Nice Used US #e1...

you have to look at the overprint, the gum on the back and the size of the perfs. not just one of your choosing, your stamps do have mis formed letters and other items mentioned and you refuse to show the backs no expert could tell without seeing the backs too. it is not just a glance at the overprint. you know that. still dancing sidestep and a one and a two and a ...

I would buy stamps from kevin504 (sheetguy2) on ebay with full confidence even without a scan of the FRONT of the stamp.

You wouldn't be quite so cynical if you only purchased stamps from sellers of his caliber.

by all means lets buy his stamps without questioning anything may as well get rid of stamp smarter site and all guides and expertize services they mean nothing because kevin said so and you support whatever he sells. for some reason I don't think even kevin believes that. people have a right to know what they are buying without all the theatrics and hullabaloo for a simple request to see the back of a stamp that is a routine stamp collecting practice.

You are so brainwashed about the value of these so-called "expertize services". I personally would rather spend my money on stamps from reputable dealers than on experts.

I don't use them either (yet)but understand why they are used,the whole hobby is based on questioning, studying, observation of the stamp, seeing it, learning from it not being told don't bother looking at it,oh you don't need to see the stamp just take my word for it lol how naive and arrogant and egoistical and yes snobbish to say why bother looking at the stamp I will tell you what it is without supplying accurate pictures or descriptions. this isn't about character or his friends or reputation it is about a simple request to see the back of his stamps a simple and routine procedure in stamp collecting and all I am hearing is he is above that trivial task, above all others to share that information, just take his word for it.ask questions and do so at risk of your own character being questioned. come on people ask to see backs of stamps every day.

Not to get involved in any part (and I mean any part) of this little war going on, just giving my personal opinion/experience. A buyer needs to check all diagnostics for these issues, as fakes are as plentiful as leaves on the grass in fall. Yes, it is helpful to have a good scan of the back of the stamp, for Mint issues, because, using the well-known diagnostics available out there, you can quickly determine if a particular stamp is a louse or probably not a louse. If buying off ebay it is okay if there is not a back scan, as you always have buyer protection (item not as described). As a seller, I have always done high resolution scans of both sides, but that's just me. If you trust the seller, there should be no issues at all, but, you should still do the diagnostics when you receive the item... John

Jenny2U....
MUCH THANKS!!
johnsim03.....no war going on here.
Im finished with him.

((((If you trust the seller, there should be no issues at all, but,
you should still do the diagnostics when you receive the item)))))
ABSOLUTELY!!

The bothersome things to me in this thread are the assumptions made about another person's 'intentions'. None of us know what is really going on inside another person's head. Kevin certainly seems like a good guy and conscientious seller. But he, like all of us, makes mistakes.

Generally speaking I support having front and back scans of any individual stamp that is selling over $50 or so. That said, free will allows me to choose if I support any particular seller or not. But I do not pass judgment about a sellers intent based upon this one fact. If I was interested in a stamp that only had a front image included I would ask the seller if they would be kind enough to scan the back. If they refused I would then decide if I wanted to risk spending time and money buying something that I might end up having to return.

So for me it's really about the desire to have a 'meeting of the minds' before a sale and not making assumptions about what a sellers intention may or may not be. And frankly this is how I am running Stamp Smarter. We don't want reviews that pass judgments and/or make assumptions about a sellers intent. We simply strive to educate buyers and open a dialog with sellers to improve the likelihood of having a 'meeting of the minds' before a sale turns bad.
Don

not a big deal a simple request and the sellers intent thrown in the potential buyers face, no war, no weapons, no battle just free speech and not caving when told to shut up and buy and to take his word for it they are not fakes without requesting routine simple tests of seeing the back of the stamp he just don't like anyone asking questions and that is the basis for the hobby, don't know him so why would I buy from him, finished with him? Ha I don't trust the attitude given it is wrong but I can pass it up just won't go there why would I an uncooperative seller is something to beware of, why should I trust him he hasn't even tried to build up any trust with me, lol. he is just evasive to the simplest, routine procedures you earn respect it is not blindly given.

Larry Bruce asks "why should I trust him"? and "don't know him so why would I buy from him?"

I lurked here for a long time (tried repeatedly to sign up, always running into some inexplicable obstacle), out of desire to learn from the expertise of those who comment here. I paid attention to a lot of different people's comments. Among them, Kevin's manifested a consistent pattern of considerable knowledge about US classics, patience with newbies, conciseness, and integrity.


NB: I formed that opinion BEFORE I knew that Kevin sold stamps under the name Sheetguy2. This is important. I was forming an opinion of him as a citizen of this forum, not as a stamp dealer.

It was on the basis of that already-formed opinion that, when I learned from a passing comment on one of these threads what his ebay id was, I without hesitation pursued him as a trustworthy source in that vast wilderness full of sharpies and honest citizens we call ebay.


I became one of his customers. I have to say that he has proven to be one of the best of all the ebay stamp sellers I buy from. Just my opinion. Nothing more, nothing less.

So, while Larry Bruce doesn't know Kevin, my point is that it is not impossible to "know" something about people who post here regularly, it is not impossible to form an assessment, "Hey, so-and-so really knows his stuff when it comes to 19thc US" and "so-and-so tends to be bombastic and overstate his case" and "so-and-so means well but may be in over his head" etc. Of course such assessments are not infallible and member X need not agree with member Y's assessment of member Z. But neither are we all ships passing in the night unknown to each other. That's the nature of internet fora such as these.

It is Kevin's considered opinion that Kans.Nebr. stamps can be assessed sufficiently from the overprints on the front. He may be wrong about that. He has reached a business judgment that scans of the back, for these series, are unnecessary effort. He will bear the consequences of both his philatelic and business judgment.

Those who don't know him are free not to trust his judgment. But for some of us, our reasons to trust his philatelic judgment is reasoned, not blind. Sure, once or twice he made a mistake in fulfilling a shipment but he immediately corrected it. Is he infallible? Of course not. But in my observation over 18 months, he's been a good citizen of this forum and is not a stranger.

as I said before it is about the stamps, not him, a simple request for a time honored test to see the back of the stamp that is done routinely not about his character or others vouching for him, his making out like the potential buyer is wrong to ask of him the simplest routine request and question the buyers integrate besmirches and puts a cloud on standard business processes, throwing wrong on me for asking the question is absurd by him or anyone it is a simple thing and no one is omnipotent (god like) to warrant a free pass while chastising/criticizing someone asking a routine request, it is like it was never heard of before to see the back of Kans. Nebr. stamps, which is ridiculous.

Heironymus....thanks for the comments.
Really makes it worthwile to hear!!

OK..I said I was going to ingore LB....
BUT....
LB...everyone has ways of doing things.
When you have seen thousands, yes thousands....of the ovpts
and know what to look for it is easy to tell from the front.
The ink (overprint) in not like any regular black ink. It
actually looks like it has "pearl" in it....I know it does not
but when it is held to a slight angle to a light source you can see what
I am talking about.
A FAKE overprint is just like regular black ink...I promise.
The item I linked to earlier shows this clearly....you stated that the
3c was fake because of improper inking. Sorry...that is wrong. If unsure...
the NEXT best way is the gummed roller grooves. This was the only
set to be gummed that way....then a single gum breaker....the lack of
some ink on some ovpts are common...some even have a . (period) missing.
Not trying to bash anyone....but these are a real simple set to see when
you know what to look for.
YES...these are faked...but not as often as you think. That is why
I asked you to link to a ebay (or anywhere else auction site) that you
thought was fake.
Also....my ebay selling....if anyone wins anything and does not like it
it can be returned...I will ask why??? Thats it.
I describe any hidden faults not seen in the photo. Scanning the back does
take time....Me, personally, I dont think it is needed....
Everyone has their own opinion....Good luck stampin!!

Heironymus.....just viewed your profile.
Chicago, IL.....since no name was used in the post....
is this D.M.???

the stamps you linked are not your stamps, the stamps I mentioned don't need me to provide a picture of. You knew/know what one I am talking about you just referenced it. I do think if there is a question with the overprint and make no mistake there is a question that is is necessary to see the back and all the guides say so. yes everyone has there own way and no buyer is or should be treated any different they all have their own requirements. I do not need or require any at all evaluation from you of your own stamps it is for me to see and discover myself to be satisfied to buy and if you refuse no sale simple end of discussion without being harangued for asking to see the back of the stamp, the 3c has a period that is lower then the lettering an obvious red flag, if you don't see it you don't see it fine second test to see the back absolutely necessary maybe not for you but all guides it is basic 101 stamp schooling routine simple if it is a bother it is a bother to you so no sale, no problem, moving on no need to get bent for anyone asking for more info. I do not need a lesson from you on your stamps I got all the info I need to make "MY OWN" decision, not what you want me to be talked into by you. I know what to look for and I told you what I saw and if you disagree fine show the back very simple , these are faked more then YOU believe, trying to convince me otherwise is detracting from what was requested,not on topic, evasive, putting my request in a trivial light, that is not the debate here and detracts from the core of the conversation, I don't need to buy your stuff get it examine it not be satisfied and return it when a look at the back test can be done. if we are at an impasse we are at an impasse I can live with it but will comment a simple routine time honored not out of the ordinary test the is in all the guides denied because you don't want to bother and don't think it is necessary, fine don't lol, you took all this time with all your comments and you could have had the picture posted so it is not about time it is about an unwillingness to provide the information you feel your above providing, do business how you want I don't care.

Just wondering why this is being discussed here? Surely, this is an ebay issue between a seller (kevin504) and a potential customer (LarryBruce). Why drag the rest of the forum into something that should be a simple question or request directed to an ebay seller within the ebay system? LarryBruce, if the seller doesn't wish to post a back scan then move on and find another seller that will.