Directly below the ear there are several shading lines which are clearly severed, resulting in the appearance of a thin, white, vertical line. - The two lines of shading in the lock of hair directly to the right of the ear are of different lengths.  The dark line forming the bottom of the mouth is straight across the bottom, or it may even curve slightly upward at the corner.  - The top right laurel berry has only a single shading dot and this can be quite large.  Schmid's book states that if it is an imperforate, does not have a watermark, and it is a type Ia, then it is a 482A. My question is, do you think it is worth expertizing this stamp, or have I got something obviously wrong? Thanks! |
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banknoteguy
Member 
Posts: 284
What I collect: 19th Century US, High denomination US (> $1), 19th century covers US, Indian Feudatory States and most recently I acquired a BigBlue [with about 5,000 stamps] and pristine pages.
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Post by banknoteguy on Feb 3, 2022 3:40:44 GMT
While I am not an expert on these, the toga button is the key and it looks right. The other key is it is Schermack perfed. You should also post an image of the back.
I think this is worth sending for certification.
One way to create a forgery would be to trim the perfs off a 500 and add the Schermack perforations but this has very wide margins and I have never seen a perfed W/F with this wide of margins. So you might post close ups of the edges.
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banknoteguy
Member
Posts: 284
What I collect: 19th Century US, High denomination US (> $1), 19th century covers US, Indian Feudatory States and most recently I acquired a BigBlue [with about 5,000 stamps] and pristine pages.
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Post by banknoteguy on Feb 3, 2022 3:51:09 GMT
I would think an expert on W/F stamps might be able to tell you the dates that the cancellation was in use. That might also be a key feature as the earliest documented use of a 482A is Feb 1920 (according to my Scott specialized -- 2014).
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khj
Member
Posts: 1,467 
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Post by khj on Feb 3, 2022 9:59:11 GMT
First of all, thank you for posting so many great hi-res pictures. Very helpful for proper ID of this difficult series. Not an expert on Washington-Franklins, but... ...in the 3rd row of dots above the nostril, I see 4 clear dots instead of 6. To me, that is sufficient to indicate Type Va, which would make it Scott US #534(EKU 24Jun1920). As I understand it, all other types except for Type Va have 6 clear dots in that row. My non-expert opinion. |
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banknoteguy
Member
Posts: 284
What I collect: 19th Century US, High denomination US (> $1), 19th century covers US, Indian Feudatory States and most recently I acquired a BigBlue [with about 5,000 stamps] and pristine pages.
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Post by banknoteguy on Feb 3, 2022 11:49:56 GMT
After sleeping on this, there is one other way this could be a forgery. Not only does the stamp need to be unwatermarked, imperforate with Schermack perfs added and Type Ia but it also has to be Flat Plate printed (recess) rather that Offset (Lithography). The main difference is that FP printing has a sharp 3D like feel and Offset is a surface printing technology that is not as sharply defined. If the stamp is offset printed then it could be a 534 as khj indicated with fake Schermack perfs.
So post a higher resolution scan of the entire stamp with as little border as possible.
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banknoteguy
Member
Posts: 284
What I collect: 19th Century US, High denomination US (> $1), 19th century covers US, Indian Feudatory States and most recently I acquired a BigBlue [with about 5,000 stamps] and pristine pages.
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Post by banknoteguy on Feb 3, 2022 11:57:33 GMT
Here are a couple genuine 482As from (Siegel) - I would note that none of the 482As certified has a cancel like yours:
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khj
Member
Posts: 1,467
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Post by khj on Feb 3, 2022 18:34:24 GMT
You can see from the pictures of the Type Ia supplied by banknoteguy, there are 6 clear dots in the 3rd row above the nostril for Scott US #482A. The example shown by daver only has 4 clear dots, indicating it can only be Type Va. But you can check to printing method to further convince yourself. The used Schermack for the Type Va (Scott US #534) is actually cheaper than the normal used imperforate stamp. I don't think you have a fake Schermack perf. Rather, I think it is a Scott US #534 with the left Schermack perfs trimmed off or mis-torn/mis-cut from the machine? |
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banknoteguy
Member
Posts: 284
What I collect: 19th Century US, High denomination US (> $1), 19th century covers US, Indian Feudatory States and most recently I acquired a BigBlue [with about 5,000 stamps] and pristine pages.
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Post by banknoteguy on Feb 3, 2022 18:55:01 GMT
I have to agree and conclude the same as khj that this is a 534 with Schermack perfs. I did not have a catalog that listed private perforations by Scott number.
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Post by mdroth on Feb 5, 2022 1:56:49 GMT
Well, I don't do nostrils, but regardless, I agree w/KHJ...
It is a 534.
1st picture is all we needed. It is very obviously an offset printing...
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Post by mdroth on Feb 5, 2022 1:59:52 GMT
Just so you can learn the difference - compare this stamp with one you have that you know is an engraved stamp.
Run your finger - lightly - across the surface.
The engraved stamp will seem to have 'ridges' - the surface will not be smooth...
This stamp (the one you believe is a 482A) will seem extremely smooth in comparison.
Offset printing has a smooth surface.
Engraved stamps have a 'texture' that is not as smooth.
(482A is an engraved stamp...)
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daver
**Member**
Posts: 33
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Post by daver on Feb 6, 2022 16:14:26 GMT
Thanks everyone for the knowledge you contributed! I agree with the consensus that it not a 482A but a 534.  I have contacted my real estate agent in Hawaii and cancelled my house hunt. |
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I have contacted my real estate agent in Hawaii and cancelled my house hunt.