I do not know about the green X-mas, but if you examine the printer's info along the bottom margin you will realize that the two in your scan are different printings.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1703D-CHRISTMAS-RED-OMITTED-MAJOR-ERROR-HV743-/170769426906?hash=item27c2a6a9da
The one in the above auction lot looks quite similar to yours.
Since the eBay seller doesn't offer a certificate with that stamp, I would be very hesitant to buy it.
I would say that the stamps have been exposed to light, and the colors have faded. It is very easy to create a fake of this stamp by leaving it in the sunlight for a while.
Also see the warning about this stamp in the Scott US Specialized. The stamp is commonly found with some or most of the red or yellow missing. To verify if the stamp is one of the errors, it will be necessary to put the stamp under high magnification and see if there is any hint of red ink (yellow ink for that error). There must be 0% of the purported missing color present on the stamp.
As Charlie mentioned, you are also comparing the suspect stamp with the wrong printing. You have to compare the suspect stamp with the correct printing.
One other thing is your suspect stamp is used. The error is not known in used condition.
I appreciate the feedback, I am aware that these are two different stamps.
Michael thanks for the microscope tip, looking at the stamp with a glass shows no sign of red however under the microscope a few tiny red dots in the sled are present as well as some other traces in the hats and scarfs, not much but it's there. A (soon to be) senior moment for not checking with a microscope, it sits on my desk within arms reach.
Another stamp that is often offered as a color missing error is the Lyndon Johnson stamp (Scott #1503). It, too, is subject to easy fading. There are no known color missing errors for this stamp.
Found this in a pile of junk, is this a red omitted?
re: Possible Scott US 1703 d ?
I do not know about the green X-mas, but if you examine the printer's info along the bottom margin you will realize that the two in your scan are different printings.
re: Possible Scott US 1703 d ?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1703D-CHRISTMAS-RED-OMITTED-MAJOR-ERROR-HV743-/170769426906?hash=item27c2a6a9da
The one in the above auction lot looks quite similar to yours.
re: Possible Scott US 1703 d ?
Since the eBay seller doesn't offer a certificate with that stamp, I would be very hesitant to buy it.
I would say that the stamps have been exposed to light, and the colors have faded. It is very easy to create a fake of this stamp by leaving it in the sunlight for a while.
Also see the warning about this stamp in the Scott US Specialized. The stamp is commonly found with some or most of the red or yellow missing. To verify if the stamp is one of the errors, it will be necessary to put the stamp under high magnification and see if there is any hint of red ink (yellow ink for that error). There must be 0% of the purported missing color present on the stamp.
As Charlie mentioned, you are also comparing the suspect stamp with the wrong printing. You have to compare the suspect stamp with the correct printing.
One other thing is your suspect stamp is used. The error is not known in used condition.
re: Possible Scott US 1703 d ?
I appreciate the feedback, I am aware that these are two different stamps.
Michael thanks for the microscope tip, looking at the stamp with a glass shows no sign of red however under the microscope a few tiny red dots in the sled are present as well as some other traces in the hats and scarfs, not much but it's there. A (soon to be) senior moment for not checking with a microscope, it sits on my desk within arms reach.
re: Possible Scott US 1703 d ?
Another stamp that is often offered as a color missing error is the Lyndon Johnson stamp (Scott #1503). It, too, is subject to easy fading. There are no known color missing errors for this stamp.