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Q 4 - I am having trouble trying to identify CSA #11 from CSA #12 and also trying to identify which are the Archer and Daly printings and which are the Keatinge & Ball printings. Can you explain the differences?

A 4 - CSA #11 (also known as the 10c Blue Type I) and CSA #12 (also known as the 10c Blue Type 2) are very similar stamps. They were printed from steel engraved plates initially by the Archer and Daly firm in Richmond, Va and later by the Keatinge and Ball firm of Columbia SC.

CSA #11 is distinguished from CSA #12 mainly by the appearance of the scrolls at the lower right and left corners. The CSA #11 has open scrolls whereas the CSA #12 has filled-in scrolls. See illustration below. There are a number of other differences that are not easily seen, but this is the most prominent.

The two stamps printed by Archer & Daly made their appearance in April and May of 1863 respectively. Some time in the Fall of 1864, the plates were transferred to Keatinge & Ball. The two printers used the same plates, so the only distinguishing characteristics between the two printers are the appearance of the stamp in texture and color.

• Archer & Daly Stamps come in all variations of color from Blue to Milky Blue to Greenish-Blue to true Green. The Keatinge & Ball stamps are in either Blue or Dark Blue. Any stamp that has a greenish tinge to it must be an Archer & Daly printing.
• The gum on unused Keatinge & Ball stamps is very thick and coarse and usually very yellow. The gum on the Archer and Daly stamps was of better quality.
• For used stamps or for stamps on cover, Keatinge & Ball printings can only have postmarks used in SEP-DEC 1864 or JAN-APR 1865 since the stamps did not exist before then. Any CSA #11 used prior to 4 OCT 1864 (current earliest known usage of the #11KB stamp) must be an Archer and Daly printing. Any CSA #12 used prior to 4 SEP 1864 (current earliest known usage of the #12KB stamp) must be an Archer and Daly printing.
• The main distinguishing characteristic between the two printings is that in the Archer & Daly printings the background around the portrait has distinct cross-hatching while the background in the Keatinge & Ball printings is a solid blue color with no cross-hatching. See illustration below. This is not an absolute, but it is the best we have. When it comes right down to it, only experience is the best judge.

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