Riverside Stamps
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Suspect Scott #355, Used Single.
This is an often faked coil with a catalogue value of $45.00 as an Unused single. The Experts Book states that this coil can be made by adding perforations to a trimmed imperforate #383, adding perforations to a #383V imperforate coil, trimming the perforations off the left and/or right of a #374 and trimming the perforations off the left and/or right of a #374a booklet single.
The watermark looks like a reversed inverted single line “S” in the lower left corner.
To be sure the suspect is not from a #374a booklet single the suspect was overlaid onto a genuine #375a booklet single. As can be seen the suspect is narrower than the booklet stamp because sheet stamps shrink in the horizontal directions whereas booklet stamps shrink in the vertical direction.
The suspect measures 20.625mm wide at the top and 20.5mm wide at the bottom, well short of the ideal 21.5mm wide.
The next two images show the suspects perfs overlaid on genuine #374 perforations. The top perforations gauge out to 11.908 and the bottom gauge out to 11.961 and fit very well with the genuine perforations. The perforations show evidence of being genuine.
The right edge shows evidence of a vertical guide line which makes the right edge a natural straight edge and genuine. The left edge is uneven and wavy.
Conclusion: In my opinion the suspect is a trimmed #374 with the perforations trimmed away from the left side and the right side being a natural straight edge.
Reference material used:
- The Expert's Book. A practical guide to the authentication of United States stamps. By Paul W. Schmid.
As always comments and suggestions are always welcome.
To Contact Riverside Stamps:
Email:
Mike Girard - Owner / Operator / Web Master:
g1rardmn1099@comcast.net
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I am a member of the American Philatelic Society
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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
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