Expertizing #287

The stamp that was in our collection is the 287 on the left. Other than being way off center it has the lower corner missing perf, a pulled hinge causing a thin. I bought the stamp on the right on ebay. Condition wise it is far superior, but the color is much darker. What are your opinions?

I'm no expert, and it's hard to tell from a scan, but I would note that Scott U.S. Specialized does make a distinction about an "orange" and "deep orange" color variation. No change in value for either variety.

I think you have a very nice stamp.

We do not have that book. A quick look on ebay shows many fairly recent publications. Since our interist in US stamps ends around 1953, would any older publication be OK, or are they regularly updating the information on the old US classics as they are found.

Hi Curt!

What you're looking for is called the Scott Specialized Catalog for year 19xx. And it sounds like you don't need a recent one. Get a 1980 or so volume of the Scott Specialized Catalot and you'll be very happy. But the catalog prices will obviously be out of wack.

What has worked for me? Every day, go to Amazon dot com, do a search for "Scott Specialized" and it'll give you a list.

It changes every day. Sometimes the cheapest price is $50. But I was able to get one for $6 or something like that.

With any hobby, PATIENCE is the key! Wait. Hide in the corners. Jump out when no one is looking! Grab the Moment!

Is the stamp on the right side oxidized?

Thanks,

George

It is a bit oxidized. I forgot what's in the orange ink (iron oxide?), but some of the orange colored stamp from the late 19th century and early 20th century oxidize on their own. I believe there's a way to reverse this, but hopefully someone can recall the details.

Hydrogen Peroxide can reverse this. I outlined the process in another topic.
I'll see if I can find it.

I took a quick look and don't readily see it.
Oxidation or more correctly sulphuration can be reversed with a bath in Hydrogen Peroxide. It should be done in a dark container. Peroxide brakes down to water VERY quickly in the light, this is the reason for the dark plastic bottles. Several SHORT baths of a minute or 2 should restore the original Orange color. When complete a wash with distilled water is also recommended.

Great information. I'll post pix after the transformation.

rev.. it bought some ethyl and isopropyl alcohol recently to try it out on those old stamps..
I also bought some hydrogen peroxide, but the strongest I can find is 3%. Is that enough to do the job?

absolutely! It will normally take several baths for the transformation. Remember you need a DARK container! Or it will not work! Remember Peroxide will breakdown very quickly in Sunlight and Air.

OK> Stupid Question - and I know there are not supposed to be any Stupid Questions.

Oxidized. Iron Oxide. Hydrogen Peroxide.

Can someone please explain. The general opinion of this forum is that hinged is ok for used, etc. and no one likes original gum because that's too much of a bother.

But we get a slightly off-color stamp that the OP posted and all of a sudden we have several chemical recipes to take care of that "problem".

We no longer care about originality or whatever.

And then there's this:
absolutely! It will normally take several baths for the transformation. Remember you need a DARK container! Or it will not work! Remember Peroxide will breakdown very quickly in Sunlight and Air.


All this, to change the "tint" of a stamp? WOW! So much for un-doctored stamps

GOSH, are they still "un-doctored" after this dog and pony show?

I guess that's why the stamp dealer has a smile on his face when I walk in...

What is described is a chemical restoration. What this does is restore an unstable pigment. Nothing more, Nothing less. I personally have NEVER not disclosed this when trading or selling a stamp. Some find this process acceptable others do not. I personally also did not get involved in the whole Hinging debate.

This particular operation does not bother me. The integrty of the stamp will not be comprimised. I will attempt to return it to it's original state, before the extra oxygen molicule attached it's self to the iron. What has altered the stamp is improper storage.

e
The peroxide worked wonders! A very small amount on a Q-Tip then dry immediately. We did this three times in the matter of ten minutes. The front side ONLY so no gum is disturbed. These are the same two stamps as above. I do not feel badly about doing this at all, in fact it is explained in detail by a well known expertizer over on the VSC website.