Scott #665 Used Single.

Click on the image below to see the full story.

For other examinations of fake and altered stamps that Ihave done please click here.

Scott #666 Used Single.

Click on the image below to see the full story.

For other examinations of fake and altered stamps that Ihave done please click here.

Scott #667 Used Single.

Click on the image below to see the full story.

For other examinations of fake and altered stamps that Ihave done please click here.

Scott #667 Unused Single.

Click on the image below to see the full story.

For other examinations of fake and altered stamps that Ihave done please click here.

Scott #668 Used Single.

Click on the image below to see the full story.

For other examinations of fake and altered stamps that Ihave done please click here.

Scott #356 Paste-Up Census Update!

I've restructured the main census page to make it easier to get the details on each individual entry.  There are now individual pages that show the full size images of each census entry along with images of the back sides where available.  Along with the images one will find all certificates listed for the entry, the tab orientation including what, if anything, is on the tab, height of the entry, up to date auction histories for each entry as well as any additional thoughts or notes that I have gathered for the entry.  UPDATED!

Update to Favorite Links

I've added a link in the Favorite Favorite Places tab sent in by a young stamp collector named James. The link is to an article called "Stamp Collecting: At Home Hobbies:" by Andrea Davis on a site called ImproveJack by CraftJack.

I'm posting my collection for all to see!

I've decided to put my collection up on my website for all to see and enjoy.  The Washington/Franklin pages and the 1919 to 1932 pages are fully updated.  I've also added my Back of the Book collection and my collection of covers canceled in towns named Girard.

Announcement!

After many years of self-learning the art of expertizing Washington/Franklin issues, Kans./Nebr. overprints and other assorted U.S. issues I'm happy to announce that as of 2016 I've been accepted into the American Philatelic Society Expertizing (APEX) Service as a journeyman expertizer of the Washington/Franklin series of stamps.  I will now be able to expand my knowledge of the expertizing arts under the tutelage and mentoring of some of the best and brightest philatelists the hobby has to offer.  

How accurate are government perforations?

I've done a small study of much government perforations vary from the "ideal" measurements stated in reference books, the full storry can be foundhere.

I've been made aware of awebsite that details the early days of dodgy  EBay sellers.

I urge everyone to go and look at this site, it's well worth the time to go through all of the information presented, it's a well-organized written history of a dedicated few to clean up unscrupulous stamp sellers on EBay.

New cover found that goes with RF overprint cover I own.

I've located a second cover to the same addressee as the cover I own.  Clickhere to see the new cover.

Changes to my RF overprint page.

I've decided to split up my RF overprint page into three distinct pages:

1. The research I've done on a genuine RF Overprint cover that I own.
2. Fake RF overprints I own and why they are fake.
3. Fake RF overprint listings that I've found and keep finding on eBay.Updated.

New website to help out stamp buyers.

I get a weekly newsletter from Mr Fancy Cancel (Frank Kaplan) and in the 9/25 offering he mentions a website started by Bill Weiss and Don Denman calledStamp Smarter.  In a nutshell the site has a number of contributors that scour the major stamp selling sites, and then make that information available for all to see.  I was very impressed with the site and I, like Frank, encourage all who see this to go have a look.

Damaged Cover with Scott #814 and Post Office Seals.

I was asked by a client to look at a damaged cover franked with a Scott #814 that had been put back together with postal seals.  It turns out the auxilary markings may be an earliest known use.  Click on the image below to see to whole story.

Updated!

I got a reply back from a member of the Auxiliary Marking Club on my request for information.

So you think it's a Scott #10?

Most of the stamps offered up on Ebay identified as Scott #10 are really Scott #11.  So how can one tell the difference?  I've written up a paper outlining a few easy things to look for that will separate the wheat from the chaff.

Past articles and writings.

A study of the differences between the 1922-25 perf 11 flat plate issues and the 1923 & 1931 perf 11X10 1/2 rotary press issues.

Booklet pane watermark orientation.

Detecting Fake Nebr. / Kans. overprints. (Updated and expanded)

Signoscope watermark detector replacement bulbs.

Conversations with a customer about a Scott #507, strip of three showing center lines at the top and right edges and J78 plate block of six that was canceled but still had full original gum.

Wanted: Fake, Altered and Repaired Stamps.

I'm looking to acquire fakes, forgeries, altered and repaired stamps to add to my growing reference collection. My main area of interest is U.S. 19th and early 20th century. For uncertified examples I'm willing to negotiate a price but let抯 be honest, a low value stamp that has been altered to fake a higher value stamp has little to no value, for certified examples I'll pay $25.00 for stamps that have been certified within the last 12 months and $15 for stamps with certificates older than 12 months. For repaired stamps (repaired tears, filled thins, added margins, lengthened perf tips, cleaned cancels, regummed etc.) I'll offer 10% of catalogue price - I'm talking about well-done repairs, a torn corner put back with scotch tape does not count.

Having analyzed the stamps I've posted on the website plus many more that I haven't posted yet I feel comfortable in offering my services to the collecting community to analyze suspect U.S. stamps and offer an opinion if it is genuine or not. I won't charge any fee to do analysis, it would make me very happy to save someone from paying the fee for a certificate on an obvious fake or altered stamp plus I get the added benefit of the experience gained from examining a stamp.