unless my eyes are deceiving me this appears to be the same stamp, but the one on the right appears to be on a different colored (tanned) paper? Asking for some opinions.
re: Scott #2165-same stamp but different colored backing/paper???
I believe two forces are at work here;
first, the green backing paper to which the left stamp is adhered to fools the eye into seeing the white of the stamp as brighter in comparison to a white-on-white combination.
Second, the stamp on the right appears to have been chemically altered due to UV rays or some other method of 'fading', which has caused the white of the stamp to slightly darken, giving it its "dingy" white look.
The combination of these two things makes the stamp on the left appear as a brighter white, especially since the backing paper that the right stamp is adhered to is of a brighter white color than that of the stamp itself.
re: Scott #2165-same stamp but different colored backing/paper???
Thank you Randall! I was hoping someone like you could help solve the mystery. I appreciate the information and your take on it. Hope all is well in Michigan. A former Michigander (Ypsilanti) who now lives in Texas.