Some of the details I didn't worry about when I was actively collecting are now coming to the fore as I think about getting more stamps ready to sell. I have this 1900-1904 set from French Congo. The stamps printed in 1900 are perf 11 while the 1904 stamps are 11½ if one is to believe the info in the 2016 Scott Classic Specialized catalog. In my set 1c (#35e), 2c (#36d) and 10c (#39d) are all perf 11½. Everything else in the set is perf 11 — until we get to the highest value stamp, the 5fr #49. It is perf 11½, but Scott doesn't indicate that an 11½ exists for the #47, #48 or #49. My #49 has the correct Scott 124 olive branch wmk, but Scott seems to think it should be perf 11.
I searched online, but found no info regarding the perforation of this stamp. Can someone check the Yvert or other catalog and let me know what they might say about the 11 vs 11½ perf?
It's too bad this set was printed on inferior quality paper. The stamps could have been much nicer. This one is very nicely centered, but the color registration missed the mark.
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"I no longer collect, but will never abandon the hobby"
Michael, it's definitely 11. I had checked and rechecked and rechecked again. If I knew how to take a macro photo of the stamp and perf gauge with my new iPhone, I'd take a photo, but this Photoshop comparison is the best I can do at the moment. The perfs of the three stamps are lined up near the bottom (the red line) and the difference between the two 11½ perf stamps (47 and 48) and the 11 perf stamp (49) is clear.
I've checked the papers of the three stamps and they appear to be the same thickness. If there's a difference, I can't detect it either via using a bright light or flicking the stamps.
Still looking for some help and hoping to learn this is worth a lot of $$$!
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"I no longer collect, but will never abandon the hobby"
Perf 11 makes it Scott #49. 2015 catalog value is $85.00, providing it is watermark #124. Watermark #123 makes it Scott #49c with a catalog value of $500.00.
Michael, in my rush to get that second message and the comparison image posted, I got my perfs reversed in that message. It should read "the difference between the two 11 perf stamps (47 and 48) and the 11½ perf stamp (49) is clear.
The 5fr #49 is the 11½ perf stamp we're looking at. Scott doesn't mention an 11½ perf for any of these three stamps, but does list an 11½ perf variety for each of the other 12 stamps in the set.
As I noted in the initial message, mine has the #124 watermark. So it unfortunately is not a #49c. That would have been a nice surprise!
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Yvert indicates perf range "11 - 11 1/2". I had missed this and will be checking my collection. I break out the two paper types but never checked each for their perfs. If a pattern arises by paper type I will report back.
The 2016 Scott Classic Specialized Catalog lists all the stamps in this set (#35 - #49) as perf 11 with the perf 11½ shown as minor listings for #35 - #46 only. For each stamp with both major and minor listings, the perf 11½ minor listing value is higher than the major listing — except the #44 40c stamp where the major value is $8.00 and the minor value is $7.25. As I had noted earlier, the #47 - #49 do not include the perf 11½ minor listings.
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"I no longer collect, but will never abandon the hobby"
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