Here is the scan of the French stamp in question (the center one):
The stamps you see are from 4,500 French stamps, 16 of which were Type A15 1 centime Type II, Black on blueish tinted paper. I picked the bluest six from the sixteen to use as a comparison. I'll probably choose the one just to the left center to mount in my album as #86, The center one I'll mount in the space for #87, because I'll probably never afford the real one.
It's probably just a dark version of #86, as classic French stamps are notorious for color variations.
All you beginners out there let this be a lesson. If you suddenly think you have a very rare stamp, you probably do not. For years I swore I had Switzerland #47 MNH @ $1,600.00 plus a premium for MNH, which would probably add another thousand. As it turns out it is actually #66, $1.80. Not only did I misidentify the paper as 'White Wove' instead of Granite paper, I mis-identified the ink color as Green instead of Grey!!
re: France Peace & Commerce 1centime Black on Prussian Blue? #86 or 87?
No, they do not match.
Prussian Blue is a dark blue that contains iron pigments. Cobalt blue is a dark blue, but brighter than Prussian Blue, due to the alumina pigment contained in the ink. Yours is the cobalt blue (my opinion). But yes, you can find shades that look similar to each other.
re: France Peace & Commerce 1centime Black on Prussian Blue? #86 or 87?
Hi everyone;
Just a quick question, how many color varieties do you think there are for #86? Also how many does Yverts list as known colors for that same stamp #86?
This reminds me of the colors listed in SG for Great Britain George V, that Scott doesn't list at all!
and Y&T 84 black on Prussian blue
The big id difficulty is between 83c and 84.
Michael...is there an easy way of telling Prussian from Cobalt blue, when the colors shades are virtually alike.
Iron pigment...does it make it magnetic?
rrr...
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re: France Peace & Commerce 1centime Black on Prussian Blue? #86 or 87?
jkjblue,
As per Kohl's Briefmarkenhandbuch, the prussian blue (also named 'indigo') paper variety was first reported in L'Ami des Timbres in February 1882 on stamps all bearing cancellations from October 1880. The October 1880 issue date is also reported in Michel. Your January 1880 copy hence cannot be that variety.
Arno
P.S.
Here is a picture of the 'real deal' from Siegel Auctions:
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