More On Australian KGV Stamps

OK KGV collectors and more so serious KGV collectors, it seems me that there is a lilelyhood of going blind with this endeavor. I 'm really hooked on this project, but there must be a simpler way classify the stamps than I am using. Say you receive a Kiloware bundle KGV stamps.
1. Soak the stamps off of the paper. I think they used Crazy Glue back then.
2. Sort the stamps by denomination, and general color. No problem.
3. Check the perf
4. Check the wmk.
5. On some, check whether on rough or smooth paper
6. Check the orientation of the print.
7. Check the "wattle line".
8. Classify them as different die's and different years.
9. Check fir different printing flaws (on the ONE PENNY red there are 20 to 25. You now have at the least spots in front of our eyes.
Can someone please give me a better method

Conn

Go way, way, back to step 1.

NEVER soak your stamps off paper until you've checked the quality of the postmark. If it's a nice, clear, circular date stamp (CDS), some are quote rare and collectable. This site https://www.premierpostal.com/cgi-b...rod.sh/po.w? is an excellent reference for this. It shows details of the post office's name and dates of operation, and, if the auction house has some for sale, the value of the postmark, giving a rough guide to scarcity.

King Conn be very careful with soaking! Penny Reds in particular, the red die in many of them will run, staining the white areas of all the stamps, totally destroying them! Browns and oranges are unstable as well. Only soak a few at a time in cold water for the shortest time possible. Never mix your colours and after soaking pour your soaking water into a clear glass to see if you have disturbed the die. Start by using damaged stamps but even these can be worth a fortune. With the reds and your soaking water in a clear glass your untrained shades eye will grow very quickly. I hate soaking penny reds. Soaking is a very serious event. Be extremely careful. A worried KGV.

King Conn:
I totally apologise if I seem to have been harsh. It was not my intention at all.



This image is of half penny oranges that came out of a large lot of mixed KGVs. At this stage of sorting I have cleaned them,identified there watermarks, there perforations as per KGV explained. The stamps you can see backs up are all rejected because someone has soaked them in warm water or and detergent. They all have the ink gone through to the back of the stamp or have stained the white part of the front of the stamp and have totally destroyed them. These stamps usually find there way into buys of 200 for $100 very sad for the novice. I can remove the total ink from a KGV in well under 30 seconds, turn a green into a yellow green in under 10 seconds,turn a red-brown into a light brown very quickly as well ect. All expensive shades should be treated with great suspicion, there are many traps for the KGV buyer. Just a few things to think about when buying your stamps. I hope I have been helpful KGV

I feel your pain Conn.

I still get confused by some stamps that have multiple printings. Especially when I have dozens to go through

KGV I don't think you sounded harsh. You were just giving Conn some sound advice. I sure learned from it.

Dianne

KGV Collector;
You have nothing to apologize about. I appreciate all the help you have given me. My interest in Australian KGV stamps was totally from your postings on "Australian KGV Stamps explained" string on the forum. I have copied all of your postings and for now it is my manual on the subject.
I know that this is not My Face or one of those tell all web forums but, this summer I'll be 85 (85 going on 40) I still build my own computers from components. Solve Rubik's cube ,solve suduco and crossword puzzles, can hit the bull's eye at 45 ft with a Glock 27, put together a budget for a business on an Excel spread sheet etc. But I'm bored. I have lost all my friends who didn't make it to my age.
Anyway you have given me something to do that intrigues and challenges me, and I am grateful for the project I have started. I hpe I don't become overbaring.



The top four stamps are one's that I soaked. The bottom for were purchased from a dealer in Austrailia, with several denominations of KGV stamps. The top four look a little tinted to me - hope I didn't ruin the whole bunch. By the way how do you get the paper off the backs of "ONE PENNY REDS"

A Grateful King Conn

PS I have always soaked my stamps with very cold water.

King Conn it is great to hear that you're as keen as mustard.

With the penny reds the darker, heavier, and or chalkier looking shades can give some trouble with the ink leeching. The main issue is that it lightens the shade which is the great concern to the shades collector. The more water used for soaking per stamp the less chance of the ink staining the white part of the front of the stamp. Your 1st stamp is a darker shade and it has leeched a little ink through to the back of the stamp. Maybe a bit too long in the water.

My way is to add to 2 small drops of concentrated detergent to one and a half mugs of water. It helps to break down the surface tension of the paper and glue. The ink is attacked straight away, with or without detergent. I then very carefully try to peel the stamp off the paper and not float the stamp off. The glue that is left behind I very carefully rub off with a finger with the stamp in water, starting from the middle of the stamp to the outer edge as soon as I feel any resistance the glue is gone. I also change my soaking water a lot of times in this process.

Maybe someone else could give me a lesson as well. KGV

Just one other thing. With the stubborn island type small pieces of paper that will not come off, I place them, while still in a soaked condition, onto a flat surface and very carefully try to lift the paper with stamp tweezers, just pushing at the edge of the paper till I find a weak spot and the paper usually peels off very easily.