clivel
Member 
Posts: 386 
What I collect: Basutoland, Bechuanaland, Rhodesias, South Africa, Swaziland, Israel to 1980, Ireland predecimal, Palestine Mandate
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Post by clivel on Aug 18, 2022 6:15:44 GMT
I recently bid on, and won with a bid of $4.50 a full unmounted mint sheet of the Southern Rhodesia 1943 50th Anniversary of the Occupation of Matabeleland stamps. This sheet is from the left hand cylinder which contains three well known constant varieties that catalogue at £20 each compared to a few pence for the normal stamps.
To be honest, I am not quite sure why I bid on the sheet. I wanted the varieties, and this was a cheap way of getting them, but I didn't feel too happy at the prospect of breaking up the sheet.
Once the sheet arrived breaking it up became even less appealing there are a few brown spots on the back of some of the stamps that I want, some even visible from the front as can be seen on the middle stamp above which immediately diminished their appeal for me.
Now I am at a loss as to what to do with the sheet. Suggestions please?
Clive
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khj
Member
Posts: 1,524
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Post by khj on Aug 18, 2022 7:22:03 GMT
Beautiful sheet, nice identification of the plate flaws! Love the selvedge markings!
While it would have to be verified with a UV lamp, based on my experience seeing the shape/location/distribution of those "brown spots", they are the type that will grow/spread/transfer under the certain environmental conditions. I typically run through any stamps/collections I acquire with my UV lamp to filter out these types of stamps.
You certainly can see the staining on the selvedge. Normally if I must keep, I would quarantine the sheet, by isolating & protecting this sheet with a sacrificial non-permeable mount/protector (that is protect my main collection or other selvedge from this contaminated sheet). Once I get a better condition selvedge, I'll toss the contaminated pane away or into crafter's lot.
In your case, replace "selvedge" above with "stamp". Since the other stamps are minimum catalog value, I probably wouldn't even keep those. Just remove the stamps/blocks with the plate flaws. Why risk contaminating your main collection by keeping the whole sheet? JMHO
It is possible to treat the entire sheet to sterilize and remove the stains -- but the cost would exceed what you paid for the sheet and some of the gum on the entire sheet would likely be affected in some areas. And there are those who frown upon that type of "cleaning".
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angore
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Posts: 5,698
What I collect: WW, focus on British Empire
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Post by angore on Aug 18, 2022 9:45:33 GMT
This is something I would NOT break.
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vikingeck
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Posts: 3,550
What I collect: Samoa, Tobacco theme, Mail in Wartime, anything odd and unusual!
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Post by vikingeck on Aug 18, 2022 10:49:26 GMT
I would be disappointed and worried by the foxing spots.Two stamps right centre by the green arrowhead seem particularly tainted, as is the left selvedge and adjacent stamps .
While it would be sad ( some might even say sacrilege) to break up the sheet , as the individual stamps are not scarce or valuable I would break up, saving the varieties in pair or 4 block with normal stamps.
Try to isolate decent 4 blocks elsewhere which have no, or minimal , contamination ,sell these on eBay and bin the worst .
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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 Aug 18, 2022 11:57:22 GMT
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JeffS
Member
Posts: 2,842
What I collect: Oranges Philately, US Slogan Cancels, Cape of Good Hope Triangulars, and Texas poster stamps and cinderellas
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Post by JeffS on Aug 18, 2022 16:47:22 GMT
clivel I would leave it as it is. First the pane shows the position of the flaws. Second the marginal arrows or pyramids show their arrangement. And last, I noticed that on the 8th column of stamps, the stamps are 1 perforation hole narrower than the preceeding 7 columns, or the following two, columns 9 & 10. Thus the last 3 columns of stamps are noticeably off center. I take it this sheet is harrow perforated. Or is it comb? I'm trying to account for the narrower column of stamps. I don't recall if stamps harrow perforating have the perfs extending into the selvage. Is this a recognized variety? Do all panes exhibit this phenomenon? I realize some might think this a bit of minutia, but considering the specks some of us collect, I think this is a production variety and not simply an EFO. Yours and other comments are welcome. Jeff
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stainlessb
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qaStaHvIS yIn 'ej chep
Posts: 4,905
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 18, 2022 16:52:38 GMT
I don't know thew overall size, but if it could be mounted on a single page, you could have a 2nd page (facing) when viewed in album/binder) detailing the varieties at their position on the full pane
as to the foxing... it is what it is
\my two cents
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vikingeck
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Posts: 3,550
What I collect: Samoa, Tobacco theme, Mail in Wartime, anything odd and unusual!
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Post by vikingeck on Aug 18, 2022 17:02:11 GMT
And last, I noticed that on the 8th column of stamps, the stamps are 1 perforation hole narrower than the preceeding 7 columns, or the following two, columns 9 & 10. Thus the last 3 columns of stamps are noticeably off center. Is this a recognized variety? Do all panes exhibit this. oops I had forgotten that column 8 was issued with narrower stamps. I was told of this phenomenon a few weeks ago by a friend who collects Southern Africa how delighted he had been to have a cover with a four block showing wider and narrower settings for perfs. it is recognised as a known variant by the specialist society but is not listed in The Gibbons catalogue , but neither are clivel ‘s three varieties |
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clivel
Member
Posts: 386
What I collect: Basutoland, Bechuanaland, Rhodesias, South Africa, Swaziland, Israel to 1980, Ireland predecimal, Palestine Mandate
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Post by clivel on Aug 19, 2022 3:02:19 GMT
Thanks, everyone for some excellent advice  I would not like to see the sheet broken up, so I am leaning towards Peter's suggestion of giving the sheet away on the understanding that the recipient will keep the sheet intact. Lookout for a giveaway in the next day or two. And last, I noticed that on the 8th column of stamps, the stamps are 1 perforation hole narrower than the preceeding 7 columns, or the following two, columns 9 & 10. Thus the last 3 columns of stamps are noticeably off center. Good catch Jeff. As vikingeck has already pointed out the 8th column is narrower. This occurs on all sheets. The stamps were rotogravure printed by the South African Government printer in Pretoria and perforated comb 14. The reason for the narrow column was once explained to me, but as I was not at the time too familiar with perforator terminology it went completely over my head. The narrow perforation varieties are also found on Union of South Africa stamps. As illustrated in my first post this left-hand, Cylinder 1A, contains three well-known constant varieties: Row/Col 3/4 Damaged D - SG not listed 5/5 Inverted G - SG not listed 6/10 Line under saddle bag SG61b The right-hand sheet, Cylinder 1B, contains two well-known constant varieties: 1/8 Damaged Ear, also known as the hat-brim retouch - SG61A 6/10 Notch in base of the two - SG not listed These stamps are a flyspecker's delight, there are dozens of minor varieties in addition to those listed above. If I can get whomever borrowed my copy of the "Mashonaland Guide" to return it, I can post a scan of the relevant page.
Clive
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djcmh
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Posts: 794
What I collect: Worldwide
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Post by djcmh on Aug 19, 2022 6:02:01 GMT
I would keep in intact and in isolation - perhaps in a mint sheet file with a large envelope (like what USPS uses for stamp sheets). Make a scan of it to put with your main collection. If you eventually are able to get a replacement sheet then you can get rid of it, but should you not find another, then you do at least have this one in your collection, properly quarantined
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