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Asia/China : Hong Kong ID Help

 

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mbo1142
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I thought I was wrong once, but I was mistaken.

11 Mar 2018
05:17:59pm
How do you tell the difference between Hong Kong Scott #277a and #316. Both WM 373, Both Perf 14 1/2 X 14, Both are size 20 X 24 mm and both are bright purple. See image.


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What am I missing? Thanks for any help.

Mel

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Ningpo
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11 Mar 2018
05:25:14pm
re: Hong Kong ID Help

You've misinterpreted the catalogue. The first was issued in 1973 with upright watermark. The second issue from the 1975 issue was actually printed in 1979 and has a sideways watermark.

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mbo1142
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I thought I was wrong once, but I was mistaken.

11 Mar 2018
05:57:39pm
re: Hong Kong ID Help

Ningpo,

Thanks for your quick response, but I am still confused. I read the Cat as follows:

Scott #277 issued 1973, WM 314 Upright.
Scott #277a issued 1975 - 78, WM 373 (does not say if upright or sideways)
Scott #316 issued 1976 - 81, WM 373 (does not say if upright or sideways)

I may be reading the WM wrong as it is difficult to see, but my best guess is 373.

Wait!! I think I got it. The 316 is unwmkd? and the only stamps that are WM in the 1976-81 issue are the 316 and 317. Believe I was reading that backwards. If correct, please confirm.

Thanks for all your help.

Mel

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Linus
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11 Mar 2018
06:06:54pm
re: Hong Kong ID Help

Mel,

The Scott catalogue is kind of confusing on this one. Scott #316 is actually unwatermarked. Check the snippet below, which is above Scott #316. Watermark 373 is only on #320-323, with the rest being unwatermarked. Notice the comma after (#320-323)... that is what the catalogue is trying to tell you. I also double-checked it in my Scott Specialty album for Hong Kong and Scott #316 is titled as unwatermarked there also.

Linus

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sheepshanks
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11 Mar 2018
06:29:50pm
re: Hong Kong ID Help

And good luck trying to actually see the watermarks!

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Ningpo
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11 Mar 2018
06:31:24pm
re: Hong Kong ID Help

If this is unwatermarked, then its from the third series issued in 1976. I only have a Gibbons reference at the moment and it is SG342.

These series can be confusing as the actual issue dates of individual stamps tend to overlap.

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mbo1142
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I thought I was wrong once, but I was mistaken.

11 Mar 2018
06:41:24pm
re: Hong Kong ID Help

Thank everyone for your help. It is quite confusing. I believe I figured it out in my previous post as Linus pointed out. I was reading it wrong. Sheepshanks, you are correct regarding the watermark. That probably also added to my confusion.

Reason number 37 I do not collect world wide. I will stick with my Washington/Franklins.

Again thank everyone for your help. Knew I could count on SOR members.

Mel

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Linus
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11 Mar 2018
06:50:13pm
re: Hong Kong ID Help

Ningpo, I thought I would answer this one with a snippet from the Scott catalogue, as Scott #316 is from the third series, and Scott is very tricky in their titles.

Sheepshanks, Watermark 373 is especially difficult to see, but if you collect blocks of 4 like me, you have a better chance of seeing the pattern.

Linus

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sheepshanks
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11 Mar 2018
07:35:44pm
re: Hong Kong ID Help

Ah to be able to afford to collect in multiples. Seriously, I have the greatest of difficulties trying to watermark stamps on coloured paper or of deep, rich colour ink and more so when the stamps are used.
On a different kick, I find that my eye (could be my brain, if I had one) draws a line down the back of the Machin head on GB stamps when looking for phosphor lines.
Oh the joys of watermarks and tags.

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michael78651

11 Mar 2018
08:41:11pm
re: Hong Kong ID Help

What I have noticed with stamps with Watermark 373 is that (this works for unused or MNH stamps) is that the back of the stamp has a greenish or bluish tint. Stamps with other watermarks generally have a white or yellow back. I am not sure if this is the gum, but it probably is.

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Linus
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11 Mar 2018
11:31:14pm
re: Hong Kong ID Help

Michael, good point, I was not aware of that on mint stamps.

Mel and all... When I am looking at used stamps for watermarks, and before I look through a batch of Hong Kong for Watermark 373 on single stamps, I will get out one of my used blocks that I know has Watermark 373. Scanned below is one of those blocks. You rarely see much of the crowns of this watermark, so I just look for CA in a descending pattern. (I drew some light lines on my example below, just so you can see what I am talking about.) The CA stairsteps across the block. Sometimes you can see it easy and sometimes not. Once I see the pattern I am looking for, it becomes easier to see Watermark 373 on single stamps, but you will always have some stamps you are not quite sure about. Single stamps will look like one of the six in this block, CA at the top, CA in the middle, or CA across the bottom, because it's a repeating pattern. Hope this helps.

Linus

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mbo1142
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I thought I was wrong once, but I was mistaken.

12 Mar 2018
09:45:37am
re: Hong Kong ID Help

Linus,

The pic of the upper right stamp in your post is exactly what I was seeing. That is why I thought it was WM 373.

This is what I get for trying to sort, as Dave would say, a "hoard" of stamps. Winter project. Do not worry, I have enough left over for a couple of more winters.

Mel

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Linus
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12 Mar 2018
12:51:34pm
re: Hong Kong ID Help

Mel,

Your stamp is Hong Kong Scott #277a Wmk 373 sideways.

According to my Yang Hong Kong catalogue, in the 10 cent to $20 definitive set with Wmk 373, the 10c, 20c, 25c, 50c, 65c, and $1 are all sideways watermarked and the rest are upright watermarked. Scott leaves out this information.

As Michael would say, "Scott leaves out A LOT of information."

Linus

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Author/Postings
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mbo1142

I thought I was wrong once, but I was mistaken.
11 Mar 2018
05:17:59pm

How do you tell the difference between Hong Kong Scott #277a and #316. Both WM 373, Both Perf 14 1/2 X 14, Both are size 20 X 24 mm and both are bright purple. See image.


Image Not Found

What am I missing? Thanks for any help.

Mel

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this post
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Ningpo

11 Mar 2018
05:25:14pm

re: Hong Kong ID Help

You've misinterpreted the catalogue. The first was issued in 1973 with upright watermark. The second issue from the 1975 issue was actually printed in 1979 and has a sideways watermark.

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this post
Members Picture
mbo1142

I thought I was wrong once, but I was mistaken.
11 Mar 2018
05:57:39pm

re: Hong Kong ID Help

Ningpo,

Thanks for your quick response, but I am still confused. I read the Cat as follows:

Scott #277 issued 1973, WM 314 Upright.
Scott #277a issued 1975 - 78, WM 373 (does not say if upright or sideways)
Scott #316 issued 1976 - 81, WM 373 (does not say if upright or sideways)

I may be reading the WM wrong as it is difficult to see, but my best guess is 373.

Wait!! I think I got it. The 316 is unwmkd? and the only stamps that are WM in the 1976-81 issue are the 316 and 317. Believe I was reading that backwards. If correct, please confirm.

Thanks for all your help.

Mel

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this post
Members Picture
Linus

11 Mar 2018
06:06:54pm

re: Hong Kong ID Help

Mel,

The Scott catalogue is kind of confusing on this one. Scott #316 is actually unwatermarked. Check the snippet below, which is above Scott #316. Watermark 373 is only on #320-323, with the rest being unwatermarked. Notice the comma after (#320-323)... that is what the catalogue is trying to tell you. I also double-checked it in my Scott Specialty album for Hong Kong and Scott #316 is titled as unwatermarked there also.

Linus

Image Not Found

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sheepshanks

11 Mar 2018
06:29:50pm

re: Hong Kong ID Help

And good luck trying to actually see the watermarks!

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Ningpo

11 Mar 2018
06:31:24pm

re: Hong Kong ID Help

If this is unwatermarked, then its from the third series issued in 1976. I only have a Gibbons reference at the moment and it is SG342.

These series can be confusing as the actual issue dates of individual stamps tend to overlap.

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
mbo1142

I thought I was wrong once, but I was mistaken.
11 Mar 2018
06:41:24pm

re: Hong Kong ID Help

Thank everyone for your help. It is quite confusing. I believe I figured it out in my previous post as Linus pointed out. I was reading it wrong. Sheepshanks, you are correct regarding the watermark. That probably also added to my confusion.

Reason number 37 I do not collect world wide. I will stick with my Washington/Franklins.

Again thank everyone for your help. Knew I could count on SOR members.

Mel

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Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
Linus

11 Mar 2018
06:50:13pm

re: Hong Kong ID Help

Ningpo, I thought I would answer this one with a snippet from the Scott catalogue, as Scott #316 is from the third series, and Scott is very tricky in their titles.

Sheepshanks, Watermark 373 is especially difficult to see, but if you collect blocks of 4 like me, you have a better chance of seeing the pattern.

Linus

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
sheepshanks

11 Mar 2018
07:35:44pm

re: Hong Kong ID Help

Ah to be able to afford to collect in multiples. Seriously, I have the greatest of difficulties trying to watermark stamps on coloured paper or of deep, rich colour ink and more so when the stamps are used.
On a different kick, I find that my eye (could be my brain, if I had one) draws a line down the back of the Machin head on GB stamps when looking for phosphor lines.
Oh the joys of watermarks and tags.

Like
Login to Like
this post
michael78651

11 Mar 2018
08:41:11pm

re: Hong Kong ID Help

What I have noticed with stamps with Watermark 373 is that (this works for unused or MNH stamps) is that the back of the stamp has a greenish or bluish tint. Stamps with other watermarks generally have a white or yellow back. I am not sure if this is the gum, but it probably is.

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
Linus

11 Mar 2018
11:31:14pm

re: Hong Kong ID Help

Michael, good point, I was not aware of that on mint stamps.

Mel and all... When I am looking at used stamps for watermarks, and before I look through a batch of Hong Kong for Watermark 373 on single stamps, I will get out one of my used blocks that I know has Watermark 373. Scanned below is one of those blocks. You rarely see much of the crowns of this watermark, so I just look for CA in a descending pattern. (I drew some light lines on my example below, just so you can see what I am talking about.) The CA stairsteps across the block. Sometimes you can see it easy and sometimes not. Once I see the pattern I am looking for, it becomes easier to see Watermark 373 on single stamps, but you will always have some stamps you are not quite sure about. Single stamps will look like one of the six in this block, CA at the top, CA in the middle, or CA across the bottom, because it's a repeating pattern. Hope this helps.

Linus

Image Not Found

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
mbo1142

I thought I was wrong once, but I was mistaken.
12 Mar 2018
09:45:37am

re: Hong Kong ID Help

Linus,

The pic of the upper right stamp in your post is exactly what I was seeing. That is why I thought it was WM 373.

This is what I get for trying to sort, as Dave would say, a "hoard" of stamps. Winter project. Do not worry, I have enough left over for a couple of more winters.

Mel

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
Linus

12 Mar 2018
12:51:34pm

re: Hong Kong ID Help

Mel,

Your stamp is Hong Kong Scott #277a Wmk 373 sideways.

According to my Yang Hong Kong catalogue, in the 10 cent to $20 definitive set with Wmk 373, the 10c, 20c, 25c, 50c, 65c, and $1 are all sideways watermarked and the rest are upright watermarked. Scott leaves out this information.

As Michael would say, "Scott leaves out A LOT of information."

Linus

Like
Login to Like
this post
        

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