Help with an Argentina stamp

[tomd]

I have a stamp that by the Scotts catalog {2009, Volume 1} is either 503 or 542.

It is the Post Office of Buenos Aries.



Here is my problem and I was wondering if anybody has another source to distinguish the two.

First Scott # 503

1) Perf 13 x13
2) Watermark 288 RA in Sun with straight lines.

Inscribed: “Correos y Telegrafos.”

Second Scott # 542

1) Perf 13 x13 ½
2) Watermark 90 RA in Sun with angled lines.

Inscribed: “Correos y Telecommunicaciones”

Now it is Inscribed: “Correos y Telegrafos."

BUT

The perf is 13 x13 ½ and the watermark is 90 RA in Sun with angled lines.
So 2 of the 3 say it is Scott # 542
but it is Inscribed: “Correos y Telegrafos.” making it Scott # 503.

What have I missed or is Scott Wrong?

[kacyds]

Now you understand why I dislike those Argentina stamps...

Just checked my Stanley Gibbons Stamp Catalogue for South America stamps. The only stamp issued with the inscription "Correos Y Telegrafos" was a SG# 717. Issued October 5, 1942. Watermark 179 Rays connecting suns are long and straight. Perforation 13.

This doesnt help your case, but gives you the same info from another stamp catalog.

[kacyds]

Also looking at the Stanley Gibbons at the other stamps inscribed "Corres Y Telecomunicac-iones", SG agrees with Scott.

I would recheck the perfs and the watermark and see if still the same. Sometimes I can recheck a stamp and then it agrees with the catalog. After looking at stamps for hours on end, my eyes get tired and I start to see things.

Other than that, I hope someone else might have some input.

[khj]

Scott & SG are incorrect regarding the perforations.

Your stamp is Argentina #503 in the Scott catalog, or possibly an unlisted variety of #503 (depending on your re-verification of the watermark). The inscription of "Telegrafos" is the sole criteria for this major Scott catalog number.

The perforation should be 13x13½. This number is confirmed by the Sellos Postales Argentina catalog. So, the Scott listing of 13 is incorrect.

Regarding the watermarks 90 and 288. While it is true that the quick method is to look at the straight/angle rays, it is actually an inherently UNRELIABLE method for numerous reasons. If you see straight rays, it is almost certainly wmk 288. But, there are numerous anomalies with stamps having wmk 288 (especially used stamps), so seeing what appears to be angled rays is not unexpected. When in doubt, always go to the fallback method, which is to examine the "A" in "RA". In wmk 90, the "A" has a flat top; in wmk 288, it has a pointed top. This is harder to examine sometimes, but it is a more definitive identification.

So check the "A" in the watermark. If you still have wmk 90, then you have an unlisted paper error for Argentina #503.

Sorry to be picky, but to avoid future confusion, could you correct the following line in your OP to "288". Thank you!

2) Watermark 208 RA in Sun with straight lines.

[tomd]

Thank you khj I will recheck the A in the water mark

[tomd]

After rechecking the water mark and looking closer at the pointy or flat top A I was able to see what is now the straight line and not the angled line. My eye's are most definitely what they use to be, I still can not make out the A yet though.

So it is safe to say as Khj ahas stated it is Argentina #503.

Thank you Khj for your help.

[khj]

Yeah, the "A" can be difficult to see on used stamps. That's why most people go to the straight/angle rays first. But as you have experienced, this style watermark opens a can of worms for optical illusions and other anomalies. It drives me crazy as well, so you are not alone.

I should note, that the Sellos-Postales catalog has the watermark listed as "filigrana rayos rectos RR" instead of "RA" for this issue. I have assumed that was a typo in the catalog, as I do not see a similar "RR" watermark notation elsewhere in the catalog. But if you or someone else sees "RR", I would appreciate somebody letting me know.

Yeah, I admit, I'm too lazy to pull out my stamp and check the watermark myself. However, it will eventually be put on my list of things to do. First, it has to make it onto my list of things to write on my list of things to do...

[tomd]

And Sir kacyds this is what makes stamp collecting fun.

I become a Stamp Sherlock Holmes so to speak.

[mac123]

Argentinian catalogue, Gottig-Jalil:

- Correos y TELEGRAFOS: # 885 and 886a (wmk. "rayos difusos" = angled lines).

- Correos y TELECOMUNICACIONES: # 894