On The Csa Bandwagon

These just in... cancel on the #13 fake? Any way to tell?

Good question. I am in no way an expert on cancels, so take the following with a massive grain of salt. I'm replying to your post because no one else has so far. Perhaps what I contribute may make sense and will be useful.

The first thing that I notice is that the black fades significantly from top to bottom. It doesn't appear as if the person applying the postmark/cancellation used stronger pressure at top and less at the bottom. To me, it looks like it was applied by a watercolor brush. Maybe the ink pad had just had water added. Also, the width of the inside of the line varies.

The following images were created using your image and from a source of several legitimate CSA postmarks:

http://www.jameslee.com/News67/7-10...JULY2013.pdf

I approximated the size of the postmark circle on yours to a fairly accurate size:



Here we see that the design fits easily into that circle:



Here's an example of a larger diameter postmark layered with opacity on another type of CSA:



Here's an example of a smaller diameter postmarrk:



I don't know if the design size of these stamps are the same. If they are similar, then I don't see the size of your postmark as being suspect. However, the position is very suspect. We would expect the postmark circle to be towards the bottom left or center instead of the upper side. That is assuming that the stamp was placed on the upper right of the envelope. Did Cancel To Order exist on these stamps?

Despite placement of the postmark, I still feel strongly that the fading of the black ink is suspect. Look at the examples shown in my images and the .pdf resource that I linked. Variations of pressure when applying a postmark doesn't result in a fading effect. It results in an smaller area of ink that is just as dark as the rest of it. I see no fading of darkness on any legitimate example.

I do have to say that the black ink on your example is very circular which I wouldn't expect if hand applied. The inside of that circle is irregular though. Perhaps it was made with a template with a cut out circle instead of a stencil.

As I said before, I am an expert by no means. Take nothing that I have said as definitive.

Perhaps someone else will contribute what they know.

-Edited for clarity

Unless the stamp was on its side like the ones on the CSA cover shown above. (This is based solely on my observation - I know virtually nothing about CSA stamps, cancellations, etc.)

It looks more like a manuscript/pen cancellation to me more than a dial. Just my opinion however.

Hi Randall,
Looks suspect to me, does the back of the stamp show anything? (i.e. does this cancel 'leak' through to back of stamp?) I would expect any pen cancel to be more brown as it oxidized over the years, this looks a bit fresh given the age of the stamp.
Don

Excellent sleuthing HDC! I should have thought about investigating the cancel diameter. Interesting. Here's the scan of the back. It is in real good shape despite the glue/paper spot and hinge remnant. The spot would indicate to me it was once in a very old collection. I usually give even older stamps a soak to remove these but what's your guys' opinion about doing so on this stamp?

the spot could be an indication of a thin. I can't see any evidence of tears or holes from the front.

The cancel is fake. The easiest way to tell is to comp[are it to the genuine cancel ink of the era. This is way too watery to be genuine cancel ink.

PS - If you are just starting, the simple rule is that for a stamp that is worth more used than unused, be suspicious of all used examples being offered on ebay (unless from a known vendor)

rustyc, you are correct in that many different scenarios could result in various cancel/postmark postitions.

Many have weighed in with opinions about manuscript and or pen cancellations and the consensus seems to be that if it was genuine then you would see "browning" of the ink or no "watery" effect.

That doesn't 100% exclude your example from being legitimate, but it does make it very hard to prove that your stamp is genuinely used given what we know.

I'm very glad for others adding their input.

As for removing the hinge, my inexperienced self would soak it off if further damage is unlikely. As long as it "floats" off on its own during a soak, then I don't see how it could damage it. Then again, I am not an expert.

Regardless, thanks for sharing. The experience and input from all has been educational.