Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
What do you do first, and why?
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06:33:34pm
I know this isn't answering your question but thankfully I'll never end up in that situation. Except for the ridiculously expensive W/F's I have almost all of them. There are only 11 gaps in my album and most are very pricey, of course some are omitted from the album. I had the patience for these stamps years ago but I do not have it anymore! My wife was the one with patience, she figured most of them out, not me! So if I were to end up with 100 W/F's I would probably pass them on to you!
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Well Joe, maybe me!
I really like sorting them!
I head to https://www.theswedishtiger.com/ID.html
the 1c franklin heads are easy separate those from the washington heads.
All except coils are perf 12.
Get your watermark detector/fluid out!
Single line: 374 used 5c mint $1
Double line?
either 331 normal paper or 357 bluish paper
Get put a sheet of orange paper, and put the stamps on, it helps to have a copy of the bluish paper, and suddenly the difference is obvious.
I have two copies I cherrypicked, one mint and one used, makes it a breeze.
If you do not have 357, then head to https://www.theswedishtiger.com/ID.html!
Washington Head:
So many types...
head to https://www.theswedishtiger.com/ID.html
-Ari 
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07:52:22pm
I got all the ones you mention!! If I ever end up with a bunch of W/F's they're yours!!!
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Thanks Joe!
It is on of my favorite things to do!
A watermark detector is a VERY good investment in my opinion!
-Ari 
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I use a cheap black cermic tile and eye dropper, works really good and it's cheap!
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Here is what I do in my order.
1) Measure perforations if needs be and separate into piles. Perforation 12, 11, 10 and compound perforations etc...
2) Check watermarks and break piles down even further double line, single line and un-watermarked.
3) Once the first 2 steps are completed. I then separate by design type. This gets real tedious especially with the 2 cent red Washington after all there are 7 different design types.
4) Then separate flat plate press and rotary press types. This gets to be real tedious too.
5) Take out what I want for the collection.
6) With the remaining surplus I search for EFO's then. You'd be surprised with what you'll find hiding in plain sight.
7) Try and get rid of the true surplus which I have found to be the biggest challenge. Sometimes I can't even give that material away.
Jeremy
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Jeremy, bravo!
A method better than mine. I will have to try yours out. Like the perf piles idea.
Stamps for the wounded is your best option!
I can mail you an info card!
-Ari
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Denomination
Design
Darn Watermarks
Dang Flat vs Rotary
Duh Error/ oddities check
My 5D approach I do with a stack at least twice a year- only twice as it is often frustrating yet satisfying at the same time
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Stampsmarter has a nice identifier.
https://stampsmarter.org/features/SQL_Wa ...
You enter in the various aspects and it will show the varieties.
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11:49:51am
Two pages from my collection! One each way, very very odd!!!
I managed to fix it!! I took the image and rotated it to the right 90 degrees, that turned it upside down - no good!! I turned that image 180 degrees which fixed the problem! I guess now I have a formula, 90 degrees to the left should fix it in one step! NO MORE COMPLAINTS NEXT TIME, hopefully!!
Note: I don't really collect US booklet panes or perfins but occasionally I do pick them up. Is a perfin considered to be mint or is it used as a precancel is if the stamp has not been used?
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@Harvey
As you suggested in another posting for your numerous side wise photos "just put your computer on the floor and lay down at an angle to view."
Seems like a lot of work, I bet not many members actually do as you said.
But I guess it works good.
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03:07:24pm
No problem David! If I have this figured out properly one 90 degree turn to the left should fix the problem - I HOPE!!!!!
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Funny!
I like your stamps
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Lets say you have a hundred of these one cent stamps, and they are ready to be identified.
What do you do first, and why?
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Back when I had a bunch! I think, therefore I am - I think! Descartes, sort of!
30 Aug 2025
06:33:34pm
re: Washington/Franklin head stamps 1908-1921
I know this isn't answering your question but thankfully I'll never end up in that situation. Except for the ridiculously expensive W/F's I have almost all of them. There are only 11 gaps in my album and most are very pricey, of course some are omitted from the album. I had the patience for these stamps years ago but I do not have it anymore! My wife was the one with patience, she figured most of them out, not me! So if I were to end up with 100 W/F's I would probably pass them on to you!
1 Member
likes this post.
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re: Washington/Franklin head stamps 1908-1921
Well Joe, maybe me!
I really like sorting them!
I head to https://www.theswedishtiger.com/ID.html
the 1c franklin heads are easy separate those from the washington heads.
All except coils are perf 12.
Get your watermark detector/fluid out!
Single line: 374 used 5c mint $1
Double line?
either 331 normal paper or 357 bluish paper
Get put a sheet of orange paper, and put the stamps on, it helps to have a copy of the bluish paper, and suddenly the difference is obvious.
I have two copies I cherrypicked, one mint and one used, makes it a breeze.
If you do not have 357, then head to https://www.theswedishtiger.com/ID.html!
Washington Head:
So many types...
head to https://www.theswedishtiger.com/ID.html
-Ari
2 Members
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Back when I had a bunch! I think, therefore I am - I think! Descartes, sort of!
30 Aug 2025
07:52:22pm
re: Washington/Franklin head stamps 1908-1921
I got all the ones you mention!! If I ever end up with a bunch of W/F's they're yours!!!
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Approvals
re: Washington/Franklin head stamps 1908-1921
Thanks Joe!
It is on of my favorite things to do!
A watermark detector is a VERY good investment in my opinion!
-Ari
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this post
re: Washington/Franklin head stamps 1908-1921
I use a cheap black cermic tile and eye dropper, works really good and it's cheap!
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this post
11:36:18am
re: Washington/Franklin head stamps 1908-1921
Here is what I do in my order.
1) Measure perforations if needs be and separate into piles. Perforation 12, 11, 10 and compound perforations etc...
2) Check watermarks and break piles down even further double line, single line and un-watermarked.
3) Once the first 2 steps are completed. I then separate by design type. This gets real tedious especially with the 2 cent red Washington after all there are 7 different design types.
4) Then separate flat plate press and rotary press types. This gets to be real tedious too.
5) Take out what I want for the collection.
6) With the remaining surplus I search for EFO's then. You'd be surprised with what you'll find hiding in plain sight.
7) Try and get rid of the true surplus which I have found to be the biggest challenge. Sometimes I can't even give that material away.
Jeremy
4 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.
Approvals
re: Washington/Franklin head stamps 1908-1921
Jeremy, bravo!
A method better than mine. I will have to try yours out. Like the perf piles idea.
Stamps for the wounded is your best option!
I can mail you an info card!
-Ari
Login to Like
this post
re: Washington/Franklin head stamps 1908-1921
Denomination
Design
Darn Watermarks
Dang Flat vs Rotary
Duh Error/ oddities check
My 5D approach I do with a stack at least twice a year- only twice as it is often frustrating yet satisfying at the same time
Login to Like
this post
re: Washington/Franklin head stamps 1908-1921
Stampsmarter has a nice identifier.
https://stampsmarter.org/features/SQL_Wa ...
You enter in the various aspects and it will show the varieties.
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.
Back when I had a bunch! I think, therefore I am - I think! Descartes, sort of!
02 Sep 2025
11:49:51am
re: Washington/Franklin head stamps 1908-1921
Two pages from my collection! One each way, very very odd!!!
I managed to fix it!! I took the image and rotated it to the right 90 degrees, that turned it upside down - no good!! I turned that image 180 degrees which fixed the problem! I guess now I have a formula, 90 degrees to the left should fix it in one step! NO MORE COMPLAINTS NEXT TIME, hopefully!!
Note: I don't really collect US booklet panes or perfins but occasionally I do pick them up. Is a perfin considered to be mint or is it used as a precancel is if the stamp has not been used?
2 Members
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re: Washington/Franklin head stamps 1908-1921
@Harvey
As you suggested in another posting for your numerous side wise photos "just put your computer on the floor and lay down at an angle to view."
Seems like a lot of work, I bet not many members actually do as you said.
But I guess it works good.
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Back when I had a bunch! I think, therefore I am - I think! Descartes, sort of!
02 Sep 2025
03:07:24pm
re: Washington/Franklin head stamps 1908-1921
No problem David! If I have this figured out properly one 90 degree turn to the left should fix the problem - I HOPE!!!!!
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re: Washington/Franklin head stamps 1908-1921
Funny!
I like your stamps
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