Samoa #1 - The Samoa Express

CL Griffiths organized the first postal service in Samoa, primarily to deliver his own newspapers, though international mail was possible. He'd done the same thing in Fiji.

The stamps were printed in Sydney between 1877 and 1880, and the service closed in 1881. Catalogues refer to four different states for these stamps, with distinguishing characteristics for each.

I'd like to solicit opinions on this stamp. My investment is this stamp is not so much that I can't handle an unvarnished opinion.



The perf choices are 12 or 12.5. This one seems to be just a hair north of 12.5...definitely not 12 (which was actually 11.8). It seems like it is the third state, perf 12.5, which would make it SG #10. Or a forgery. I don't think the spot of color is found under the "M" though I can't rule it out, as SG says it can be very faint in some copies.

I've included a detail with the most-relevant areas.



Thoughts?

I struggled with one of these way back, and wrote a short "how-to" of my experiences at http://www.stampcollectingblog.com/...ss-stamp.php

It would seem to match features of type III, but... The line/dot/scratch below M is considered a "red flag" in literature. So possibly a forgery of some sorts....Maybe somebody more experienced can tell better.

It appears to be an altered state IV reprint in which someone may have tried to either scratch out or airbrush out the dot below the M in order to make it appear to be a state III reprint.

It is not a state IV remainder, because you stated the perf>12.

My non-expert opinion.

Rod posted while I was replying. Excellent link, Rod!

Only a link khj,
interested to see how you fellows come to a conclusion.

Well, here's the M.




"If there is a hint of any color under the M...". I have to agree that there is something there. Under magnification, I don't see any damage to the surface, but there is still a mark.

Thanks, all.

Anyone else have one they want to share?

C.

Good thread, Cjd. Here is my only Samoa Express, the 3d.

I can't find my perf guage , so will have to do the math when I have a chance.

I am sure it is a reprint.

I think it's a safe assumption that 99% of these on the market are reprints.

True, Jubilee. I will have to dig out the articles I have from the Pacific Islands Study Circle, and I am sure I have one also from the American Philatelist.

BeeSee, your 3d is a definite state IV. The perfs look rough, suggesting that it is a remainder. Please measure the perfs. If perf 11.75, then probably remainder. If perf 12.25, then definitely a reprint.

The K comes forth :)

I replied too quickly, before I finished drinking my Dr. Pepper. Now that I have come to my senses, I have corrected my posting above; please read again. Sorry about that.

They are hard to measure being so rough, but it seems to be 12.75 x 13. I will have to dig up my literature.

Here is another one to practice on...the 2d went unissued, so it was not that interesting to me, but I acquired this one for a nice price, so...



I think there is a dot under the M. I don't think the color really matches the reprints, but could it be a remainder with perfs on four sides?

Thoughts?