Monday, April 29, 2024

USA 1909 Scott 369 2c carmine "Lincoln" "Bluish paper"

1909 Scott 267-369-368 2c carmine "Lincoln"
Center Scott 369 - "Bluish" paper
i-phone camera pic

Into the Deep Blue

The 1909 2c carmine "Lincoln" is an interesting stamp - both in terms of origin, as well as the "bluish" ,paper variant.

1909 Scott 367 2c carmine "Lincoln"
12 Perf- 100% Wood Pulp Paper, CV $4+

The "Lincoln" stamp came about because the regular issue "Washington-Jefferson's" of 1908-09 did not include a "Lincoln" stamp, and there was an uproar among the public and congress. Fortunately, the hundred year anniversary of Lincoln's birth was Feb 12, 1909, so a the chastised postal officials put out a "Lincoln Centenary of Birth" issue.

1909 Scott 368 2c carmine "Lincoln" Imperforate
12 Perf- 100% Wood Pulp Paper, CV $15

Also at this time, the postal authorities were experimenting with 35% rag paper rather than 100% wood pulp paper to see if that would reduce paper shrinkage during the stamp manufacturing process. It didn't. 

1909 Scott 369 2c carmine "Lincoln"
12 Perf- 35% rag content "bluish", CV $150

Included in the 35% rag paper experiment was the 2c carmine "Lincoln". Sheets of these (not many) so called "bluish paper" stamps were released along with the usual 100% wood pulp paper stamps.

They now command a CV (unused) of $150.

1909 Scott 267-369-368 2c carmine "Lincoln"
Center Scott 369 - "Bluish" paper
Scan

Ok, here is a scan of the "bluish paper" Scott 369 in the center. The paper appears darker- more gray- than the other examples. The scan tends to wash out the difference compared to the human eye.

1909 Scott 267-369-368 2c carmine "Lincoln"
Center Scott 369 - "Bluish" paper
Reverse Side - Scan

The reverse shows the difference better- more tan-gray in actuality than "bluish"

1909 Scott 267-369-368 2c carmine "Lincoln"
Center Scott 369 - "Bluish" paper
i-phone 13 camera

I took a pic with my i-phone, which perhaps shows the shade difference better.

Out of the Blue

So is my recently acquired "bluish" paper Scott 369 a genuine example? I think so, but would need to get a Cert to be sure.

Comments appreciated!

4 comments:

  1. Nice showing and clear explanation .

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  2. Certainly looks the same as my 369. Another way to get the tan/gray to show up is to test the stamps against an orange background. Then the bluish paper still isn't blue, but really jumps out at you! Take care, Jim-- Ray

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    Replies
    1. Ray - Yes I read about that trick after I posted the blog. Neat trick!

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