Opinions On This 342?

Family,

I am looking at this 342 and would like any opinions you may have on it. There are so many FAKES out there. My specific questions are (1) does it appear that it has been re-gummed? Ane (2) does it look as if it has been re-perforated on the left side?

That, plus any other comments, will be most welcomed.

Thanks,
Jack Kelley

Re-gummed? On the front? I'm confused. (But then, I often am.)

In answer to no. 2: Yes, it does.

Sometimes a front scan suggests regumming because tendrils of the gum that was spread on the back are visible extending from the perfs or perf holes, or because perf tips look glossy or colored like there is gum underneath or on top of them. Not here, however. We need a back scan.

Thanks, palermo!

The left side and bottom look reperforated. Note how the bottom perforations wander up on the right side while the top perforations appear straight. The left perforations are a bit closer towards the bottom. The interior semicircle of the perforation holes should be fairly clean, but not as clean as the left and bottom perforations. The genuine top and right perforations have slightly narrower perforation tips and the perforation holes are not symmetrical based on the pull of the pins elongating the holes slightly.

So, why stop at one alteration? The perforations on the right appeared to be filed inside some of the perforation holes. Compare the gum with less expensive never hinged stamps of the period to get a better feel for what genuine gum looks like. Test the perforation tips with the touch test. If they feel hard or sharp to the touch, like a saw blade, the stamp is very likely to have been regummed. Keep in mind that the stamp may have been regummed before it was reperforated, at least on the bottom.

Clark

Thank you, all.

Indeed, my question about re-gumming is as cjpalermo1964 explained. I would have posted the reverse had one been available on the ebay listing.

Clark, "I can see clearly now" I did notice that the bottom perfs looked "clean". I certainly did not see that they are cockeyed as well!

Thanks Again to all. I got my answer and will stay away from this one.

Jack Kelley

More about this stamp. The family confirmed my suspicions that the stamp is a FAKE. But now I would like to ask WHY? I always thought that it was the coils that were faked. Not so?

The 12 X 12 $1.00 Washington has no competitors that I know of. Why then was this stamp faked? Any ideas? Are ALL Washington-Franklins suspect?

Jack Kelley

I worry about all mint stamps worth more than 100.00

I'm with you, Jim. That'll be next on my list (to obtain certs). But for now, I still want to know why a stamp such as this - with no competitors - was FAKED.

Jack

Displayed on my 24" monitor, the eye, forehead, front hair, and top perf line all look stained, suggesting a removed cancel. It may have been a used stamp that was cleaned and regummed to imitate a mint stamp. As for the reperf, it could have had a natural straight edge that someone wanted to perf for the sake of appearance.



Edited for clarity

Jack, I guess it could be called a fake, but its really an altered stamp. Its always been a 342, Its been enhanced by re-perf'ing, perhaps re-gummed, perhaps even having a cancel removed to make it appear to be in a better state/condition than it originally was. Fake coils were/are made by altering an entirely differ issue; using imperforated or completely perforated issues to look like genuine coils. As you've done with this stamp, be cautious, there are many fakes and alterations in the W/Fs where there is an opportunity to enhance the value or make a stamp appear to be a different, more valuable, issue.

kelley01938,

You can contact the seller. This particular seller is quite reputable and would make good if the stamp is bad or it can be sent on extension for a certificate. In this case, you could contact them directly to avoid hassles with ebay. It would also help if you are an APS member.

It would probably come back with a bad certificate stating that the stamp has been altered, possibly in multiple ways. If they look at it, they will are likely to withdraw it from sale and may be able to offer you a better example of the same stamp.

Clark

With all due respect, Clark, it does appear that this stamp has been significantly altered to enhance its value. If a rube like myself can spot problems, then perhaps the seller must have known as well. I am actually leaning in the direction that it was (is) a used stamp as cjpalermo1964 suggests. I already contacted him about whether this was a mint stamp. He came back and said it was OGNH. So I am still unclear as to its condition. If it was me, I would certainly be more forthright in my disclosures.

Jack Kelley

Some fakes are darn good, I have had some wash/frank coils come in collections that I wouldnt sell for no other reason than " it was too good to be true"

Looks like the cancel has been removed, it has dubious value without a certificate.