Is Expertizing Necessary For An Obvious Rarity?

Thanks Warrehouse and Drudenfus. I check the web site for a list expert signs. Great! I could spend days on the site and its many links. I also check a site that lists a number of faked US stamps, including faked grills. The site is also doing a major plating project of 1st issue design of the Franklin blue 1 cent. http://www.slingshotvenus.com/stamps/fakes.html

Good luck in your quest quigngt

This was a very informative and interesting thread. I'm glad I didn't miss it.

Dianne

Thanks Dianne, it may take some time, but when I get the stamp expertized (or certified), I'll let you all know the results.

The bad news is in. I procrastinated on sending my stamp for a potentially expensive expert opinion. Recently, on a whim, I sent scans to a collector with a website who specializes in exposing fake and bogus stamps. Oh, boohoo, mine is bogus! He concurred that my grill size is incorrect and, new to me, that the grill points are facing the wrong direction. Oh well, fijese, as we say here in Guatemala to something that is not what you want or expect. However, not all is lost. I still have a very interesting bogus grill on a Scott #153 that only cost me a few dollars.

Sorry to hear that.
Live & Learn!

Expertizing will certainly help the marketability of any stamp. Like khj says if it is for your personal collection just enjoy it as is. You can always market it another time. IMHO

quigngt -

Sorry to hear about the results of your findings but thanks for starting an interesting and informative thread.

I collect old US too and researching a suspect stamp is part of my interest in collecting. Sometimes I buy inexpensive lots just to see if there is a pony in the manure. If it doesn't work out, as is usually the case, I had fun, learned something and got some good trading stock.