Mexican Stamp With A Split Overprint - Your Thoughts Please

Split Overprint on a Mexican stamp?

I posted this on another board, and received a private email expressing interest in buying this stamp. The problem is the potential new caretaker was not able to really comment on the value after some time to talk with Mexican stamp collectors/specialists. Apparently no one he was able to talk to had ever seen one like this, and it is not listed in "The Stamps of the Mexican Revolution 1913-1916" by Follansbee. It was suggested this is a curiosity, and no further comment on value or additional correspondence followed.

I don't think I was being taken for a fool, as I have great respect for the other collector involved, but isn't this what it is all about? Finding that one item that makes collectors go "No Way! Awesome!" I know that if this was a Downey Head with a split "LEVANT" I would go absolutely crazy, and put all of my available resources on the table to get it, seriously. I am not just saying that.  8-)

I would love to get some feedback on this stamp from the membership. Has anyone seen one like it? Do you think the split O/P is a premium item? What would you do if this stamp was yours? Do you have a Downey Head with a split Overprint you want to trade with me for this?  ;)

I look forward to any and all feedback, Thanks folks!

Have a Good One,

Skilo54

Skilo54, add me to the list of "never saw this before" but certainly if the overprints were not handstamped but machine stamp then a misalignment could cause this. The only problem is that you would think there would be more of the same out there somewhere and you would not be the first one to be discussing this! - good luck, keep us posted, I am very interested. - jeff

Hi skilo54

Personally I think the item is only a nice curiosity, especially if not in Follansbee.

A little Colombia background that may give a clue to what happened. In the airmails of Colombia the Avianca "A" and Lansa "L" overprints can be found placed in all kinds of weird positions. I was told that the reason was that post office remainders were "picked up" and then machine overprinted. If a stack of items to be printed had full and partial sheets then on some sheets the overprint could be anyplace.

This may be what happened to "split" the overprint. The other possibility is that the sheet of stamps did not register properly when printed.

Jerry B

Thanks for your insights jh &jc! I am working right now, so my reply time is limited, but I look forward to reading various opinions and suggestions, and appreciate the ability to post a question like this to get a wide range of answers!

Thanks,

Skilo54

One aspect about this overprint I find rather curious. If the overprint sags down onto the lower stamp, why isn't there a lower part of another overprint on the upper margin of the stamp (unless the stamp was on the top row of the sheet/pane.

I did notice that the American Philatelic Society now has a new service where they will deliver a judgement on a stamp based on a scan. With a price of $12-15 for the service, it might be a worthwhile investment.

Happy collecting!

Really, that sounds like a heck of an idea, I'll check into that later on!

Thanks Smauggie, 'preciate it!

SKilo54

Bravo to Mexico for using an engraved overprint, quite nice as overprints go. Not sure how they would have done the printing but sheet misallignment is likely and this error likely didn't happen to often . Possibly one of the first sheets to allign the ovpt or if fed improperly it wouldn't have happened very many times even without a sciesta and a few cervesa's . I'd look a bit deeper as values could range all over the board.

@Nitro - I appreciate you showing that you appreciate Latin cultures and language.

I am sure you didn't intend to call us lazy beer drinkers.

Hi smauggie

I noticed Nitro spelled siesta wrong.

I meant to ask you once before as to where you are from? It seems that there are more Latin Collectors on this board than previously thought.

There isn't too much more of the overprint. What is left is a relatively small portion and could very well fit in the margin.

Jerry B

@Jerry - He spelled cerveza wrong too.

Soy Panameño.

Ok so I need a nap and maybe a couple beers- And no not lazy beer drinkers at all. Human nature to desire a nap and more countries should take note that by allowing the siesta (sciesta- maybe french canadian spelling) the work production would increase. And as for beer Carona is one of the best by far with no foul intentions to german beverages. I'll quit now since I've offended half the planet.

Hi nitrolures

I guess smauggie and I will have to get you a Spanish / Mexican dictionary. The beer you are referring to is Corona not Carona.

If you want a nice refreshing drink, and the ingredients are available, you could make Colombian refajo:

http://www.mycolombianrecipes.com/c...o-colombiano

One ingredient, aguardiente, can be found in a liquor store (a common brand in the US is Cristal). The above recipe states that the aguardiente is optional but I don't think so.

Jerry B

Scott Classic lists double overprints for some of the barrils but I assume this is not what they mean by "double."

Hi Cjd

No this is not considered a double overprint. In a double overprint the overprints are essentially in the same location, visibly offset.




Jerry B

Yep, that's what I figured.

IN MY OPINION, THIS IS A NICE LOOKING STAMP AND A CURIOSITY. I DO NOT KNOW ITS VALUE BUT SUSPECT IT IS LOW. NONETHELESS THIS IS A WORTHWHILE ADDITION TO ANY MEXICAN OR WORLDWIDE COLLECTION. IT IS MY SUSPICION THAT NUMEROUS VARIEITIES OF SURCHARGES/OVERPRINTS EXIST FOR MEXICAN, LATIN AMERICAN AND SOUTH AMERICAN COUNTRIES EXIST AND NOT ALL ARE LISTED, POSSIBLY BECAUSE THE RECORD KEEPING FROM THE ISSUING AGENCY WAS SUBOPTIMAL.