Is This Really A Bj #103?

I have 3 stamps put into the album over 100 years ago, that were placed into the 1875 Reprints without grill section. The catalogue says should be hard white paper with crackly Gum.

This stamp is the 2c BJ. It seems like the paper is whiter than the others in this album. I don't know how to determine if it is hard paper or that the remaining gum is crackly.

Calling all sleuths to tell me what stamp # this is.

Hey kosmet

If you think the stamp shown in your scan is #102 you need to send it out for certification. From your scans the paper does not look correct. Usually hard white paper is very opaque and you would not see the print ink on the back side. However, I can not ascertain one way or the other, but I can say this. There were only 979 printed, out of the that number only a hand full have ever been certified as postal used. Also, (and you are stretching the old gray matter here) I believe there were secret marks on the reprints. Maybe others here can help you on that point.
Ron

It is my opinion that this is Scott73. The paper looks rougher/coarser than that used for the 103. The spacing on the plates for the special printings (103) was larger than that on the regular plates resulting in wider margins on the 103. The centering on the 103 (largely because of the larger spcing) was typically much better than what is shown on your stamp. The centering on your stamp is typical with the Scott 73. I have viewed scans of over 100 copies of the 103 and none have small margins or centering where the perfs cut the design.
Hopefully other will have more info.

Russ and Ron; Thanks for the detailed analysis. Your expertise on these has helped me to put reality into perspective. I have been given this album, and am a novice in philatelic analysis. At this point, I cannot spend the funds to have these stamps certified, but will have certain ones done when I am finished with this album review. I really appreciate your help.

Rich

Like any discipline, it takes years and years of intensive study to become an expert. For those of us who don't have the time or the means to dedicate to this kind of study, we must rely on our instincts, the consensus of our peers, or expertization services to come to the correct conclusion(s).

SCF, as a whole, works well together and usually comes to the correct conclusions.

So don't beat yourself up for not knowing. There's a reason why we are all here

Hey!
In my humble opinion Bill Weiss is by far the best place to send your stamp for certification. He only charges $25.00 for a full color cirt. He also offers a stamp ID service for only $5.00. While I do not believe that the stamp you have shown here is a Sc#102 I could very will be wrong and you are talking about a $7000.00 stamp. Here is a link to his web site. wrw43@hotmail.com
Also, I have mentioned that I am hosting two Fund raiser auctions for the forum. Each auction is for a complete set of 2007 Scott guide CD's. Not only does this help out the forum but could get you into a very useful tool for ID'ing your stamps. Here is a link to one of the auctions.
Forum Fund raiser auction Scott 2007 12 cd set#1
All the best
Ron

Umm, you could have linked to Set #2, Ron.

As regards Bill Weiss, here's an interesting blurb shouted out (all caps in original) in a boilerplate description by an ebay seller:




To his credit, this seller will allow time for a cert to be obtained. To his discredit, I saw this blurb attached to a 9 misidentified as a 7.

I accept Bill's certs, and I can't think of a good reason why I wouldn't. I think the 6% fees demanded by PF and PSE (and APEX, which this guy doesn't accept?) really discourage the small scaled novice collector from obtaining certs. Discuss?

Hmmm something says the opinions will be many on this one. First off I have never sent a stamp for a cert of any kind mainly because after my own research I don't feel I have anything of such a value or a purchase of high value that is hanging on verification. Secondly I have only heard of mr. Weiss through various forums and to my understanding he seems like a very knowledgeable educated man offering a service that is in demand at a very respectable fee. Here is where I see the problem as stated in the quote and also pretty well backed up by the offering of a #9 as a #7.
We'll look at a typical ebay scenario. It is safe to assume that their are many MANY unscrupulous sellers as well as dealers that can and will pass on their own mistakes as well as take the slight risk of being called out by a cert from one of the high cost expetising services. For example if I purchased a $500 stamp stated as X , sent it to the greene foundation paid the fees to find out it was a $20 Y, I would likely get a refund and apologies and maybe even the cert cost refunded . I leave either no feedback maybe neutral stating mistake made but full refund or even negative that quickly gets buried by dozens of other quick sales. Stamp returned to seller and good chance it gets resold again as X for $500 and this time succesful sale sitting nicely in someones collection as X.
I believe Mr Weiss is not looking to compete with any of the major certifiers but rather to help the average collector from not being ripped off, or simply offering a very reasonably price piece of mind or the opportunity to simply see why grandpa had marked a little asteric beside a questionable stamp. I believe their are many others that have the expertise to offer this type of service and there is a demand for it. For a perfect example I would happily pay our own SCF's US guru Russ to certify a classic for me. Would it stand up in the philatelic community - probably not but it would certainly stand up for my own piece of mind in my collection. ( Russ I'll send my address for commision checks to be sent )
In my short time collecting stamps I have seen a rise in interest but also a rise in scammers and cheaters and thus the need and opportunity for qualified reputable individuals to offer fair unbiased assistance even at a justifiable cost.

Otto!
I totally agree with your statements and I know I am preaching to the choir here. Like you I have seen many disclaimers like this on ebay and other on-line auction sites. Almost without exception, they are scammers or fraudsters trying to dissuade customers from seeking certification of their purchase. Also, I deal with most of the major auction houses an a regular biases and every one of them recognize APEX and Bill Weiss certifications and I have never heard of either of them or APS saying that their stamp ID service is proof of certification.

Nitrilures
I think you have fairly hit the nail on the head. All of us need to have people that we can rely on to give us a sanity check now and then.

In addition, and I have posted this so many times but it can never be said often enough.
Here are some things to look for in an on line seller:
All listing will have clear, crisp, unaltered scans.
If back of stamp is not shown in listing they will provide it at your request.
The seller will amend the standard return policy to allow certification. (usually 30 days)
Seller will promptly and courteously reply to any and all questions you my have about a listing.
If a seller fails in any one of these simple areas, DO NOT BUY from that seller.

Hey thank you that cleared up a few questions I have been curious about! Russ would you be willing to look over a stamp or two for identification? Just curious..lol

Bill is unquestionably an expert. When he doesn't know, he will find out or give no opinion. I know of no dealers who don't accept his opinion.
He has saved me 1000's of dollars with his image id alone.

His id service has also gotten me some great stamps that were misidentified.
I trust his opinion... now for plating, I go elsewhere as he does not plate, actually there are several people here and on another stamp board who's opinions I trust and respect. (you listening sinclair and russ?)

btw... I am a dirty old man.. the title made me think of something totally different.