Question About Large Cent Variety

My father and I had gone to a coin show last weekend. He happened to come across a table that had a "bargain" bin. He picked out an 1834 large cent and thought it was interesting (he's not a collector..he just thought that it neat looking). He paid $15.00 for it.
When I brought it home to check it out in the Red Book they have 4 different varieties for an 1834 large cent, one of having significantly more value than the other three. I checked it out under magnification and I think it may be the 1834 with a Large 8 and stars with medium letters. I am sure about the 8 and the medium letters, however I am not sure about whether the stars on the obverse are "large" or not. I have a few other large cents from different years and compared the stars to the stars on the others and I think that I have the large stars. The coin is probably in a VG condition making it worth around $300 according the Red Book.
My question is how do I differentiate between large stars and small stars? Can I compare it to another year's stars?
Any help would be appreciated as I have just ventured into the realm of large cents!

thanks in advance ~ christina

ps...I tried to take some pictures but they are turning out very dark and not really showing any detail.