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Post by jkjblue on Feb 26, 2014 18:27:12 GMT
 I noticed this topic on another Stamp Forum, and thought I would ask the question here, well, because I have a story to tell.  Last year, a fellow stamp club member and myself bought a WW classical collection housed in a "Big Blue", the Scott International 1840-1940 album. We agreed that he would take the A-I countries, and I would take the J-Z countries, and remove what we wanted. Then, we would exchange parts,and take out what we wanted from the remaining collection. So it went. When I received his picked over part, I noticed this stamp in the Iceland pages. 1873 Scott 1 2s ultramarine
Scott CV: Used $3000/ Unused $1250.
Regardless if it is a bit worn, and even if one prices it as an unused price (lots of false cancellations on this issue), it is still a valuable find. So what do you think I did?  |
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firstfrog2013
Member 
Posts: 3,276 
What I collect: BNA Liberia St Pierre U.S. Bolivia Turkey
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Post by firstfrog2013 on Feb 26, 2014 19:09:21 GMT
My guess just from knowing you here would be you offered it back to your partner.Who probably adopted the "finders keepers" attitude.In the course of being anal I check all those common stamps for re-entries, watermarks,and perfs.I have found numerous things in these piles of "trash",while not in the same caliber as your find, many catalog at $100 which is cool for an otherwise 20 cent stamp. Not to beat the story but a recent purchase was hiding a laid paper large queen that easily would fetch $350 if I listed it today.The whole lot cost me $40ish and I tell you for fact with the rest of the pieces it was a $1000 minimum.My tip for the day is always look at all pictures and "blow" them up.Never know what's lurking there.
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Post by jkjblue on Feb 26, 2014 20:30:19 GMT
Yes, I let him have it- he clearly missed it when he went through the album the first time. It is now residing in his collection.  |
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Post by classicalstamps on Feb 26, 2014 21:18:08 GMT
I am pretty sure your friend's 2 Skilling is a fake. There are numerous signs: 1. The cancel is not right. Islandic cancels from that period are round with town and date of usage. 2. The design itself is not 'vertical'. It 'tilts' to the left. 3. Very crude compared to the example below. Look at the missing dot of the 'i' for example. Genuine:  |
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Post by jkjblue on Feb 27, 2014 0:28:23 GMT
He hasn't sent it off for a cert. Good to know- I tend to agree with you looking at your example. You wouldn't happen to know the likely forger? Edit: I just noticed- your example is tilting too. |
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Post by jkjblue on Feb 27, 2014 0:47:37 GMT
I counted the vertical lines in the corners, and the forgery has significantly fewer lines, and the lines are quite a bit thicker. Very crude. No doubt at all. I guess I will need to come up with another story about the big fish that got away.  |
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Post by PostmasterGS on Feb 27, 2014 2:13:14 GMT
Two from my collection came to mind: I bought this set of four for about $2. They are the German-occupied Serbia set issued on 22 Sep 1941 to benefit the victims of catastrophic damage to the city of Semendria. Michel catalog price for MNH, €13.     As it turns out, the 2+4 Din stamp has a rare plate flaw -- the "front door" plate flaw -- not listed in Scott (which the seller was using), but listed in Michel's specialized catalog. I didn't see the plate flaw until months later when I scanned the stamp for posting to my website.  Michel catalog value with the plate flaw, €450. And perhaps my favorite catch... These are the 1941 Banja Luka local issues from the Independent State of Croatia (German puppet state in Croatia during WWII).   Michel catalog value for the pair is €1,500 (€750 for each). I paid about €400 for the pair. Once I got them home, I realized the 2 Din stamp had a rare plate flaw -- "Basanska" instead of "Bosanska".  Michel catalog value for the 2 Din with that plate flaw -- €3,000. |
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Post by classicalstamps on Feb 27, 2014 8:40:11 GMT
You wouldn't happen to know the likely forger? Edit: I just noticed- your example is tilting too. I don't know the forger, I'm sorry. If I were to name a candidate, it would be Spiro. He made some similar crude forgeries of Danish West Indies (bi-colored series - same design as the early Icelandic) You're right, my example is tilting too..  Ignoring the fact that it is a fake, you giving it to him speaks highly of your character. |
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Post by classicalstamps on Feb 27, 2014 8:44:54 GMT
Postmaster, thanks for sharing your story. Very inspirational! By the way, you have a fabulous collection of Germany. I visit your website often. Nice to see the recent new addition |
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codeye
Member
Inactive
Posts: 75
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Post by codeye on Feb 27, 2014 9:02:52 GMT
My best find was a QV Jamaican SG 13a small $ for S in Shilling, though the stamp has some missing perfs, not a bad spacefiller for a stamp catalogued for £600 used, came with a joblot of CW on loose leaves.
I also got a couple of what I think are Prussian stamps, but think they could be forgeries until I bump into someone who can verify them to be so then they will be considered to be so, I found them tucked away in an old envelope at the bottom of a box I bought. When I get time I'll photocopy them and post here.
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Post by classicalstamps on Feb 27, 2014 9:47:44 GMT
I also got a couple of what I think are Prussian stamps, but think they could be forgeries until I bump into someone who can verify them to be so then they will be considered to be so, I found them tucked away in an old envelope at the bottom of a box I bought. When I get time I'll photocopy them and post here. If you post +600 dpi scans I'm sure people here will take a stab at them. |
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