Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Really Washington/Franklin head stamps 1908-1921 are only difficult if you make them difficult!
Just use common sense!
1898
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04:18:17pm
It's not the fact that they don't show up well, some times they barely show up at all. The double line watermarks are easy because they are much larger and all stamps on a sheet show parts of the watermark. The single line watermarks are smaller and in some cases all you can find on a stamp is a small section of it. It's not that it's difficult to see when you find it, sometimes it is difficult to find.
No offence intended, but common sense has absolutely nothing to do with watermarks. You need fairly good eyesight and patience. And sometimes it can be a bit difficult unless patience is used! Just my opinion.
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I agree Harvey.
The Washington/Franklin series certainly ranks number #1 most challenging to identify among all US stamps.
And without question the yellow/orange colored watermarked Washington/Franklin’s are among the most challenging to ID the watermarks for any stamps in the world. This is confirmed by countless articles over the years and by the number of questions that come up on both Stamp Smarter and the SCF forum. The dandy roller on the watermarked Washington/Franklins did not have a high relief and this is a significant factor in what makes them so challenging.
In many (majority?) of the watermarked yellow and orange colored stamps the only way to see the watermark is to watch for the ‘flash’. The ‘flash’ is the few second period that occurs just before the watermark fluid completely dries on the stamp. It is in these few seconds that many W/F watermarks reveal themselves and allows to make a confident decision on the watermark.
Additionally, and unlike the watermarks of many other countries, the W/F watermarks can occur in almost any orientation.
Because of these factors, I am unsure on what 1898 means when he claims US watermarks are ‘common sense’ especially for casual collectors who do not specialize in US stamps.
Don
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05:13:59pm
The Washington/Franklin series is, as Don says, challenging. I can remember my wife and I spending several hours struggling with them. It was still fun, but a challenge at times. It wasn't only the watermarks, sometimes the many different color shades could be a challenge as well! There is no way I would ever go back and recheck what we managed to accomplish. My eye sight and patience was much better then than it is now. I do have a very large number of the stamps and varieties and I've checked a few and found no mistakes. That's good enough for me. Anyone who claims they are easy to figure out, well it's a mystery to me!!!
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The flash system does work, I wonder if using colored filters and the flash system would it be right and proper advantage using both, what does anyone think?
Does any body have a system they use to watermark? I'd like to hear about your system?
1898
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04:01:17pm
Some people complain about single line watermarks on Washington/Franklin head stamps 1908-1921, a trick you might try is obtain a right and proper green and red glass filters, these will darken the paper making it easier to see these types of watermarks!
Really Washington/Franklin head stamps 1908-1921 are only difficult if you make them difficult!
Just use common sense!
1898
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This is my diabetic cat OBI! I think, therefore I am - I think! Descartes, sort of!
24 Oct 2023
04:18:17pm
re: Single Line Watermarks
It's not the fact that they don't show up well, some times they barely show up at all. The double line watermarks are easy because they are much larger and all stamps on a sheet show parts of the watermark. The single line watermarks are smaller and in some cases all you can find on a stamp is a small section of it. It's not that it's difficult to see when you find it, sometimes it is difficult to find.
No offence intended, but common sense has absolutely nothing to do with watermarks. You need fairly good eyesight and patience. And sometimes it can be a bit difficult unless patience is used! Just my opinion.
5 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.
re: Single Line Watermarks
I agree Harvey.
The Washington/Franklin series certainly ranks number #1 most challenging to identify among all US stamps.
And without question the yellow/orange colored watermarked Washington/Franklin’s are among the most challenging to ID the watermarks for any stamps in the world. This is confirmed by countless articles over the years and by the number of questions that come up on both Stamp Smarter and the SCF forum. The dandy roller on the watermarked Washington/Franklins did not have a high relief and this is a significant factor in what makes them so challenging.
In many (majority?) of the watermarked yellow and orange colored stamps the only way to see the watermark is to watch for the ‘flash’. The ‘flash’ is the few second period that occurs just before the watermark fluid completely dries on the stamp. It is in these few seconds that many W/F watermarks reveal themselves and allows to make a confident decision on the watermark.
Additionally, and unlike the watermarks of many other countries, the W/F watermarks can occur in almost any orientation.
Because of these factors, I am unsure on what 1898 means when he claims US watermarks are ‘common sense’ especially for casual collectors who do not specialize in US stamps.
Don
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This is my diabetic cat OBI! I think, therefore I am - I think! Descartes, sort of!
24 Oct 2023
05:13:59pm
re: Single Line Watermarks
The Washington/Franklin series is, as Don says, challenging. I can remember my wife and I spending several hours struggling with them. It was still fun, but a challenge at times. It wasn't only the watermarks, sometimes the many different color shades could be a challenge as well! There is no way I would ever go back and recheck what we managed to accomplish. My eye sight and patience was much better then than it is now. I do have a very large number of the stamps and varieties and I've checked a few and found no mistakes. That's good enough for me. Anyone who claims they are easy to figure out, well it's a mystery to me!!!
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09:35:39pm
re: Single Line Watermarks
The flash system does work, I wonder if using colored filters and the flash system would it be right and proper advantage using both, what does anyone think?
Does any body have a system they use to watermark? I'd like to hear about your system?
1898
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