Riverside Stamps
Return to Home Page or Altered and Faked stamps Index Page
|
The contents of
this website is copyright protected. Any suggestions for additions or changes are always welcome. |
Suspect Scott #355, Unused MNH Single.
Update: The APS has found that the suspect is a fake.
This is an expensive coil if it were real - $500 catalog value and is often faked. This coil can be made by adding perforations at left and right to a trimmed #347 imperforate issue, adding perforations at left and right on a #347H imperforate coil and trimming the perforations from the top and/or bottom of a fully perforated #335.
The watermark is double line, normal and reads horizontal.
The suspect is tall being just over 25mm on the right side and just under 25.25mm on the left side.Which is good, the ideal height for horizontal coils is 25mm.
The perforations gauge to the correct 11.93 on and Instanta gauge, see images below.
Comparison with genuine gauge 12 perforations is also a match, see the images below.
The perforations on the left are parallel with the frame but the right perforations diverge away from the frame at the bottom.
The edges show no sign of recent trimming and there are no signs of perforation remains.
There is evidence that the stamp has been regummed especially on the top edge – see the image below.
In conclusion I am of the opinion that this is a genuine #355, unused and regummed.
Update: this stamp was sent to the APS for
certification and the opinion returned was that it is a fake made from an
imperforated #347 with added perforations.
Where did I go wrong? What did I miss?
Obviously I messed up on the perforations and looking again at them they do not
have ALL the right characteristics of genuine perforations. After looking through a lot of
literature I’ve put together a list of characteristics of genuine perforations:
1.
Must gauge properly within an accepted limited range of the correct gauge. (the
ones on the suspect did)
2.
Must match known genuine perforations holes for size. (the ones on the suspect
did)
3.
Must be slightly oval in shape with the long side in the direction of the
perforations. (the ones on the suspect are mostly oval)
4.
Must show signs of a pressure ridge on the top/bottom or left/right side of the
perforations. Most easily seen on
whole perforations. (not checked on
the suspect, subsequent examination of the suspect shows they are not there)
5.
Must show signs of pulled paper fibers opposite of the pressure ridges. Most easily seen on whole
perforations. (not checked on the
suspect, subsequent examination of the suspect shows they are not there)
6.
The tips of separated perforations must show signs of being genuinely pulled
apart. (the ones on the suspect do not)
7.
The rows and columns must be parallel with each other but not necessarily
parallel with the frame of the stamp image.
(the right side perforations of the suspect are not parallel with the
left side perforations – they diverge away at the bottom)
8.
Perforation holes should not be in line from left to right or top to bottom.
(not checked on the suspect, subsequent examination of the suspect shows they
are not in line with each other)
Reference material used:
- 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 Schmid
As always comments and suggestions are always welcome.
To Contact Riverside Stamps:
Email:
Mike Girard - Owner / Operator / Web Master:
g1rardmn1099@comcast.net
|
I am a member of the American Philatelic Society
|
I am a member of the United States Stamp Society  USSS #: 16733 Visit the United States Stamp Society Website at www.usstamps.org |
I am a member of the Perfins Club
|
