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Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2022 14:37:33 GMT
Over the last 4 years I started inspecting British Elizabethan stamp papers, concentrating mainly on the multiple crown wildings, however, I have now turned my attention and started to look at some of the papers used to print Machin stamps, including commemoratives, many of the varieties that I have discovered do not appear in specialised catalogues but I can assure you that they do exist and with a little diligence you may also discover others or similar types of paper variations that may have been overlooked in the past. Many of the the paper varieties that I have found concerns contaminated paper specimens (fluorescent fibres/particles in their embodiment), others are paper differentials concerning fluorescent and none fluorescent papers of the same issue. The fact that these paper differences have been ignored by major catalogues means that many collectors are not aware of such varieties being in existence, a difference in a stamps paper is as important as to the way it was printed and I am sure that some other QE ll issues have also been likewise affected by similar differences. I have selected 4 used examples of the said stamp (two frontal and two reverse images) in order to exhibit the differential found..........  The type of paper that a stamp has been printed on can make a vast difference regarding its scarcity and value of that particular stamp in question. Neither of the above-mentioned varieties of these particular stamps are worth much, but the difference is quite obvious when inspected under a long wave ultraviolet light and adds a new variety for the collector to bear in mind. An extreme example of a paper variation was that of the Canadian 2c large Queen discovered cancelled in 1870 as depicted by Mr. Christopher McFetridge of Brixton Chrome, a Canadian dealer, this is an extract from his article of studying a stamps paper, and is as follows. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  The complete article based on other paper variations and what to look for can be viewed by going to >> brixtonchrome.com/pages/how-to-study-a-stamps-paper. Paperchase
A section of the article dedicates itself to variations on the luminosity of fluorescence found within different stamp papers when viewed under longwave ultraviolet light, and gives a list of intensities based on what is known as the Irwin scale in order to differentiate the various types of paper used in the printing of stamps, to be found in the table below.
The use of the damp paper methodThe 17p Dark Blue Machin with centre band. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The use of the long wave ultraviolet lamp has many advantages in detecting fluorescence in papers, but whilst soaking some stamps off paper I noticed a very peculiar reaction in that when the stamps were wet and laid out to dry on a tissue paper, a definite difference was noticed between two different types of paper that they had been printed on, and with a little experimentation in combination with a UV light I soaked off some 17p dark blue Machins with centre band and compared the differences found in combination with the use of long wave ultraviolet light, I was quite amazed with the outcome as the damp translucent type stamps showed a high degree of fluorescence whereby the damp more opaque ones gave a very weak reaction giving rise to the fact that two different stamp papers had been used to print these stamps, this reminded me of the cream and white versions of the earlier multiple crown Wilding definitives listed in the SG part 3 specialised catalogue. Below you will find three examples of this particular stamp as seen under different exposures of light. Item 1. As seen under artificial light (fluorescent light)  Item 2. The same stamps but using a light combination.  Item 3. The same stamps but under long wave UV only.  Note: Once the stamp paper had dried no difference was noticeable in the visible spectrum between the two variations discovered, but the difference could still be observed using a long wave UV lamp. When this stamp is damp and shows opaque the base paper is non fluorescent. When this stamp is damp and shows translucent the base paper is fluorescent. This experiment is only recommended for used stamps, but it does show a significant difference using the damp paper method, try it for yourself on this and other values and see what you can discover ! |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2022 21:53:28 GMT
The 1990 17p Christmas stamp~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Another discovery with similar characteristics has also been found with the 1990 17p Christmas stamp issue after soaking them off paper and laying them flat to dry, I discovered that some of which had been printed on a paper that was quite translucent when damp was highly fluorescent under long wave ultraviolet as against the damp opaque paper ones that showed little or no fluorescence at all. Once again my findings indicate that at least two types of base paper has been produced and used in the printing of these stamps, I am sure that you will be in agreement after viewing the next two attachments >   If all the different coatings have been listed such as OCP, FCP, PPP, PCP l & 2, ACP, etc. Then shouldn't the different types of base paper being used also be included in the catalogue listings irrespective of their surface coating ? The 1989 15p "Harrisons"~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Another issue I discovered being on different papers whilst using the damp paper method was the single profile 15p "Harrison" centre band stamps, after soaking them off paper I placed 3 of each of the two types of paper discovered (opaque and translucent) on a separate piece of tissue (still damp) and took images of them, one under fluorescent light the other under L/W ultraviolet, as you can see there was a major difference in their response to the ultraviolet, the reaction is not because of a coating but of the actual base paper itself manufactured and used in the printing of these stamps. <see images >  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  It's the difference in the paper that makes the variety (unlisted in specialised catalogues) The 1991 22p Dinosaur issue~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I can now report on finding two distinct papers used to print the 22p Dinosaur stamp, the variation was discovered whilst using the damp paper experimentation procedure, the like of which can be seen in the following two attachments.
Please note that all stamps depicted in the following two attachments were damp at the time the shots were taken.
Attachment 1: as seen under normal fluorescent lighting >
 Attachment 2: as seen under long wave ultraviolet >  The above is only the tip of the iceberg no doubt many more issues have yet to be found that have been affected in a similar way as it would appear that more than one base paper has been used to print British decimal stamps during this period irrespective of the various types of coatings that have been used. Check em out yourself using a longwave ultraviolet lamp and see what you can discover in the paper chase.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2022 19:44:02 GMT
During a session of soaking off some Harrison Machins one thing that did disturbed me, was that I noticed after using some tissue paper as a source for drying them that the tissue had become impregnated with a fluorescent substance, and could only presume that the fluorescence had come from the surface that the stamps had been initially coated with, concluding that this fluorescent substance was highly fugitive once moistened and could easily contaminate the other stamps in the soak. This is the tissue in question and my observation under UV as to it's condition after use, here is an attachment attributed to that fact .........  I suppose that by now millions of these stamps from this particular era will have already been processed (soaked off) and their owners are unaware of their condition, especially if they don't possess a longwave 'black light' to check them out. It would be interesting to hear from other collectors with similar findings to add to this particular topic. Once again whilst soaking off some 15p stamps a problem which I thought had previously been rectified by the Stowford paper mill with the additional use of optical brightening agents or oxidation seems to have appeared once again, in the form of a contaminated paper that contains fluorescent fibres, this contaminated paper has been used to print some of the 1990 15p 150th anniversary of the first adhesive postage stamps, I am sure that when you have seen them personally you will be in agreement that they are reminiscent of some of the multiple crown Wilding stamp papers exhibited in another posting I have made. >  Note the similarity with this 6d multiple crown Wilding stamp below >  Unlike the contaminated papers of the Wilding series, the Machin stamps have a fluorescent coating on the printed side which tends to hide the fluorescent fibres, therefore the contaminants can only be observed from the reverse on stamps with FCP. |
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Beryllium Guy
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Posts: 5,654 
What I collect: Worldwide Stamps 1840-1930
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Post by Beryllium Guy on Apr 24, 2022 11:48:48 GMT
Over the last 4 years I started inspecting British Elizabethan stamp papers, concentrating mainly on the multiple crown wildings, however, I have now turned my attention and started to look at some of the papers used to print Machin stamps, including commemoratives, many of the varieties that I have discovered do not appear in specialised catalogues but I can assure you that they do exist and with a little diligence you may also discover others or similar types of paper variations that may have been overlooked in the past. Many of the the paper varieties that I have found concerns contaminated paper specimens (fluorescent fibres/particles in their embodiment), others are paper differentials concerning fluorescent and none fluorescent papers of the same issue. The fact that these paper differences have been ignored by major catalogues means that many collectors are not aware of such varieties being in existence, a difference in a stamps paper is as important as to the way it was printed and I am sure that some other QE ll issues have also been likewise affected by similar differences. The type of paper that a stamp has been printed on can make a vast difference regarding its scarcity and value of that particular stamp in question. Neither of the above-mentioned varieties of these particular stamps are worth much, but the difference is quite obvious when inspected under a long wave ultraviolet light and adds a new variety for the collector to bear in mind. An extreme example of a paper variation was that of the Canadian 2c large Queen discovered cancelled in 1870 as depicted by Mr. Christopher McFetridge of Brixton Chrome, a Canadian dealer, this is an extract from his article of studying a stamps paper, and is as follows. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The complete article based on other paper variations and what to look for can be viewed by going to >> brixtonchrome.com/pages/how-to-study-a-stamps-paper. Paperchase
A section of the article dedicates itself to variations on the luminosity of fluorescence found within different stamp papers when viewed under longwave ultraviolet light, and gives a list of intensities based on what is known as the Irwin scale in order to differentiate the various types of paper used in the printing of stamps, to be found in the table below.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This experiment is only recommended for used stamps, but it does show a significant difference using the damp paper method, try it for yourself on this and other values and see what you can discover ! Hi, Fred: I just thought you might be interested to know that the last person to discover one of those Canada 2-Cent Large Queens on Laid Paper is a long-time TSF member: watermark He posted about it here: thestampforum.boards.net/post/119413/threadI also just wanted to mention that you are the first collector I have ever seen use the term "Elizabethan" when describing something from the QEII Era (1952-present). I always envision something from the 16th Century, but in a philatelic sense, I suppose that your usage does make sense. Anyway, you got the wheels turning there! Thanks for your posts on the Forum.  |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2022 12:15:42 GMT
WOW ! $247,250 : It just goes to show what a difference in the paper can make.
I seem to remember several years ago that Stanley Gibbons also used the same terminology "Elizabethan" in one of their earlier catalogues, so I guess I'm not the first.
Thanks for your update on the Canadian 2c
Paperchase
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watermark
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What I collect: My main collecting area is focused on Canadian stamps printed from steel engraved plates. Specifically re-entries and constant plate varieties.
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Post by watermark on Apr 24, 2022 12:52:27 GMT
It is always nice to see the 2c Large Queen on laid paper still being used as an example of the reason to check for paper varieties. There are many papers used on modern stamps so it pays to check them.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2022 13:13:30 GMT
It is always nice to see the 2c Large Queen on laid paper still being used as an example of the reason to check for paper varieties. There are many papers used on modern stamps so it pays to check them. You certainly found your little gold mine in this stamp watermark. As you have already stated, there are lots of variations of paper that stamps have been printed on, many of which have not yet been discovered or catalogued. I intend to show you some of my findings, several of which may never have been reported, and consequently have never been listed or catalogued before, some of which will be found on another thread on this forum by the name of > thestampforum.boards.net/thread/9238/multiple-crown-wilding-stamp-papersStay tuned, Paperchase. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2022 9:27:37 GMT
It is always nice to see the 2c Large Queen on laid paper still being used as an example of the reason to check for paper varieties. There are many papers used on modern stamps so it pays to check them. It would seem that you have the MiDAS touch Mike after reading about your further exploits. canadianstampnews.com/beaver-collectors-score-new-finds/ Save me your old shoes......... Paperchase |
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watermark
Member
Posts: 62
What I collect: My main collecting area is focused on Canadian stamps printed from steel engraved plates. Specifically re-entries and constant plate varieties.
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Post by watermark on Apr 27, 2022 10:40:41 GMT
The hunt never ends. After wining two John S. Siverts Awards for the Dots and Scratches News Letter BNAPS, I no longer edit this newsletter, I am still active and writing articles for this news letter and others. I have also put a great deal of time in with another friend compiling a book for plating Canada's 1/2d stamp which should be available through the BNAPS Book Store later this year. There are always new finds around the corner. Enjoy the hunt.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2022 11:50:58 GMT
The hunt never ends. After wining two John S. Siverts Awards for the Dots and Scratches News Letter BNAPS, I no longer edit this newsletter, I am still active and writing articles for this news letter and others. I have also put a great deal of time in with another friend compiling a book for plating Canada's 1/2d stamp which should be available through the BNAPS Book Store later this year. There are always new finds around the corner. Enjoy the hunt. Yes Mike, I've already taken a few shots in the hunt whilst on safari, mainly using a longwave ultraviolet light, here is an example of one I have recently bagged, it concerns the 1991 18p Christmas stamp. What's your verdict ? >  As seen in mono > Discovered to have been printed on a paper that is contaminated with fluorescent particles, a problem thought to have previously been resolved back in the late 60s with the non watermarked pre-decimal Machin fluorescent type papers, however history has a way of repeating itself as can be seen in the above specimen. It's quite a novelty to find snowflakes on the back of Christmas stamps (LOL) |
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watermark
Member
Posts: 62
What I collect: My main collecting area is focused on Canadian stamps printed from steel engraved plates. Specifically re-entries and constant plate varieties.
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Post by watermark on Apr 27, 2022 13:06:58 GMT
I am no expert on paper manufacturing. I think the mix of dull and florescent fibers could be a mater of recycled paper being used.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2022 13:56:05 GMT
I am no expert on paper manufacturing. I think the mix of dull and florescent fibers could be a mater of recycled paper being used. The papers produced for British stamps at the Stowford paper mill was made from rags and not Made from recycled paper, it is believed that some of the rag used had varying quantities of stilbene (used in washing powder) for "that whiter than white look" that was the cause of the problem. See following attachment being a segment by an article composed by the late professor Austin Barnes in the British philatelic society journal >  Paperchase |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 28, 2022 12:37:20 GMT
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angore
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What I collect: WW, focus on British Empire
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Post by angore on Apr 29, 2022 9:57:26 GMT
@paperchase
Why not write article for the TSF newsletter?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2022 10:54:51 GMT
Thank you for your invitation Angore.
Many of my findings include other people's achievements and reports much of which substantiate my findings and would possibly not be allowed in the newsletter.
Also you may have noticed that I have only recently joined the TSF less than 2 weeks ago, I feel I need to learn to walk on this forum before I can run.
With respect........ Paperchase
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 4, 2022 19:06:14 GMT
Here are a couple of variations concerning the 18p bright green Machin first seen on the 10th of September 1991, it can be seen that the first stamp in the attachment by Harrison and sons was printed on a contaminated paper whereby the second stamp was printed by Enschedé using a fluorescent based paper, the third stamp was printed by Harrison's but on a paper without contaminants. >  Stamps printed by Enschedé are quite easy to identify, not only have they been printed on a completely different fluorescent paper but the phosphor band located in the centre of the stamp is quite distinct in that it glows a bright yellowish green as against the pale white ones of the Harrison print when seen under long wave ultraviolet light. >  Which ones have you got in your GB collection ? |
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