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5c Grant
(read how to identify your stamp below)

READ THIS FIRST!

Before embarking on the exercise of attempting to identify this stamp, I should let you know that none of the used stamps have a retail value of more than $1. I therefore recommend that if your stamp has a cancel, you skip attempting to identify this stamp and just presume it is worth a dollar or less. If the stamp is not used (it does not have a cancel) the guide below will be of assistance.




Identifying the stamp that has NO triangles in the top corners (shown above)

You have the 5c Grant from the years 1890-1893. The stamp is common. To value the stamp click on the numbers 219-229 on the menu to the left.



Identifying the stamp that HAS triangles in the top corners (shown above)

To know which page you need to look at for identification one needs watermark fluid or lighter fluid (both of these are extremely flammable and should be used with extreme caution, outside, in a safe area far away from combustible materials). Soak the stamp in the fluid in small plate with a black or very dark color. The watermark will show, sometimes faintly by looking at the back of the stamp. The watermark fluid will quickly evaporate from the stamp, leaving the stamp and its gum intact. If there is no watermark on the stamp then you can value the stamp by clicking on the numbers 246-255 on the menu to the left.

If the watermark has part or all of the letter U, S or P, as shown above, one needs to look at the color as shown below.

If your stamp is brown, shown on the left, then you can value the stamp by clicking on the numbers 264-270 on the menu to the left. If it is blue, shown on the right, you can value the stamp by clicking on the numbers 279-284 on the menu to the left.