New Large queen bonus acquisition

Added pic where I see the S from the watermark. Have to pick up some more fluid and it should show better or confirm I'm losin it all together. Finding mint even no gum copies can blow the budget fast . I've been really fortunate finding alot of varieties mostly by luck with these. Now if only I could luck into the 1 and 2c laid papers I'd be really content.

Yes it is a double line simular to US stamps but completely different as well. The entire watermark reads E & G Bothwell on one line and Clutha Mills on second line. A low % of stamps on a sheet will even show any of the letters . I am not sure how much space would be between the full watermark on an uncut sheet to give the ratio of unmarked stamps to ones potentially showing even parts of the letters. The unitrade values for those showing the watermark are alot higher so a guess would be maybe 20% . I'm not sure if the duckworth catalog tells how many stamps in a sheet could have the letters depending on orientation of the paper.

Great looking stamps, I too love the Large Queens, I just don't have enough of them yet to really start any study on them. I hope that watermark turns out for you.

believe I may have watermarked fifteen I'll look tomorrow and see if I can get decent scan of watermark to post.

I've had luck before putting a few drops of fluid on the scanner bed and then a solid black cover (not paper) with a little extra weight on top. The black helps the contrast and the weight keeps the fluid even without any air pockets. May have to scan a couple times to catch the best image while fluid is evaporating. The retro reveal website might be helpful to show as well since it can really help pull hard to read cancels.

I think the trick is to find mint copies that are clearly labelled as regummed.  The Unitrade catalogue gives a 100% surcharge for "large part original gum" or however they word it for most of the Large Queens - mint never hinged is so rare on most issues that it isn't even priced.  The only exceptions are the 1/2 cent and the two 15 cent issues, which are easier to get MNH (although it took me about 15 years to find a copy of #29 MNH that didn't have teeth missing or perfs cutting into the design).  For the others, I have bought regummed stamps and have then soaked off the phony gum (who knows, it might be acidic or something).  Collectors shy away from paying large prices for regummed stamps, so I have been able to find them for relatively low prices, almost certainly lower than if they had been soaked and sold as mint no gum stamps.



Ryan

Great spread there Ryan! Never mind the backside, I say, especially considering the hefty price premium in regards to this issue in particular. Your examples all look clean and fresh up front!

So I finally found time to properly look at this 15c with fluid and ILS' optical illusion comment is spot on. Paper is vertical wove and not bothwell . Oh well off to the next batch.