Hiya Jim, Yep that's probaly what's going on here. Looks like a Carmine shade that has turned. I've seen Red stamps turn deep Brown from the problem you mention. Most early Orange U.S. stamps are prone to suffering from sulphurization. The 1898 Trans Miss 4 center does seem to be the one that is most prone to this. A couple weeks ago I picked up an 1890 90 cent Perry with this problem. I was attracted to it because it looks like a bi-color. I never planned on doing the hydrogen peroxide trick to it as I like it the way it is as a curiousity.
Haven't the money or energy to finish the house. Arthritis pretty much put me in a place where a couple hours of work with my hands makes me suffer for days afterwards. Luckily it doesn't bother me working on stamps and that's where all the extra money goes. I've been adding key stamps weekly so the collection is looking better than ever. Except for a couple countries my Western Europe is up to 99% complete for regular issues. Also been working alot on U.S. both for my collection and stock to sell. In the last couple months I've picked up an unused #1 and an unused 121 as well as a 144 and the illusive 261A to name a few, all for pennies on the dollar. Other than working on stamps I haven't been doing any thing else except trying to keep warm. Hopefully I'll get out of this chair this spring and get somethings scratched off my overwhelming "to do" list.
Couldn't care less about that dude, a nightmare I don't need.
Today I added one of the 9 stamps I need to complete my Austria regular issues through my stop date of 1986. It's the stamp at left in the pic below. It replaces the forgery (stamp at right) that's been sitting in that space. Buyer had a reserve on the stamp that I couldn't handle. I put in a snipe of half the reserve and to my surprise he dropped the reserve and I got it.
Hope you're doing well in whatever your doin......................................
