darkormex
Member 
Swinging through Switzerland and getting tied up in Thailand
Posts: 2,145 
What I collect: The World...just printing and mounting as I go...call me crazy!
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Post by darkormex on Aug 4, 2019 23:28:06 GMT
The other day I had been working on organizing what I had from Mexico and focused primarily on the Architecture and Archaeology series..specifically the airmails. Here is how I ended up. I am starting this thread so that I can continue at some point. Identification of watermarks, perfs and minor variety perfs, and printer imprints can be a challenge and there is some complexity to this series but, for the most part, I was able to identify most of the stamps I had accumulated.  |
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blaamand
Member
Currently creating custom pages until 1940.
Posts: 1,459
What I collect: Worldwide - Stamps and Postmarks - not enough time...
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Post by blaamand on Aug 5, 2019 7:04:17 GMT
Good luck with these!!
I remember I was struggling to identify the various watermarks on them, hope you'll manage...
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Jerry B
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Marietta, Georgia USA
Posts: 1,485
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Post by Jerry B on Aug 5, 2019 10:04:40 GMT
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darkormex
Member
Swinging through Switzerland and getting tied up in Thailand
Posts: 2,145
What I collect: The World...just printing and mounting as I go...call me crazy!
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Post by darkormex on Aug 5, 2019 10:55:44 GMT
Jerry B, thank you, this is really useful and set-up way better than the spreadsheet I never completed.
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darkormex
Member
Swinging through Switzerland and getting tied up in Thailand
Posts: 2,145
What I collect: The World...just printing and mounting as I go...call me crazy!
|
Post by darkormex on Aug 5, 2019 10:57:41 GMT
Good luck with these!! I remember I was struggling to identify the various watermarks on them, hope you'll manage... There were only a couple I struggled on. Usually for me it is trying to decide whether what I am looking at is a watermark or if the stamp is truly unwatermarked. |
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Jerry B
Departed
Rest in Peace
Marietta, Georgia USA
Posts: 1,485
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Post by Jerry B on Aug 5, 2019 17:27:46 GMT
Hi darkomex If you don't like watermarking Mexico, try Argentina or Brazil  Mexico watermarks are pretty distinct, although I have measured them to distinguish one from the other. Glad the tables helped. Jerry B |
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blaamand
Member
Currently creating custom pages until 1940.
Posts: 1,459
What I collect: Worldwide - Stamps and Postmarks - not enough time...
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Post by blaamand on Aug 5, 2019 23:11:42 GMT
Hahaha, Jerry B - you're right ! They are both challenging, in particular the 'Vovo' and 'Nethinas' definitive series of Brazil, for which the watermarks can easily be confused. I had to make up a 'Watermark guide' to make life easier while working with them, can share the pdf to anyone interested. Much better illustrations than provided by the likes of scott and Michel. Think you've already got it Jerry!  (on second thought I realize Brazil suddenly corrupted your Mexico thread darkormex , foregiveness...) |
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blaamand
Member
Currently creating custom pages until 1940.
Posts: 1,459
What I collect: Worldwide - Stamps and Postmarks - not enough time...
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Post by blaamand on Aug 5, 2019 23:15:22 GMT
Jerry B - that's an excellent guide to assist working with Mexico, well done, thanks for sharing! Unfortunately I am unable to download it from that weblink.... 
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darkormex
Member
Swinging through Switzerland and getting tied up in Thailand
Posts: 2,145
What I collect: The World...just printing and mounting as I go...call me crazy!
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Post by darkormex on Aug 6, 2019 2:14:15 GMT
Hi darkomex If you don't like watermarking Mexico, try Argentina or Brazil Mexico watermarks are pretty distinct, although I have measured them to distinguish one from the other. Glad the tables helped. Jerry B , I have experience with both. Brazil is the worse of the two in my opinion, however, the Big Blue 1840-1940 website is outstanding, in my opinion, for identifying Brazil watermarks. I am assuming you are referring to the definitives from 1918 to 1941, correct? Big Blue has a page devoted to watermarking these definitives which is really helpful. |
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blaamand
Member
Currently creating custom pages until 1940.
Posts: 1,459
What I collect: Worldwide - Stamps and Postmarks - not enough time...
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Post by blaamand on Aug 6, 2019 7:23:36 GMT
Yes, the 1918-41 definitives are the ones called the 'Vovo' definitives, these are obviously the challenging ones with all the different watermarks and some of them quite similar. Agreed Jim jkjblue has made an excellent overview/guide to assist working on them, refering to Scott  . The watermark presentation I shared above however has better illustrations of the watermarks themselves than what is provided in Scott. These watermark illustrations are from the specialist Brazil catalog (RHM) and makes identification easier than the more limited illustrations in Scott. Furthermore Scott does not provide illustration of Wmk 218 'in echelon', which RHM does. I also found it useful to have a watermark presentation printed out (and laminated) readily available at my work desk while studying the watermarks  . |
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Jerry B
Departed
Rest in Peace
Marietta, Georgia USA
Posts: 1,485
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Post by Jerry B on Aug 6, 2019 10:33:42 GMT
Hi There was a book of world wide watermarks that my dealer friend had in the store. However, I don't remember the name of it. My friend copied the pages needed. So, I worked with a watermark sheet, instead of the catalog. The easiest South American country to watermark is Chile. The watermark is there or not there Fortunately, I collect only Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela, and do not have to worry about watermarks. Jerry B |
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blaamand
Member
Currently creating custom pages until 1940.
Posts: 1,459
What I collect: Worldwide - Stamps and Postmarks - not enough time...
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Post by blaamand on Aug 6, 2019 11:58:27 GMT
Yeah, I recall Chile was a relief after I'd been working with Brasil. (The very first issues were slightly tricky tough.) What's interesting about the Chilean watermark (from 1930-ish onwards) is that it seems to come in any orientation for most of the stamps. In order to not get this Mexico thread further off-track, I've created a seperate thread for CHILEAN WATERMARK ORIENTATIONS (Link) |
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Post by jkjblue on Aug 6, 2019 14:11:09 GMT
I should point out that I do illustrate the Brazil Wmk 218 “in echelon”.  Actually, my Brazil illustrations are pics of the actual watermarks on the back of stamps, which gives a real example of the watermark. It is best to use these in conjunction with the catalogues more ideal version. Both are helpful.  |
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darkormex
Member
Swinging through Switzerland and getting tied up in Thailand
Posts: 2,145
What I collect: The World...just printing and mounting as I go...call me crazy!
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Post by darkormex on Aug 9, 2019 23:19:29 GMT
I should point out that I do illustrate the Brazil Wmk 218 “in echelon”. Actually, my Brazil illustrations are pics of the actual watermarks on the back of stamps, which gives a real example of the watermark. It is best to use these in conjunction with the catalogues more ideal version. Both are helpful. I agree. I took time perhaps a year ago to go through all of that particular series of Brazil definitives with your website in front of me as I determined watermarks and it was extremely helpful simply because it was the actual thing. I did not check, but have you done the same with the Mexico Architecture and Archaeology series? Hoping to bring this thread back on topic.... |
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darkormex
Member
Swinging through Switzerland and getting tied up in Thailand
Posts: 2,145
What I collect: The World...just printing and mounting as I go...call me crazy!
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Post by darkormex on Jun 27, 2022 11:17:08 GMT
I spent some time working through some of the collections I bought at the June 18 bourse. Sunday I spent time with Mexico again. Stamps from the Architecture and Archaeology series always seem to be included in any old album or set of pages you pick up but this one seemed to have more than usual. Hopefully I will be to fill several more empty spaces in my album.  |
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Mexico watermarks are pretty distinct, although I have measured them to distinguish one from the other.
. The watermark presentation I shared above however has better illustrations of the watermarks themselves than what is provided in Scott. These watermark illustrations are from the specialist Brazil catalog (RHM) and makes identification easier than the more limited illustrations in Scott. Furthermore Scott does not provide illustration of Wmk 218 'in echelon', which RHM does. I also found it useful to have a watermark presentation printed out (and laminated) readily available at my work desk while studying the watermarks 
.
