Three Areas that Distinguish Types I and II of the 2c Design of the 1922-1934 Series

CAUTION:  Since the Type I stamp is so common and with the premium for the Type II stamp, a strongly printed Type I stamp often seems to have tell-tale signs of added hairlines. A word of advice: do NOT fret over this stamp. One thing is certain, you do not need to study this stamp closely under heavy magnification to determine whether it is a Type I or a Type II. Type II stamps are ALWAYS clearly distinct. Once you know what to look for this stamp is actually very easy to identify. Study the diagrams below and you should have no problem distinguishing the Types! 

Only the rotary press printings of the 2c Washington of the 1922-1934 Series Design may have the Type II (i.e. "A") design. If your stamp is flat plate, and appears to be Type II, it is not genuine. 

The Type I, perf 10, rotary coil stamp, Scott 599, was first printed in 1923. The Type II, perf 10, rotary coil stamp, Scott 599A, was first printed in 1929. If the stamp has a cancel or is on a cover before 1929, it can not be a Type II, 599A. To view an example of a side-by-side example of a joint-line pair with both the 599 and 599A stamps Click Here. 

The Type I, rotary press, perf 10½ x 11 stamp, Scott 634, was first printed in 1926. The Type II, rotary press, perf 10½ x 11 stamp, Scott 634A, was first printed in 1928. If the stamp has a cancel or is on a cover before 1928, it can not be a Type II, 634A.

Although, the most distinguishing characteristic that separates the Type I and Type II stamps is the heavier lines in the hair, another key in identifying the Type II stamps is to examine the Acanthus scroll at the left. Note the heavy line separating the scroll from the outer line of the frame of the Washington vignette. I find this to be the easier method of identification, I barely glance at the hairline, but study the line above the Acanthus in detail. 

In the case of a cancellation covering the identification areas, or if the ink is light, or if you simply have a faded copy, you will need to examine all three areas. Neither the 599A or 634A is particularly rare, I have found many, including two last year - 1999, while sorting through collections and mixtures of unidentified stamps. It is rare enough, however, that unscrupulous individuals may try to draw in the lines with red ink. Care must be taken to note whether the color of the thicker hairlines and the line separating the Acanthus scroll from the oval frame line match the color of the rest of the stamp EXACTLY. Fortunately, the four corner circles can not be faked easily by drawing in the design, since they are thinner in the Type II than the Type I stamp.