File talk:Russia stamp 1858 30k.jpg

Misidentified stamp

Counting the perforation holes at top (12) this stamp is perforated 14.5:15 so either is a 1865 or 1866 issue (depending on if paper was normal or laid -horizontally or vertically). The 12.25:12 issue of 1858 has 10 perforation holes at top. On the 10th of January 1858 there was an issue of the 10, 20 and 30k perforated 14.5:15 which was watermarked. The difference with the 1865/1866 issue is that the 1865 is not watermarked and that the 1866 issue is watermarked (differently) and the paper is laid. The January 1858 issue is rare and most of the 14.5:15 perforated stamps are from 1865 or 1866. It is essential to make a scan of the backside of the stamp -against a black surface- showing/proving the watermark and normal paper. Arno-nl (talk) 14:57, 4 March 2016 (UTC)