British Guyana (Guiana) One Cent Black on Magenta 1856 Facsimile word stamped on the back. Looks very old stamp. Not new stamp at all. Possible previous owner think its a copy of facsimile. Stamped "facsimile" by himself. I did research online: 1856 exit some copy of facsimile used. I am wondering how much its market value now? I asked another stamp expert. He is not sure.
It is exactly what it states it is....a facsimile. Look at the circular date stamp it's a rubber hand stamp if I've ever sen one. Here is what the original looked like.
Nothing about the stamp in that scan looks old. 1956, maybe, but 1856? Sure doesn't look it. If I had to guess, I'd guess 2006.
It looks like someone was trying to remove the "facsimile" from the back, which is pointless, because the back looks nothing like the 1856 issue. (Unless someone was hoping to sell it on ebay to a starry-eyed dreamer...guess I can't rule that out.)
It really shouldn't be worth twenty cents, but someone might pay a dollar or two for the novelty factor.
"Facsimile" means that it is a copy, not authentic, fake. It is VERY easy to make a copy of a stamp and make it look old. However, this stamp does not look old in any way, shape or form. And as Stallzer stated, facsimiles are readily available and not valuable.
As an aside, if there were another one of these found, it would be unlikely to have had the corners cut, as this one has been.
This link contains more information on the history of this unique stamp.
I never said it is genius stamp. I dont care about how much it worth. Just fun to explore the history. According from the link, British Guyana (Guiana) first stamp has many colors and styles.
Quote: British Guyana (Guiana) first stamp has many colors and styles.
The stamp actually replicates Scott #13. There were several stamps issued prior to this one. It was basically an emergency issue printed locally to fill a need when regular supplies of stamps had run low. The quality was so bad that the initials were added, not as a cancellation, but as a control mark to try to prevent forgeries.
With all due respect to the creators of the site you linked to, they've just pulled together some scans from different places, and the write up appears cobbled together from different sources, with indifferent editing.
You should return it as it is not a facsimile as you can see the differences in the frame between the original. Facsimiles are often the only way some people can ever hope to see some of the extremely rare and valuable items. Some are better than others though
As ymc91356 mentions... it can be interesting to look at the history, even of a facsimile. You could check out that hinge remnant (if that's what it is),the paper or the writing on the back. Maybe ball point, maybe some other older type of ink. The fact that it has that possible hinge may indicate a period before hingeless albums. Nice to get a date or period even if it is a copy
Rumor has it that it went into his safe deposit box, no news since his death though. Also, I don't believe that the BG Magenta was the first Stamp British Guiana issued.
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Posted 12/06/2011 6:10 pm
