drblade
Member 
Posts: 726
What I collect: GB Unmounted mint & Machin definitives Q.E.II Used commemoratives
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Post by drblade on Jan 14, 2022 15:30:24 GMT
The scan shows 3 GB stamps from the Wilding era with graphite lines on the back. Several sets were produced from 1957. The first set with Edwards crown watermarks. The second set (1958) had multiple crowns watermarks & the 1959 issue of phosphor graphites (listed by Gibbons with different watermarks). There are many varieties amongst these sets with some single stamps (& other) having high catalogue values. Regardless of graphite-lined issues checking the back of stamps (not just for watermarks) can reveal some interesting information.  |
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Post by dgdecker on Jan 14, 2022 19:33:55 GMT
I do not recall ever seeing this before. I will make sure to put aside if I find any. I do have a look at back as I need to see if hinged.
David
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angore
Member
Posts: 5,335 
What I collect: WW, focus on British Empire
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Post by angore on Jan 14, 2022 19:59:34 GMT
I have spaces for them but do not have any.
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Mr. H
Member
Member - APS #129381
Posts: 935
What I collect: US, Netherlands, Whatever suits my fancy.
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Post by Mr. H on Jan 14, 2022 23:15:26 GMT
I always check the backs - I look for faults/thin spots, pulled perfs, hinges, control numbers, etc.
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drblade
Member
Posts: 726
What I collect: GB Unmounted mint & Machin definitives Q.E.II Used commemoratives
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Post by drblade on Jan 15, 2022 7:58:14 GMT
I always check the backs - I look for faults/thin spots, pulled perfs, hinges, control numbers, etc. Exactly, Mr H, and there is always the chance of finding a good offset too. |
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brightonpete
Departed
Rest in Peace
On a hike at Goodrich-Loomis
Posts: 5,110
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Post by brightonpete on Jan 15, 2022 13:10:06 GMT
Not only that, but gum types too.
Canada has gum arabic, PVA, white transparent, green-tinged and who knows what else.
Oh, and cracked or smooth... the list goes on!
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drblade
Member
Posts: 726
What I collect: GB Unmounted mint & Machin definitives Q.E.II Used commemoratives
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Post by drblade on Jan 15, 2022 14:38:28 GMT
Not only that, but gum types too.
Canada has gum arabic, PVA, white transparent, green-tinged and who knows what else.
Oh, and cracked or smooth... the list goes on! Certainly the case with the Machins I'm working on at present, cream & blue tinted (earlier versions without the security backing papers). Underprints and phosphor bands on the back too, with various printers supplying their own papers. |
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drblade
Member
Posts: 726
What I collect: GB Unmounted mint & Machin definitives Q.E.II Used commemoratives
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Post by drblade on Jul 28, 2022 8:42:48 GMT
Nothing really significant about the back of the scanned 14p grey blue Machin, which has a grey blue ink spot (bottom left) on the back of it. Slightly unusual though.   |
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Post by paul1 on Jul 28, 2022 9:12:11 GMT
interesting - so that's a decolletage flaw are we saying - though it doesn't match the position of the reverse ink blob? Or, is there damage on the clear strip?
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scub
Member
Posts: 109
What I collect: WW (without restrictions)
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Post by scub on Jul 28, 2022 12:58:06 GMT
Looks like an examiner's mark.
And some collectors mark their stamps with initials.
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drblade
Member
Posts: 726
What I collect: GB Unmounted mint & Machin definitives Q.E.II Used commemoratives
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Post by drblade on Jul 28, 2022 15:49:31 GMT
interesting - so that's a decolletage flaw are we saying - though it doesn't match the position of the reverse ink blob? Or, is there damage on the clear strip? The mark on the front of the stamp appears to be either dirt or some gum, can't really identify it even under magnification. |
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drblade
Member
Posts: 726
What I collect: GB Unmounted mint & Machin definitives Q.E.II Used commemoratives
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Post by drblade on Jul 28, 2022 15:52:11 GMT
Looks like an examiner's mark. And some collectors mark their stamps with initials. Definitely an ink "blob"/"splash". I hope some collectors don't put their initials on mint stamps, sad. |
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Post by paul1 on Jul 28, 2022 18:20:48 GMT
I occasionally see penciled SG Nos. and/or a catalogue value, but so far not seen a signature - would agree with drblade that would seem too much like vandalism on a mint stamp.
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scub
Member
Posts: 109
What I collect: WW (without restrictions)
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Post by scub on Jul 28, 2022 18:34:47 GMT
A long time ago, 60's 70's, collectors circulated collector's books among themselves. There were stamps attached. Anyone who needed a stamp could take it and pay for it or add an equivalent one. There were "black sheep" who took good stamps and added the same but worse ones. Therefore, the providers marked their brands and recognized the cheating.
That's how it was explained to me.
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drblade
Member
Posts: 726
What I collect: GB Unmounted mint & Machin definitives Q.E.II Used commemoratives
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Post by drblade on Jul 28, 2022 19:27:46 GMT
A long time ago, 60's 70's, collectors circulated collector's books among themselves. There were stamps attached. Anyone who needed a stamp could take it and pay for it or add an equivalent one. There were "black sheep" who took good stamps and added the same but worse ones. Therefore, the providers marked their brands and recognized the cheating. That's how it was explained to me. I used to receive "approvals" in the 60's, on a sale or return basis (from a dealer). The individual stamps enclosed, generally used ones, were sent inside a small stock book or on cards. Each stamp was described alongside itself in the book or on the card along with its price but never on the stamps, so when a stamp was removed it could be identified later. Circulating stamps between collectors was possibly a bit different from your description if the cheating was going on though. |
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Post by paul1 on Jul 28, 2022 21:15:13 GMT
quite a coincidence that I recently acquired a few of these old style 'collectors club stock booklets' - as per pix attached. Royal Tunbridge Wells (upmarket historical town in the English county of Kent - very attractive area). You can see the signed for gaps where the stamps have been removed - unfortunately, no idea as to accurate date but judging by the decimal values I'd take a guess at the 1970s. Details over the stamps appear to be SG No. and price, both in pencil, but not sure of the figure in red. Very conveniently on other pages, inv. and sidws. wmks have been stuck down accordingly - which saves me checking.   |
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drblade
Member
Posts: 726
What I collect: GB Unmounted mint & Machin definitives Q.E.II Used commemoratives
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Post by drblade on Jul 28, 2022 21:31:16 GMT
quite a coincidence that I recently acquired a few of these old style 'collectors club stock booklets' - as per pix attached. Royal Tunbridge Wells (upmarkedt historical town in the English county of Kent - very attractive area). You can see the signed for gaps where the stamps have been removed - unfortunately, no idea as to accurate date but judging by the decimal values I'd take a guess at the 1970s. Details over the stamps appear to be SG No. and price, both in pencil, but not sure of the figure in red. Very conveniently on other pages, inv. and sidws. wmks have been stuck down accordingly - which saves me checking. Not sure what the red numbers are, unless they are spec numbers or amounts available?? |
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Admin
Administrator 
Posts: 2,637
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Post by Admin on Jul 28, 2022 21:42:48 GMT
Not sure what the red numbers are, unless they are spec numbers or amounts available?? I assume they are the asking prices -- catalog number/asking price/catalog value. |
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Post by daniel on Jul 29, 2022 2:12:35 GMT
Not sure what the red numbers are, unless they are spec numbers or amounts available?? I assume they are the asking prices -- catalog number/asking price/catalog value. This must be correct. Adding up all of the red figures as pence comes to £1.47 as per the bottom right hand corner. |
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Post by paul1 on Jul 29, 2022 7:49:16 GMT
I see what you mean, and here's another page which follows the same reasoning so thanks folks for the solution, much appreciated.  |
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Post by biglavalamp on Aug 1, 2022 19:52:45 GMT
My stamp club used same type of books red numbers are sellers price bottom right number is the amount the seller wants if you buy the entire page.
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