If It Seems To Good To Be True...

I've been waiting anxiously for delivery of a BOB group purchased on ebay, so I could share my scoop with you. Amongst the US revenues and proprietary and playing cards I spotted what I was sure was a Confederate states #2! I'd just won a #11 with a small group of revenues, but figured this was a better win fall.
Opening the envelope and searching through and found it.....a facsimile. The word printed right on the back. Springfield I think.
Can't help laughing at myself for thinking I was so clever.
Seen a few other lots like this on ebay (including one this past weekend with a #4, from the same seller. Good thing I lost out on that one.)
Oh well. Got an interesting array of stuff. But am I to blame for being too clever, or should the seller have noted that there was a facsimile in the mix?
Guess I could start collecting Springfields too.

seller should always note if note genuine IMHO.

It's for that reason, I have yet to collect any CSA. The quality of the genuine stamps is average at best ... unless I got an amazing deal, I don't know if I am ready to jump into them yet ...

You could do worse !
Your copy is very nice, a deeper Blue than mine which may have been from a different printing. Is there a Scott no. as well on the back ?
There are many other types of reproductions, most that I have seen printed on white paper.

Your stamp is most likely from Tasco Booklet T6, printed in 1941 by the Tatham Stamp and Coin Company, Springfield, Mass.

Nice.

Londonbus1.....but not a real stamp !

jamesw, I think a seller who offers a facsimile must declare it to be one. This is especially true if it is shown anywhere in the offering. Perhaps the seller deliberately displayed it in the background to elicit higher bids from potential buyers.

I also think fascimiles should be declared.

I think you'd have a right to complain to ebay about this - after all, when you list an item on ebay (US) you declare the item/s to be authentic.

This item is not authentic.

I've just e-mailed the seller to see what he thinks. Not sure now if I want to keep them, I'm kind of torn. I know the CAS isn't a real stamp, but I also know the whole CAS forgery/facsimile thing can be another area of collectability. I do have some 10c Jefferson and 2c Calhoun private printings (including a Dietz emerald green) so it's not unthinkable to keep it. But, ya, he should have said.
I could keep it as my 'let that be a lesson to you'
We'll see what he says.

Been there, done that!

Just heard from the seller. Says he knew it was a facsimile, but neglected to post that in his description, though he usually does. I don't know, I'm suspect. Went back to his other lot that I bid on but lost and checked out the CSA#4 in that one a little closer (attached scan for your own edification), no disclaimer in that one either.
My giddiness has changed to disappointment, so I think I'm sending them all back. Let that be a lesson to me. C'est la guerre, pardon my French.
Not sure what the policy on this site is about naming names, but, all you e-bay buyers, I'd avoid this seller. Just gotten a bad feeling. I can post his name if you like.
Thanks for all your imput.

both are forgeries
I have 7 CSA stamps in my collection..

#1,6,7x2,11A,12C,13

I am looking for the rest of the series.. eventually..I'll get one of each.

I've sent the entire collection back. Even the others (52 revenues) were of such poor quality it wasn't worth keeping. I'll be more careful in the future.

I just saw your other thread James about mistakes.
I didn't pay for this item but am interested how to identify whether it is a forgery or not.

Jamesw Good for you ! I believe a lot of times the seller figures that its not worth the bother for the buyer to return a less than satisfactory lot...and they make out on the deal...i think you may have taught the seller something !

Anthony
I'm certainly no expert, but I've been trying to gleen all I can from internet sites.
Here's a good site for CSA stamps

http://laplaza.org./~1covers/CSAFor.../csa_p11.jpg

Yours look pretty good, the drawing's nice, though the colour, on my screen anyway looks kind of green. But it kind of looks like the type 7 pictured on the above website, having the shorter centre stroke. If it is, then it's a 'good' forgery (an oxymoron if ever there was one.)

There's a great article in American Philatelist talking about forgeries in CSA stamps. You can download a pdf the this site.

www.stamps.org/AP/Collecting0111.pdf

John Kimbrough also has a great site for info on Confederate stamps in general. Basically, read, read, read. Hope this helps.

http://www.jlkstamps.com/long/intro.htm

p.s. I did get my money back for the above mentioned stamps, and immediately spent it!

On ebay, I have always made the assumption that if it is not stated to be genuine, then it most probably isn't. Even if the statement is made, I am pretty careful about the seller and return policies before I decide to bid.

I have, over the years, accumulated a fair sprinkling of reprints and facsimiles. At least, my assumption is that this is what they are. They come from accumulations and collections that I have purchased and often are not shown in the pictures and scans. Someone, often many decades ago, has put them into the proper space in their album, most likely without ever knowing or questioning the authenticity.

CSA issues? My knowledge is zip so the are just stored away until I run across someone who knows what they are talking about, and as I never post something that I don't know, there they shall probably remain along with things like pony express and early papal states, those ones that all older collections all seem to have.

For interests sake, these are posted below.

Thanks Phil. I don't know if he learned anything (though I did) He emailed me that he didnt' think he got enough the first time anyway and would just post the set again for sale. I'm going to keep a eye out and see if he mentions the facsimile at all. An interesting study in human nature (oh Gawd! too much Oprah. I got to get a job!)