Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2022 0:32:09 GMT
Much of the information found in stamp catalogues has been obtained from the normal stamp collector who has taken the time and trouble to check for variations of the different aspects appertaining to a postage stamp in the form of it's colour, perforations, printing errors,dies and plates used, watermarks, and the paper that the watermark was found in. Out of all these features stated the bulk of a postage stamp is contained in it's paper. Over the last 4 years and because of differentials noted I decided to study the stamp papers used to print the multiple crown Wilding stamps of the United Kingdom, this also included regionals and commemoratives, due to the fact that I was finding papers not listed in specialised catalogues that in my opinion should have been there. This article gives you an insight as to some of my findings based on various factors in the process of making paper and the reasons as to how errors crept into their production and some of the rectifications that was attempted. When I started the study, one of the first things I needed to know was how was stamp paper produced and by whom, this lead me to a small town in South Devon by the name of Ivybridge and the Stowford paper mill who obtained it's water from the local river Erme. This was the only source from which the GPO obtained its watermarked paper for the production and printing of postage stamps during the 1960s, various printers had been allocated for the production of the stamps but mainly Harrison and sons were responsible for the printing of the low value definitives and commemoratives. The owners of the paper mill at the time was Wiggins Teape who later became ArjoWiggins I have managed to obtain a short film taken in the early 1960s by the mill in question in its production of paper, that shows the different stages that the paper went through prior to its dispatch to different destinations. player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-stowford-paper-mill-1962-online Watch Stowford Paper Mill online - BFI Player ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To be continued .......... Paperchase
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khj
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Post by khj on Apr 21, 2022 1:08:34 GMT
Unfortunately, when I try to view it, I get the following error message:
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2022 1:40:20 GMT
Sorry about that Khj, it's the British Film Industries policy : and not mine ! Paperchase
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brightonpete
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Post by brightonpete on Apr 21, 2022 2:00:45 GMT
Using a VPN, I loaded the page OK, but it just doesn't play in Safari. Nothing happens when I click on it to play.
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khj
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Post by khj on Apr 21, 2022 2:01:06 GMT
No big deal, I'm sure they have their good reasons. I did go to the Ivybridge Heritage website, and they had a lot of written info about Stowford Paper Mill.
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Post by daniel on Apr 21, 2022 2:30:05 GMT
Interesting video, thanks for sharing @paperchase. You might find this page from a Wiggins Teape brochure to be of interest. From my Samuel Jones thread. Daniel
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2022 2:30:10 GMT
Using a VPN, I loaded the page OK, but it just doesn't play in Safari. Nothing happens when I click on it to play. Do you live in the UK brightonpete ? If not, this could be the reason why. Paperchase
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2022 2:58:10 GMT
I was already aware of the fact that high security was engaged during the production of these watermarked papers but it's nice to have some additional documentation, thanks Daniel. PC
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brightonpete
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Post by brightonpete on Apr 21, 2022 2:58:55 GMT
Do you live in the UK brightonpete ? If not, this could be the reason why. Paperchase No, I live in the other Brighton, in Canada! Using the VPN, it should work.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2022 16:09:19 GMT
The GPO as it was then known had for some years been developing an automatic letter sorting system and started to experiment with some of their stamps using various techniques, much of the work was done at the GPO's development section at the Dollis Hill establishment North West London, early trials were set up with the use of graphite lines being printed on the back of stamps and the use of a letter facing machine known as ALF (automatic letter facer), I have managed to find some archive footage that shows how things developed back in the late 1950s The first graphite lined stamps was introduced in 1957 and printed on paper with the St Edward's crown watermark that comprised of 6 different values ½d 1d 1½d 2d 2½d and the 3d, they each had two graphite lines printed on the reverse except for the 2d value with only one. In 1958 a further set was printed but with a change of watermark having a new design displaying multiple crowns, also additional denominations was produced being the 4d and 4½d values. For various reasons the GPO was not fully satisfied with the results and introduced a green phosphor tagging to the front of the stamps in the form of an 8mm band split between two stamps except for the 2d value that only had 1 thinner band at the left which included graphite lines at the back, these stamps are known as the phosphor graphite issue which was released in 1959. The graphite lines were eventually dispensed with, and in 1960 stamps with only green phosphor tagging on the front was produced in order to process the automatic sorting of mail. Another thread covering the Machin papers can be found on > thestampforum.boards.net/thread/9249/machin-paper-varietiesTo be continued....... Paperchase
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2022 19:53:47 GMT
The need for a whiter paper became apparent as the technology improved on the automatic sorting system and after further trials at the Dollis Hill establishment, the GPO announced in 1962 that the current cream type of paper to print their stamps would no longer be used, and would be replaced by a whiter version, the source of which was produced at the Stowford paper mill in Ivybridge South Devon. In order to achieve the difference of paper, the water drawn from the river Erme was to be filtered as it was believed that this would reduce the coloration in the water that was currently used to manufacture the paper. An article on the subject was composed by the late professor Austin Barnes and published in the British philatelic journal in 2020 Vol 58 no.3 on pages 68/69 and can be read as follows > After studying these Wilding papers, it would appear that not only are there variations in the papers that have been depicted in the Stanley Gibbons specialised part 3 as specified by the GPO in their declaration of 1962 over the changeover from cream to whiter papers, but several other variants of paper has also been used to print later issues after the declaration was made, it concerns 3 unlisted papers that appears to have been overlooked in the past, appertaining to the following :- (1) A paper that appears to be encrusted with fluorescent fibres/flecks in the embodiment as seen on various dominations of the 9½mm violet phosphors printed on a whiter paper, possibly caused by the use of rags that contained high amounts of stilbene dyes used in the production of many detergents, this type of contamination was first seen around 1964 and gradually increased as time went by, other values have also been so affected, add to the fact that there could have been a possible change of rag supplier around that time. (2) A cream type paper similar to the original creams but of a more translucent nature, used to print some of the 4d 9½mm violet phosphors first issued in 1967, and yet again other values have also been affected similarly which includes some of the 4d deep ultramarine (plain) first issued in 1965. These findings indicate that an attempt to remove the fluorescent fibres containing stilbene was made by the use of chemical in a process known as oxidation whilst still in the pulp stage, in order for degradation to be achieved. (3) A fluorescent paper has been used to print various denominations, some good examples have been found of the 10d 9½mm violet phosphors, this type of paper was created by the addition of optical brightening agents in order to camouflage/mask the offending contaminants, other values printed on this type of paper are also known but not as prolific as the contaminated ones ranging from 1d to the 1/6d with a few exceptions. I will endeavour to show you examples of the above three types of paper that are unlisted in specialised catalogues, these will cover normal definitives, regionals and some commemoratives to a varying degree. To be continued ............
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2022 11:33:17 GMT
Contaminated papers discovered~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ One of my earlier discoveries was that of the 4d BoB plain issued on the 13th of September 1965, the attachment seen was originally taken under longwave ultraviolet light then filtered into mono as this has a tendency to enhance the anomaly found, therefore below I have included both variations. It would seem that when this paper was being manufactured, varying amounts of contaminated rag was added whilst the mixture was in the pulp stage, as I have found that with some papers there are only a few fluorescent fibres but with others there can be quiet a profusion, the next scan is of the 6d 9½mm violet phosphor printed from cylinder 10 dot seen in mono, after originally being taken under longwave ultraviolet. The fact that this type of paper had no fluorescent coating unlike the Machin stamps, enables one to see this type of contamination from the front. Here is a further example of my findings concerning the 6d value > It would appear that I am not the only person to have come across these contaminated papers, Hanns Fasching, editor of the deegam catalogue and member of the Modern British Philatelic Circle mentioned in the "Book Mark Journal" of finding a 4d 9½mm booklet pane back in 2015 along with what he described as finding cream papers on others. > Here is another violet phosphor of the same period, this time concerning the 1/-value, ironically, this stamp was first issued on the 28th of June 1967, 23 days after the 1/- Machin stamp was issued on June the 5th of the same year, talk about putting the cart before the horse ! The first attachment are the stamps as seen under longwave ultraviolet, with the second one filtered into mono > More to follow.............
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2022 21:46:34 GMT
Post 1962. Cream (translucent) type papers discovered~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It was stated by the GPO that only whiter papers would be used to print their postage stamps, but a problem had arisen in the form of contaminating fluorescence particles found within the embodiment of some of the papers used to print their stamps and a remedy needed to be found. The Stowford paper mill employed some of its staff to inspect incoming rags that was used to produce the paper as a first stage of the papers production, removing such items as buttons, zips, foreign objects such as insects or even a dead mouse, the one thing the "rag girls" could not remove was the fluorescence (stilbene from washing powders) in some of the rags that arrived mixed in with the normal rag and was therefore left to the boffins to resolve. The chemists at the paper mill was faced with a dilemma as to how to rectify the situation with regards to the removal of this type of contamination, and must have initially thought of a remedy by using a process known as oxidation whilst the paper was still in the pulp stage, as being most effective in the degradation of the fluorescent particles/flecks that was the source of their problem encountered. The idea that the use of chlorine dioxide or ozone would nullify the fluorescence in the embodiment, being more susceptible in the solution phase (pulp stage). Apparently, by using this method of removal, the process created a more " yellowish (cream) type of paper " similar to the earlier creams produced prior to 1962 but of a more translucent nature, here are two attachments of the 1/6d phosphor giving a good example of an oxidised paper compared to the whiter listed version as seen under long wave ultraviolet light....... The same principal applies to some of the regionals that was also printed on a cream oxidised paper, here is an example of the 4d Guernsey plain stamp that was first issued on the 7th of February 1966, with quantities in total sold of 4,415,040 . Sadly, only one type of paper has been listed in the specialised catalogue, which fails to list the cream paper version ! Here they are for comparison ........ Due to these cream papers being omitted in specialised catalogues and the amount currently in the hands of collectors, there can't be many available for purchase, making them a sought after item, or could it be the whiter paper that's the scarcity ? Do you have both variations in your collection ? More to follow.........
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2022 22:55:23 GMT
Post 1962 fluorescent papers.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Another way to rectify the situation of the contaminating fibres was by the addition of optical brightening agents (OBA's) into to the mix during the pulp stage, in effect this masked/camouflaged the offending particles that had become the problem, this type of rectification also gave the paper a much brighter appearance in respect of identifying stamps for the ALF system. Dr John Sugden was also aware that nothing had ever been disclosed on this topic and made a comment over their secrecy posted in Stamp collecting Magazine in his Woodstock column No.8 of the 14th March 1968 . Quote "as official silence is absolute" as per the following attachment. > I have underlined in red certain sections that are of major interest, at the time this article was written Dr Sugden was not aware of the contaminated papers. Apparently Stanley Gibbons appear not to want anything to do with fluorescence papers based on a recent encounter I had with Frank Walton FRPSL if you read between the red lines > As far as the fluorescent papers are concerned I must admit I have a couple of favourites, one being the 3d plain for Wales, and the other being the 10d Wilding phosphor definitive. Regional stamps have also been detected with fluorescent variations of paper, in this particular scan, it involves the 3d plain stamp issued for Wales, the listed varieties being numbers 1+3 in cylinder blocks as listed in the specialised SG catalogue, but the unlisted number 2 in the scan seems to have been ignored, why this is so is beyond my comprehension as the cream and whiter papers are almost identical when compared to the fluorescent one, the scan in question follows :- (1) The original cream paper on cylinder 1 dot (as listed in the SG specialised volume 3). (2) The fluorescent paper variety, could be either cylinder 2 or 3 (NOT LISTED) (3) A white(r) paper than the original cream on cylinder 3 dot (as listed in the SG specialised volume 3) Just how different must a stamp be to be recognised ?Initially, I thought I had made a mistake, thinking that this stamp was a non watermarked version and had to double check to confirm, this 3d Wales fluorescent paper does have a watermark and there is no phosphor bands > The 10d PhosphorOn further investigation and inspection I discovered that three different shades of paper had been used in the printing of these 10d phosphors and categorised them as being light (fluorescent), dark (cream) and intermediate (whiter). This is how I have decided to display them as can be seen in the next attachment. > More to follow..........
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 4, 2022 15:22:30 GMT
I have moved some posts from the thread below because they became somewhat irrelevant to that topic and are better suited for future reference under this more specific topic. thestampforum.boards.net/thread/9286/stamp-catalogues-comparability?page=3 If I see other posts on this topic they will be moved here or to another more specific thread. Londonbus1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ There is an interesting article jdtrue66 based on the study of stamp papers composed by Chris McFetridge, a Canadian dealer of St. John New Brunswick that I think will be of interest to you, it can be found on the following site brixtonchrome.com/pages/how-to-study-a-stamps-paper It makes interesting reading.
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jdtrue66
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What I collect: US&US FDC, Keys & Locks, NUDES, Rubber Ducks, USS NJ covers
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Post by jdtrue66 on May 4, 2022 16:43:31 GMT
There is an interesting article jdtrue66 based on the study of stamp papers composed by Chris McFetridge, a Canadian dealer of St. John New Brunswick that I think will be of interest to you, it can be found on the following site brixtonchrome.com/pages/how-to-study-a-stamps-paper It makes interesting reading. Thank you! UV lights and Micrometers its literally my day job desk lol It seems the work is all visible things under UV do you know if anyone is doing work with full spectrum and filters and other wavelengths? I know there is lots of work in forensics, bugs and flowers. There are even some animal vision studies but nothing on stamps that I know of.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 5, 2022 14:21:40 GMT
Based on my studies over the last 4 years all in all, 6 different papers were used to print stamps with a multiple crown watermarked paper by Harrison and Sons of High Wycombe and a compilation of them is listed below and can all be clearly defined with the use of long wave ultraviolet radiation when comparing like with like :- (1) A cream type of paper with an opaque embodiment when comparing to later issues, last officially used in 1962 bar the odd exception, the one used in the scan is of the 6d 1961 Parliamentary Conference. (2) Using a similar stamp as (1) but showing the printed side is another version known as chalk surfaced paper first appearing on the 3d GLO of 1960, with the first ever coated stamps being back in the reign of Edward Vll being more highly fluorescent once radiated. (3) A whiter type paper (so called) used after 1962, thought to have been created by the use of filtrating the water from source of supply. The first 3 papers used have been well documented, but of the last 3, numbers four, five and six no mention has been given them but have all been classified as whiter papers as a "catch-all" scenario, irrespective of the differences. I now come on to the unlisted ones :- (4) A contaminated paper created and used (inadvertently) of rag that was high in detergent content (stilbene) that was highly fluorescent as supplied and mixed in with the normal rag, that is easily recognisable when viewed under long wave UV. (5) A cream type paper similar to the pre 1962 ones but of a more translucent nature that have been discovered on printings much later, this one being the 4d deep ultramarine with 9½mm phosphor bands issued early 1967, this type of paper was in my estimation, created by the use of chemical degradation known as oxidation, but this left a residual paper totally lacking in florescence as against the intended whiter paper required. (6) A fluorescent paper created by adding additional optical brightening agents to the mixture whilst in the pulp stage, in order to conceal/mask the contaminating fluorescent fibres that seemed to be ever increasing since around 1964/5. By using this procedure, not only would it solve the contamination problem but also enhance the capabilities of the ALF section of the letter sorting system, giving a much needed whiter paper when letters were processed. Unfortunately only three of the above variations of paper 1-3 have been specified in specialised catalogues. This next attachment shows 5 varieties more clearly excluding the chalk surfaced stamps. Seeing is believing !
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 5, 2022 16:04:41 GMT
I compared two different papers of the 10d violet phosphor with a George the 6th booklet pane which had been printed on a cream paper, the 10d's on the left was virtually identical with the booklet paper, the 10d's on the right being on fluorescent paper, see the next attachment. > The whiter paper version is the only one listed in the SG specialised, but these two types of paper (cream and fluorescent) have not been included.
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jdtrue66
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What I collect: US&US FDC, Keys & Locks, NUDES, Rubber Ducks, USS NJ covers
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Post by jdtrue66 on May 5, 2022 18:57:33 GMT
Looking at these examples I have to wonder are we talking about true fluorescence looking at the white stamp is you light it with 400nm and it reflects 400nm that is not fluorescence. It would have to reflect back in a different range. Yes this would detect shades of color of paper and if that is what your looking for great. For example some body fluids that you cant see will be visible under UV regardless of the color that are sitting on. Under full spectrum you cant see them.
Still a interesting subject
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 5, 2022 19:46:03 GMT
Please tell me jdtrue66 how would you differentiate them then ? Other than with a L/W UV at 360nm ?
I am interested to know !
As I am quite satisfied with my findings.
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renden
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Post by renden on May 5, 2022 20:02:49 GMT
jdtrue66interesting.....I am a newbie in UV lights - I have both and know how to use it for Canada but elsewhere....... Thanks ! René
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jdtrue66
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What I collect: US&US FDC, Keys & Locks, NUDES, Rubber Ducks, USS NJ covers
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Post by jdtrue66 on May 5, 2022 20:13:13 GMT
Please tell me jdtrue66 how would you differentiate them then ? Other than with a L/W UV at 360nm ? I am interested to know ! As I am quite satisfied with my findings. Please don't take it as anything against your findings!!! that are fantastic and a real deep study. UV is a great way to see the color changes. Other ways to do it would be use any narrow range light even ones in the visible spectrum cream is not a primary color so I would have to think about that but if you fine tuned the rage down enough cream would show as black. This would not be the one for this but it is a cheap model it only handles primary ranges of color but I might just have to try it www.amazon.com/dp/B096W7ZTN8/?coliid=I3CSZ6KGS4GMWD&colid=E8K2PE7O5GGM&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 5, 2022 20:40:28 GMT
Here is an article based on this particular subject > Optical brightening agents and fluorescence in fabrics and paper ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_brightener This will give you some idea based on my findings P. S. I think I will stick to my long wave ultraviolet light rather than your suggested alternative jdtrue66.
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jdtrue66
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What I collect: US&US FDC, Keys & Locks, NUDES, Rubber Ducks, USS NJ covers
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Post by jdtrue66 on May 5, 2022 21:19:06 GMT
Here is an article based on this particular subject > Optical brightening agents and fluorescence in fabrics and paper ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_brightener This will give you some idea based on my findings P. S. I think I will stick to my long wave ultraviolet light rather than your suggested alternative jdtrue66.
I would not change what works for you either.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 5, 2022 21:31:02 GMT
Confucius says...I once thought I was wrong, but I was mistaken !
Or was it....He also considered that he was indecisive, but now he's not very sure.
Paperchase........
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angore
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Post by angore on May 6, 2022 9:42:05 GMT
I think the very specific paper difference discussion belongs in a separate thread.
The UV light can reveal much but usually relates to optical brighteners in paper that did vary a lot in early days. It was not until tagging really came into being when luminescence was used for postal reasons.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 6, 2022 18:06:40 GMT
I think the very specific paper difference discussion belongs in a separate thread. The UV light can reveal much but usually relates to optical brighteners in paper that did vary a lot in early days. It was not until tagging really came into being when luminescence was used for postal reasons. (Stamp papers+varieties) & (ultraviolet light) complement each other angore , as it's a bit like love and marriage "you can't have one without the other" Some varieties of papers and printing inks can only be distinguished by the use of an ultraviolet light.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 6, 2022 20:31:19 GMT
During an examination of some £1-50 "Gold head" castle stamps first issued in 1992 I noticed that two specific coloured inks had been used to print them, some examples that had been printed gave off an orange reflection under UV light whilst others appeared to be of a yellow/lime green shade when introduced to long wave UV, this finding was quite a surprise as I had not heard of it before giving rise to a possible variety being easily identifiable, here is an example of my finding. > Without the use of a fluorescent lamp I would not have discovered the differences found.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 7, 2022 6:25:29 GMT
If you don't look you will never discover~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Another interesting find that I made for you to ponder over, is a wove paper only found to have been used on 3 specific values that somehow managed to get reversed during either the watermark or printing stage of its production.
Here is an example of the 1/- value taken in mono >
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 7, 2022 14:45:51 GMT
If you don't look you will never discover.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The reverse ribbing process may have happened during the watermarking stage, as per this next diagram when the paper was moist. >
Or maybe when the stamps were actually being printed, it's impossible to say. As the multiple crown watermark looks the same even when reversed ! Here are some 1/6d values that have been affected in the same way. > Along with a close-up pic. > It is certainly a conundrum that I discovered several years ago.
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