Below is an index to the stamps I have personally analyzed. All include methodologies and detailed images to back up the analysis.
- Horizontally Perforated 12, 10¢ Coil,
Used Single
- Fake Plate Block Singles.
- Scott #9 - Altered with added margins
- Scott #13 - A quick analysis of a clipped Scott
#35.
- Scott #17 - This one was in my personal
collection for years before I identified it correctly.
- Scott #31- A #35 altered to look like a
#31.
- Scott #69 - Reperforated, poorly, on all
four sides.
- Scott #83 - 3c Washington "C" Grill
- Scott #84 - 2c Jackson "D" Grill.
- Scott #123 - 1c Franklin
- Scott #136 - 3c Jefferson
Grilled Large Banknote.
- Scott #141 - 15c Webster Grilled Large Banknote.
- Scott #141 - 15c Webster
Grilled Large Banknote.
- Scott #162 - An example of remounting.
- Scott #234 - 5c Columbian, Cancel Removed, Regummed.
- Scott #277 - I had this on eBay
originally as an unused MNH example but a sharp eyed bidder alerted my to
the possibility it was a cleaned up used example.
- Scott #300b - Fake vertical imperforate booklet
pair.
- Scott #314 and #315 - An often faked set of
stamps.
- Scott #314A - 4c Grant
imperforate coil with Schermack Type III perforations.
- Scott #315 - 5c Lincoln Imperforate
- Scott #315 - 5c Lincoln Imperforate
- Scott #316 - 1c Franklin vertical coil.
- Scott #318 Pair on Cover.
- Scott #318 - 1c Franklin
horizontal coil.
- Scott #320 - 2c Washington imperforate of
1906.
- Scott #321 - 2c Washington
vertical coil.
- Scott #321 - 2c Washington
vertical coil.
- Scott #321 - 2c Washington
vertical coil.
- Scott #322 - 2c Washington
horizontal coil.
- Scott #322 - 2c Washington
horizontal coil.
- Scott #345, Unused
Guide Line Pair w/ Schermack Type II Perforations.
- Scott #346 - 4c Washington imperforate.
- Scott #346 - 4c Washington imperforate.
- Scott #347 - 5c Washington single,
imperforate.
- Scott #348 - 1c Franklin Unused GL Vertical Pair.
- Scott #348 - 1c Franklin Unused Single
- Scott #348 - 1c Franklin Unused Single,
perf 12 horizontal.
- Scott #348 - 1c Franklin
Unused Single, perf 12 horizontal.
- Scott #348 - 1c Franklin
Unused Single, perf 12 horizontal.
- Scott #348 - 1c Franklin
Used Single, perf 12 horizontal.
- Scott #349 - TWO CENT Washington single, perf 12
horizontal, used. A.P.S. certified as a #332a altered by trimming perfs
from right side.
- Scott #349 - TWO CENT Washington single, perf 12
horizontal, Unused.
- Scott #349 - TWO CENT
Washington single, perf 12 horizontal, Used.
- Scott #349 - TWO CENT Washington single,
perf 12 horizontal, Used.
- Scott #349 - TWO CENT
Washington single, perf 12 horizontal, Used.
- Scott #349 - TWO CENT
Washington single, perf 12 horizontal, Unused MNH Guideline Pair.
- Scott #349 - TWO CENT
Washington single, perf 12 horizontal, Unused.
- Scott #349 - TWO CENT
Washington single, perf 12 horizontal, Unused.
- Scott #349 - TWO CENT Washington
single, perf 12 horizontal, Used.
- Scott #350 - This is the case of the stupid
faker.
- Scott #350 - 4c Washington, single,
perf 12 horizontal, used.
- Scott #350 - 4c Washington, single,
perf 12 horizontal, used.
- Scott #350 - 4c Washington, single,
perf 12 horizontal, unused.
- Scott #350 - 4c Washington, single,
perf 12 horizontal, unused.
- Scott #351 - 5c Washington single, perf
12 horizontal, used.
- Scott #351 - 5c Washington,
single, perf 12, horizontal, used.
- Scott #351 - 5c Washington,
single, perf 12, horizontal, unused.
- Scott #351 - 5c Washington,
single, perf 12, horizontal, used.
- Scott #352 - 1c Franklin single, perf 12
vertical, used.
A.P.S. certified as a #343 altered with added perforations.
- Scott #352 - 1c Franklin single, perf
12 vertical, used.
- Scott #352 - 1c Franklin single,
perf 12 vertical, used.
- Scott #352 - 1c Franklin single,
perf 12 vertical, used.
- Scott #352 - 1c Franklin single,
perf 12 vertical, used.
- Scott #353 - TWO CENT Washington single, perf 12
vertical, used. A.P.S. certified as genuine.
- Scott #353 - TWO CENT Washington single, perf 12
vertical, used.
- Scott #353 - TWO CENT Washington single,
perf 12 vertical, used.
- Scott #353 - TWO CENT Washington single,
perf 12 vertical, unused.
- Scott #353 - TWO CENT Washington single,
perf 12 vertical, unused.
- Scott #353 - TWO CENT Washington
single, perf 12 vertical, Used.
- Scott #354 - 4c Washington coil.
- Scott #354 - 4c Washington,
Perf 12, Horizontal Coil Single.
- Scott #355 - 5c Washington Unused Horizontal Pair Updated!
- Scott #355 - 5c Washington Unused MNH
Single.
- Scott #355 - 5c Washington Used Pair,
Paste-Up At Left Without Tab.
- Scott #355 - 5c Washington Unused
Single, perf 12 vertical.
- Scott #355 - 5c Washington Unused
Single, perf 12 vertical.
- Scott #372 - 2c Hudson-Fulton Celebration
issue of 1909 with a poorly reperforated bottom edge.
- Scott #385 - 1c Franklin single, perf 12.
- Scott #385 Guide Line Pair - 1c Franklin
Guide Line Pair, perf 12
horizontal, unused HH. A.P.S. certified as genuine.
- Scott #385 - 1c Franklin, Unused
Paste-up Single.
- Scott #385 - 1c Franklin, Unused
Single.
- Scott #385 - 1c Franklin,
Unused Single, perf 12 horizontal.
- Scott #385 - 1c Franklin,
Unused Single, perf 12 horizontal.
- Scott #385 - 1c Franklin,
Unused Single, perf 12 horizontal.
- Scott #386 - 2c Washington Perf 12
Vertical Coil, Unused Pair
- Scott #386 - 2c Washington
Perf 12 Vertical Coil, Used Single.
- Scott #386 - 2c Washington
Perf 12 Vertical Coil, Used Single.
- Scott #387 - 1c Franklin 12 vertical coil.
A.P.S. certified as a #383 altered with added perforations.
- Scott #387 - 1c Franklin 12 vertical coil.
- Scott #387 Pair - 1c Franklin 12 vertical coil
used pair.
- Scott #387 - 1c Franklin 12 vertical
coil, used single.
- Scott #387 - 1c Franklin 12 vertical coil
unused pair.
- Scott #388 - TWO CENT Washington coil.
- Scott #388 - TWO CENT Washington
perf 12 Horizontal coil.
- Scott #390 - 1c Franklin unused HH
single, perf 8 1/2 Horizontal.
- Scott #390 - 1c Franklin Used
single, perf 8 1/2 Horizontal.
- Scott #390 - 1c Franklin Unused
single, perf 8 1/2 Horizontal.
- Scott #391 - 2c Washington Used Single,
perf 8 1/2 horizontal.
- Scott #392 - 1c Franklin used
single, perf 8 1/2 vertical
- Scott #393 - 2c Was - 2c Washington Used Single,
perf 8 1/2 vertical.
- Scott #393 - 2c Washington Used
Single, perf 8 1/2 vertical.
- Scott #394 Washington Used Single, perf
8 1/2 vertical.
- Scott #394 - 3c Washington Used
Single, Perf 8 1/2 Vertical
- Five suspected 8.5 perf stamps -
Scott #390 - #393, Scott #411
- Scott #410 - 1c Washington, Perf 8.5
Horizontal, Guideline
Pair.
- Scott #410 - 1c Washington,
Perf 8.5 Horizontal, Unused Single.
- Scott #410 - 1c Washington,
Perf 8.5 Horizontal, Unused Single.
- Scott #411 - 2c Was - 2c Washington Pair
- Scott #411 - 2c Washington,
Perf 8.5 Horizontal, Used Single.
- Scott #411 - 2c Washington,
Perf 8.5 Horizontal, Unused Single.
- Scott #412 - 1c Washington Used
Single, perf 8 1/2 vertical.
- Scott #412 - 1c Washington Used
Single, perf 8 1/2 vertical.
- Scott #413 Washington 8.5 vertical coil.
- Scott #413 - 2c Washington, Perf
8.5 Vertical, Used Single.
- Scott #441 - 1c Washington Guideline Pair.
- Scott #441 - 1c
Washington Used Pasteup Tab Single, , perf 10, horizontal coil.
- Scott #441 - 1c Washington
Unused Pair.
- Scott #442 - 2c
Washington, perf 10 Horizontal, Unused Single.
- Scott #442 - 2c Washington,
perf 10 Horizontal, Used Single.
- Scott #443 Was - 1c Washington, perf 10, horizontal
coil, single line watermark.
- Scott #443 - 1c Washington
Unused Guideline Pair, perf 10, vertical coil.
- Scott #443 - 1c Washington
perf 10 Vertically, Used Single.
- Scott #443 - 1c Washington
perf 10 Vertically, Used Single.
- Scott #444 - 2c Washington
perf 10 Vertically, Unused HH Single.
- Scott #444 - 2c Washington perf
10 Vertically, Unused HH Single.
- Scott #445 Washington, perf 10,
horizontal coil, unused pair, single line watermark.
- Scott #445 - 3c Washington, perf 10, horizontal coil, used single, single line watermark.
- Scott #445 - 3c Washington,
perf 10, horizontal coil, used single, single line watermark.
- Scott #445 - 3c Washington,
perf 10, horizontal coil, unused single, single line watermark.
- Scott #446 - 4c Washington, perf 10, Vertical
coil, single line watermark.
- Scott #446 - 4c Was - 4c Washington, perf 10, Vertical
coil, single line watermark.
- Scott #446 - 4c Washington, perf 10,
Vertical coil, single line watermark Used Pair.
- Scott #446 - 4c Washington,
perf 10, Vertical coil, Unused MNH Pair.
- Scott #446 - 4c Washington,
perf 10, Vertical coil, Used
- Scott #447 - 5c Washington, perf 10,
Vertical coil, single line watermark Used Single.
- Scott #447 - 5c Washington, perf 10,
Vertical coil, single line watermark Used Single.
- Scott #449 - 2c Washington coil double fake.
- Scott #453 Washington Rotary Press Unused
Horizontal Pair
- Scott #456 - 3c Washington, Ratary Press
Perf 10 Vertical, horizontal coil.
- Scott #459 - 2c Washington Horizontal Imperforate
Coil.
- Scott #459 - 2c Washington
Horizontal Imperforate Coil.
- Scott #461 - 2c Washington perf 11.
- Scott #491 - 2c Washington, perf 10 vertical
coil, Type II.
- Scott #496a - 5c Washington,
perf 10, horizontal rotary press coil, small hole variety.
- Scott #500 - 2c Washington,
Perf 11 X 11, Type Ia
- Scott #500 - 2c Washington,
Perf 11 X 11, Type Ia
- Scott #500 - 2c Washington,
Perf 11 X 11, Type Ia
- Scott #519 - "TWO CENT" Washington, A case of another often faked stamp.
A.P.S. certified as a #344 altered with added perforations.
- Scott #519 - "TWO CENT"
Washington.
- Scott #533 - 2c Washingington,
imperforated Offset Printing.
- Scott #533 - 2c Washingington,
imperforated Offset Printing.
- Scott #534 - 2c Washingington,
imperforated Offset Printing.
- Scott #534B - 2c Washington
offset printed imperforate with Schermack TypeIII perforation.
- Scott #534B - 2c Washington offset
printed imperforate Used Single.
- Scott #534B - 2c Washington offset printed imperforate.
- Scott #541 Washington single,
perf 11 X 10.
- Scott #546 - 2c Washington, perf 11,
Type III Rotary.
- Scott #658 - 1c Franklin, Perf 11 X 10
1/2 "Kans." Overprint.
- Scott #659 - 1 1/2c Harding,
Perf 11 X 10 1/2 "Kans." Double Overprint.
- Scott #660 - 2c Washington
Perf 11 X 10 1/2 "Kans." Inverted Overprint.
- Scott #664 - 6c Garfield, Perf 11 X 10
1/2 "Kans." Overprint.
- Scott #665 - 7c McKinley, Perf
11 X 10 1/2 "Kans." Overprint.
- Scott #666 - 8c Grant, Perf 11
X 10 1/2 "Kans." Overprint.
- Scott #667 - 9c Jefferson, Perf
11 X 10 1/2 "Kans." Overprint.
- Scott #667 - 9c Jefferson,
Perf 11 X 10 1/2 "Kans." Overprint.
- Scott #668 - 10c Monroe, Perf
11 X 10 1/2 "Kans." Overprint.
- Scott #669b - 1c Franklin,
Perf 11 X 10 1/2 "Nebr." Overprint.
- Scott #671 - 2c Washington,
Perf 11 X 10 1/2 "Nebr." Overprint.
- Scott #672 - 3c Lincoln, Perf
11 X 10 1/2 "Nebr." Overprint.
- Scott #672 - 3c Lincoln, Perf
11 X 10 1/2 "Nebr." Overprint.
- Scott #673 - 4c M. Washington
11 X 10 1/2 Nebr." Overprint.
- Scott #6699 - 1c Franklin, Perf 11 X 10 1/2 "Nebr." Overprint.
- Scott #669b - Nebr. Overprint, no period
variety on cover.
- Scott #674 - Used 5c Nebr. overprint
single.
- Scott #R155 - I.R. Overprint Vertical Strip of
Four.
- Scott #U34 - Illegal Postage Use.
- Scott #U363 with Illegal
Postage.
These are the two rules I go by when checking out
suspect stamps:
- All suspect stamps are fakes until proven genuine.
- Don't forget rule #1.
Perforation and other references I use when examining
suspect stamps.
- Certified Scott #411 Pair, Perf 8 1/2
- Scott #390 Pair, Perf 8 1/2, Paste-up joint at bottom.
- Scott #331 block of four, Perf 12. (Used to check the perforations of the early
double line watermarked flat plate coils)
- Scott #374 block of four, Perf 12. (Used to check the perforations of the early
single line watermarked flat plate coils)
- Scott #425 block of four, Perf 10. (Used to check the perforations of the
perforated 10 flat plate coils)
- Scott #498 block of four, Perf 11.
- Scott #450 Pair, perf 10. (There is a difference between the flat plate
perforation gauge 10 and the rotary press perforation gauge 10)
- Scott #26 margin par, perf 15 1/2
- Scott #577 Paste-up strip of four, Schermack Type III perforations
- Scott #332a, #375a and #425e booklet panes. (Used to verify the size difference
between the height and width of flat plate sheet stamps and booklet stamps.)
- Certified Scott #541, Perf 11X10
- Ten postal stationary cut squares of different paper colors.
- Certified Scott #671 block of four with normal and stretched overprint.
- Certified Scott #357 blue paper.
- Certified RF overprint cover.
- Certified Scott #519 with bottom selvage.
Reference books I own and use.
- The Expert's Book, A Practical Guide to the Authentication of United States
Stamps. By Paul W. Schmid.
- How to Detect Damaged, Altered and Repaired Stamps. By Paul W. Schmid.
- Opinions I through V. The Philatelic Foundation.
- United States RF Overprints on Air Mail Stamps and Stationary (1944-45). By
Henry M. Goodkind.
- Large U.S. Banknotes Identification Guide. By Bob Pipes and Steve Einhorn.
- United States Postage Stamps 1902 - 1935. By Max G. Johl
- Counterfeit Kansas-Nebraska Overprints on 1922-34 Issue. By Robert H. Schoen and
James T DeVoss
- First Day Covers of the Kansas-Nebraska Overprints. By Jack V. Harvey
- Identification Guide to U.S. Stamps, Regular Issues 1847-1934, 6th edition. By
Charles N. Micarelli
- The United States 1847 Issue: A Cover Census. By Thomas J. Alexander.
- United States Stamps 1927 - 32. By Gary Griffith
- The Stamp Machines and Coiled Stamps. By George P. Howard.
- Guide To United States Vending And Affixing Machines. Bt Steven R. Belasco.
- The United States Postage Stamps Of The 19TH Century, Vol I, II and III. By
Lester G. Bookman.
- The United States Commemorative Stamps Of The 20th Century, Vol I and II. By Max
G. Johl.
- The New American Stampless Cover Catalog. Edited By E. N. Sampson.
- Printing Postage Stamps By Line Engraving. By James H. Baxter.
Magazines I subcribe to.
- American Philatelist.
- The American Stamp Dealer and Collector.
- Linn's Stamp News.
- The United States Specialist.
Other articles on topics of interest.
The web sites I visit the most when learning about fake and altered stamps are as follows:
This is the equipment I own and use when checking out
suspect stamps.
- Precision U.S. Specialty Multi-Gauge, Revision 5.0 by Sonic Imagery Labs.
- Showgard® Philatelic Gauge (I use it as a quick perforation guide)
- The "Jiffy" Stamp Identifier for Regular United States 20th Century Regular
Issues. © 1965 by Herman Herst, Jr. (A slide rule device for identifying
Washington/Franklin issues.
- Radio Shack 30X Illuminated Microscope and 8X Magnifier. (I've had this for
years, unfortunately it is no longer available through Radio Shack.)
- Folding thread count magnifier.
- VMS-001 USB microscope. (Two settings - low and high magnification. Allows me to
capture images on the computer for documenting features on suspect stamps.)
- SAFE Signoscope Watermark Detector.
- Digital camera
- Desktop scanner.
- An Ott desk lamp.
- Light box.
- Stereo microscope with X10 and X15 eye pieces.
