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Over the years I have heard from many collectors who either have a tough time identifying all the variations of the 2c Carmine Washington head, Scott types A139 (TWO CENTS) and A140 (2 CENTS 2), or just plain refuse to attempt to go through the identification process. I have attempted, with this guide, to ease that pain a bit by laying out the identification of all the major printings. I will not point out color variations or plate varieties or even the history / years of the various printings. I will just keep it simple so that you will have an easy time identifying these stamps. I will, however, illustrate the variations in the types.

                                                                                                

Due to the poor way in which Ebay incorporates images into these guides (I cannot size them to my satisfaction), I have provided links to pages and pictures which better should help in the identification process.

Here is the list of all the major printings of this stamps.



The above photos show what the two watermark types look like for these issues.

#332 - Type A139, Perf 12, Double Line Watermark
#344 - Type A139, Imperf, Double Line Watermark
#349 - Type A139, Perf 12 Vertical Coil, Double Line Watermark
#353 - Type A139, Perf 12 Horizontal Coil, Double Line Watermark
#358 - Type A139, Perf 12, Double Line Watermark on Bluish Paper
#375 - Type A139, Perf 12, Single Line Watermark
#384 - Type A139, Imperf, Single Line Watermark
#386 - Type A139, Perf 12 Vertical Coil, Single Line Watermark
#388 - Type A139, Perf 12 Horizontal Coil, Single Line Watermark
#391 - Type A139, Perf 8 1/2 Vertical Coil, Single Line Watermark
#393 - Type A139, Perf 8 1/2 Horizontal Coil, Single Line Watermark
#406 - Type A140, Perf 12, Single Line Watermark
#409 - Type A140, Imperf, Single Line Watermark
#411 - Type A140, Perf 8 1/2 Vertical Coil, Single Line Watermark
#413 - Type A140, Perf 8 1/2 Horizontal Coil, Single Line Watermark
#424 - Type A140, Perf 10, Single Line Watermark
#442 - Type A140, Perf 10, Vertical Coil, Single Line Watermark
#444 - Type A140, Perf 10, Horizontal Coil, Single Line Watermark

(To see the examples of the Rotary Press Types, you will have to copy the link below and paste it into a new window on your browser.
I do apologize for having to do it this way but the pictures do not show well otherwise)

http://www.southweststamps.com/guides/A139/rotary.htm

(To see the difference in size between stamps printing with the Flat Press and those from the Rotary Press, copy the link below and paste it
into a new window on your browser. )

http://www.southweststamps.com/guides/A139/Flat-Rotary.htm

#449 - Type A140, Perf 10 Rotary Press, Vertical Coil, Single Line Watermark, Type I
#450 - Type A140, Perf 10 Rotary Press, Vertical Coil, Single Line Watermark, Type II
#453 - Type A140, Perf 10 Rotary Press, Horizontal Coil, Single Line Watermark, Type I
#454 - Type A140, Perf 10 Rotary Press, Horizontal Coil, Single Line Watermark, Type II
#455 - Type A140, Perf 10 Rotary Press, Horizontal Coil, Single Line Watermark, Type III

BEWARE of Type III stamps that have had one line of color in the ribbons scraped off to resemble the more expensive Type I or II.

#459 - Type A140, Perf 10 Rotary Press, Horizontal IMPERF Coil, Single Line Watermark, Type I

The #459 is, as far as I'm concerned, impossible to fake well. One could take a #453 and remove the perfs but this would be so
obvious as to not be able to fool anybody. The stamp has a distinct appearance.

#461 - Type A140, Perf 11, Flat Press, Distinct Pale Carmine Red color, Single Line watermark

#461 is one of the most frequently counterfeited US stamp. It is fairly easily counterfeited from a #409. I would suggest that you send any
#461 purchased for certification.

(To see examples of genuine #459, 461 and 519, you will have to copy the link below and paste it into a new window on your browser.

http://www.southweststamps.com/guides/A139/specials.htm

#463 - Type A140, Perf 10, Unwatermarked
#482 - Type A140, Imperf, Flat Pess, Unwatermarked, Type I
#482a- Type A140, Imperf, Deep Rose Shade, Type Ia (Extremely RARE Imperforate version of #500)
#487 - Type A140, Perf 10 Rotary Press, Vertical Coil, Unwatermarked, Type II
#488 - Type A140, Perf 10 Rotary Press, Vertical Coil, Unwatermarked, Type III
#491 - Type A140, Perf 10 Rotary Press, Horizontal Coil, Unwatermarked, Type II
#492 - Type A140, Perf 10 Rotary Press, Horizontal Coil, Unwatermarked, Type III

(To see the difference between a #499 and #500, you will have to copy the link below and paste it into a new window on your browser.
I do apologize for having to do it this way but the pictures do not show well otherwise)

http://www.southweststamps.com/guides/A139/499-500.htm

#499 - Type A140, Perf 11 Unwatermarked, Type I
#500 - Type A140, Perf 11 Unwatermarked, Type Ia, Distinct Deep Rose Color
#519 - Type A139, Perf 11, Double Line Watermark

#519 is one of the most frequently counterfeited US stamp. It is fairly easily counterfeited from a #344. I would suggest that you send any
#519 purchased, for certification.

(To see the examples of the Offset Press Types, you will have to copy the link below and paste it into a new window on your browser.
I do apologize for having to do it this way but the pictures do not show well otherwise)

http://www.southweststamps.com/guides/A139/offset.htm

#526 - Type A140, Perf 11, Offset Printing, Type IV
#527 - Type A140, Perf 11, Offset Printing, Type V
#528 - Type A140, Perf 11, Offset Printing, Type Va
#528A- Type A140, Perf 11, Offset Printing, Type VI
#528B- Type A140, Perf 11, Offset Printing, Type VII
#532 - Type A140, Imperf, Offset Printing, Type IV
#533 - Type A140, Imperf, Offset Printing, Type V
#534 - Type A140, Imperf, Offset Printing, Type Va
#534A- Type A140, Imperf, Offset Printing, Type VI
#534B- Type A140, Imperf, Offset Printing, Type VII

(To see the difference between a #539 and #540, you will have to copy the link below and paste it into a new window on your browser.
I do apologize for having to do it this way but the pictures do not show well otherwise)

http://www.southweststamps.com/guides/A139/539-40.htm

#539 - Type A140, Perf 11 x 10, Rotary Press, Type II
#540 - Type A140, Perf 11 x 10, Rotary Press, Type III
#546 - Type A140, Perf 11, Rotary Press, Type III

As always, if you have any questions regarding this guide, please feel free to send me an at GSQUARED7@JUNO.COM.

Gary Goldstein
Southwest Stamps