Riverside Stamps

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This issue is sometimes faked and can be made by trimming the perforations from a #527 (Type V), by altering the design of the #534 (Type Va) or by trimming the perforations and altering the design of a #528 (Type Va). This issue is moderately priced with a catalogue value of $90.00 for a used single.

The suspect is indeed an offset printing due to the lack of raised printed features. Determining what type the suspect is it is a simple matter of looking at five features that determine a Type IV, Type Va, Type VII, and a Type VII. If the suspect does not show any of the features for the other type then the suspect must be a Type V.

First to look at is the toga button. The Type IV has a distinctive design resembling . The following pictures show the distinctive feature on the left and the same feature on the suspect on the right.

As can be seen the suspects toga button does not resemble the Type IV toga button.

As can be seen here the fifth row of the suspect’s nose has five dots instead of the four of the Type Va nose.

The center line of the suspects left “2” is weak compared with the Type VI Left “2”

The suspect’s upper lip has four rows of two dots instead of the four rows of four dots of the Type VII.

There are only a few dots in the top of the head of the suspect whereas there are numerous dots in the top of the head of a type VII.

Since the suspect does not have the features of the Type IV, Va, VI and VII it can only be a Type V design. This is not conclusive proof because a Type Va can be made to resemble a Type V simply by adding a single dot of color to the fifth row of dots in the nose. The experts Book states that there is one more metric that can be checked to conclusively prove the suspect is a genuine Type V. The measurements of the designs of the Type V and Type Va are slightly different.

The following table shows the differences:

The suspect’s height is approximately 21.9mm

The suspect’s width at the top is approximately 18.9mm

The suspect’s width at the bottom is approximately 18.9mm

Without a doubt the measurements show that the suspect is indeed a genuine Type V. There is a real possibility that the suspect is a #527 with the perforations trimmed off of three sides – the suspect shows the guide line on the right edge which makes it a genuine natural straight. The height of the suspect is only 23.5mm which allows it to fit well within the confines of horizontal perforations.

A search of the Philatelic Foundation’s certificate database returned 548 certificates with two being deemed #534 with added dots and one being declared a genuine Type V but was declined an opinion as to being a true #533 due to insufficient margins

Conclusion: In my opinion the suspect is a genuine Type V but I’ll follow the example set by the P.F. and decline an opinion as to whether or not it is a true #533 due to insufficient margins.

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 APS #: 205494 Visit the American Philatelic Society Website at www.stamps.org

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 Perfins Club #: 4266 Visit The Perfins Club Website at https://www.perfins.org/