ericdrive
**Member** 
Posts: 23 
What I collect: Argentina, France and Portugal (soon US and UK)
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Post by ericdrive on Aug 6, 2022 22:57:50 GMT
Hello guys, I have this stamp: Against White Background Against Dark Background (Different lighting) Everything indicates that this is:- Yvert et Tellier FR 718A
- Michel FR 797
- Scott FR 541B
- Stanley Gibbons FR 1002
- AFA number FR 751
- Unificato FR 718A
But, when you see pictures of this stamp in catalogs and from sellers, you see the following:Yvert & Tellier:  From Yvert Marketplace:
Another Example of 718A: As you can see, there are many differences between my stamp and the catalog examples. Here I mark a few: What is this stamp?Is it a forgery, a stamp in bad shape, a freak, a variety, 718A, or none of the above? I'm at a loss. Any help would be greatly appreciated.  Eric |
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stainlessb
Member 
qaStaHvIS yIn 'ej chep
Posts: 4,642
What I collect: currently focused on most of western Europe, much of which is spent on France, Belgium, Germany and Great Britain Queen Victoria
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Post by stainlessb on Aug 7, 2022 14:35:55 GMT
While forgeries are always a possibility, I think it is just a low print quality stamp, It seems a great many of this series (and others as well) have lots of "noise" in the solid background. The closely engraved lines also seem to suffer at times, perhaps as the plate is used over it's life. Below is group with a fair amount of "variety". None are unused as yours apprears to be. If this were mine it would not be my first choice, but I would (perhaps) mount it it with the broken 0 in 4F 50 |
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renden
Member
Posts: 8,711
What I collect: World W collector with ++ interests in BNA (Canada etc) and USA
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Post by renden on Aug 7, 2022 16:19:20 GMT
I totally agree with Stan stainlessb - Maury/Spink 2017 cat describes for the 718A 4f 50 bleu g. printing flaw. My used copy is U-VF with the legible Gandon signature - no variety. René btw scanning a stamp gives different results from scanning a catalog pic |
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ericdrive
**Member**
Posts: 23
What I collect: Argentina, France and Portugal (soon US and UK)
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Post by ericdrive on Aug 7, 2022 17:51:31 GMT
I think it is just a low print quality stamp, It seems a great many of this series (and others as well) have lots of "noise" in the solid background. The closely engraved lines also seem to suffer at times, perhaps as the plate is used over it's life. Below is group with a fair amount of "variety". None are unused as yours apprears to be. If this were mine it would not be my first choice, but I would (perhaps) mount it it with the broken 0 in 4F 50Thank you for the response! I see in your photo that you have a few with the broken zero. Does that make that copy more valuable? Yvert doesn't mention it as a variety. Sorry for the newbie questions, btw, but is a "low print-quality stamp" something looked down upon, or something sought after (kind of like an "error")? Currently I only have that one for my collection. Would a high-quality print be better for my album? It would be to me, since I'm a beginner and I like pristine stamps (because they look good). But I understand that from a collector's point of view, the rarest the better. Is this a case of rarity that would not be preferable to a pristinely printed stamp? Thank you very much for your time, opinion, and for sharing that beautiful page full of this 1945 issue.  Eric |
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vikingeck
Member
Posts: 3,266
What I collect: Samoa, Tobacco theme, Mail in Wartime, anything odd and unusual!
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Post by vikingeck on Aug 7, 2022 18:54:02 GMT
This reflects again the problems of re-establishing French postal services and Government printing following the end of WWII. Print runs often rushed as cheaply as possible to meet the need for stamp supplies. Plates put together lees than perfect and often getting worn , quality updates probably too expensive .
We can’t regard these poor quality prints as “something to be looked down”. They exist, are a fact of the times , and students of these Gandons will no doubt have examples to compare with earlier crisper printings .they may have a variety of flaws and blemishes which do not necessarily qualify for a separate catalogue listing.
I would consider them interesting to study but I don’t regard them as rarities.
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ericdrive
**Member**
Posts: 23
What I collect: Argentina, France and Portugal (soon US and UK)
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Post by ericdrive on Aug 7, 2022 19:08:11 GMT
This reflects again the problems of re-establishing French postal services and Government printing following the end of WWII. Print runs often rushed as cheaply as possible to meet the need for stamp supplies. Plates put together lees than perfect and often getting worn , quality updates probably too expensive . We can’t regard these poor quality prints as “something to be looked down”. They exist, are a fact of the times , and students of these Gandons will no doubt have examples to compare with earlier crisper printings .they may have a variety of flaws and blemishes which do not necessarily qualify for a separate catalogue listing. I would consider them interesting to study but I don’t regard them as rarities. Loud and clear! Thank you very much! Fun learning the ropes with such great advice from knowledgeable, friendly, and eager-to-help, people. |
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Post by dgdecker on Aug 7, 2022 22:27:21 GMT
An interesting discussion.
It is through questions like this from “ newbies” all collectors can learn. Never be apprehensive about asking questions.
It is not an area I collect but it has given me a bit of insight to the differences I can see in the areas that I do collect. Look at the history at time of printing ie after the war. Supplies were scare and demand was height. Never though of that before. In my collections I tend to keep all the “ variations” I find and present them together. I do not seek them out. If I happen to come across one then I tend to keep it.
David
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ericdrive
**Member**
Posts: 23
What I collect: Argentina, France and Portugal (soon US and UK)
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Post by ericdrive on Aug 7, 2022 22:32:02 GMT
In my collections I tend to keep all the “ variations” I find and present them together. I do not seek them out. If I happen to come across one then I tend to keep it. Great approach David. I think I'll adopt that philosophy for my collecting as well. Thank you for the encouraging words and for sharing your thoughts. Best, Eric |
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