Scotts #319 ? ? ?

I would like to re-post something I posted sometime ago. haven't got it authenticated yet.

Hard to tell. I'd say yes, a #319 with the top perforations trimmed. But if it really is a coil it could be a rare #322. Does anyone know if there is a certified copy of a used #322?

Something doesn't look right about the perforations on the right side ... the peaks of the perforations appear too rounded.

One of the most fake stamps in the market place, the experimental coils of 1902-1903. The real stamps are rare and most of us will never see one except at a major stamp exhibit. So the question of the day is this stamp trimmed or is it a case of reperfing?

The things you need to check for is first the perfs, are they correct are they square, check the straight edge are they square. Of course this is just a start but something to check. Measure the stamp straight edge to straight edge. It should fall between 24.5mm to 25mm. If it is in the measurement you have a real coil. However I will note that if it is shorter you still may have a real coil. The point is a trimmed coil will never fall between these two marks. Now of this is fool proof but only a starting point.

Having a pair or four together would be a good thing because they are very hard to fake.

The thing is that many collectors trimmed these stamps to fill in their album holes with no intent to defraud anyone. Thus there are more than a few of these stamps floating around.

Good Luck

I found this in my Father-in-Laws collection. It was encased in plastic and still had the envelope paper attached, I have since removed it. That may have been a mistake. i'll give it a measure. Thanks all for your input.

Measures 24 mm from straight edge to straight edge.

An article you may find interesting:

http://www.hgitner.com/reperfing-2-...d-coils.html

As for the rare Scott #322, a survey of certified examples was completed in 1980 by Martin A. Armstrong for his book Washington-Franklins 1908-1921, at that time he noted that only 167 had been certified by the Philatelic Foundation.

Dale, when you say that it had the original envelope paper attached, do you mean part of the cover to which the stamps was attached. In the picture there is a small piece of paper that may have some of the cancellation on it. It would be harder to fake the coil if the cancellation ties the stamp, so that could be useful evidence for you to keep. I hope when you said "I have since removed it," that you referred to something about the storage envelope and not a piece of cover on the stamp.

Then again, the height measurement sounds a touch short, so it might not have made a difference.

That does not mean it isn't fake, if it fit between the limits it would have meant pretty much it is real. It is just part of the process and the fastest. Some real coils do measure below this limit but none of the fake will fit into this measurement.

Dale, large margined stamps can be trimmed down on two opposing edges and still fit within the 24.5-25.0mm measurement for coils, especially if they also happen to have a natural straight edge requring only trimming on one side. I've a #300 that was cut down to be passed as a #318, coil-perf. 12 verticle, and it measures 24.5mm straight edge to straight edge. A measurement of 24mm edge to edge is a red flag. Anything under 24.5mm should be highly suspect. According to the book, United States Coil Issues 1906-38 by Martin Armstrong, all genuine #322 are type II, and that they are either a deep scarlet or lake in color. I can't tell for sure because the image is small, but this one looks like a type I and it isn't scarlet or lake as far as I can tell. Also, according to Armstrong's book, genuine #322 measure between 24.65-25.15mm edge to edge. If you want to be sure, you can send it to Bill Weiss for an opinion. He doesn't charge too much for an opinion.v I'm thinking its a #319 trimmed down on top.

Sorry I haven't gotten back sooner to those of you who are trying to help. The stamp is actully deeper red then this picture, I will try to take another pic with a different camera or phone hopefully getting a better color. The paper on the back was from an envelope which I removed, the picture you are seeing here on the post has the evelope attached. Thank for all your help, it's much appreciated.

On the bottom right of the stamp, it looks like the cancel was drawn on that bit of envelope. The little bit of visible slope upwards seems too sharp.

This looks like a type I, so it can't be a 322 (type II perf 12 vertically).

It is also possible that it's 1/2 of a 319d pair imperf horizontally. Though that is highly unlikely as well, since there may not be any used copies.

Not sure if this really helps.

Good luck with the certification.