Penny Black Reproductions

This was included as part of a Mystic Stamp Company sales promotion in one of their catalogs. Am I the only one that feels that these sort of modern day "reproductions" are rather questionable to put on the market today?



Obviously, true philatelists will immediately know that these are bogus (reproductions) but at the price being charged and the statement that you would be "intrigued by the expert engraving" leads me to think that these will hit the market and fool some unsuspecting novice collector only to find that they have potentially overpaid for what amounts to a modern day fake.

Seeing things like this being marketed by what I thought was a well respected stamp dealer makes me wonder.

What's your opinion?

To me it would all depend if there is any sort of markings on the rear of the stamps indicating "Reproduction".
The real problem might be when someone buys it as a known reproduction and then tries to or does sell it to a collector looking to get their first Penny Black and does not have the knowledge to differentiate between these and originals.

I am concerned when reproductions are created that mirror the original even if they are suitably marked on the back of the stamp. My feeling is that the face of the stamp should have some marking to distinguish it from the original.

If anyone is foolhardy enough to part with $100 for them, then good luck to the printers.
Who was it said, "Never give a Sucker an even break"?

In general, it is pretty easy to distinguish originals from fakes/reproductions. The originals have easy to spot watermarks.

I don't ever recall seeing a fake penny black with the correct watermark.

Plating the original penny blacks, now that is more difficult.

k

$99.00!?!? Seems like hugely overpriced gift-wrap to me.

Why not go for the whole enchilada? How about a whole sheet of fake Treskilling Yellow?

In all fairness to Mystic, if you compare that offer to the regular prices they charge for other items, it's actually a smokin' great deal.

k

My grandparents had a reproduction of the Mona Lisa on their wall. I regard this item similarly. It's tacky but some people must want them or Mystic wouldn't be selling them. Pretty expensive for a poster though.

Karen

The claim that no full mint sheets are in private hands is false by the way.
Her Majesty the Queen has several and also several mint sheets of the more valuable 2d blue (the imperf without white bar).
She sold two sheets last year to an American Business man for $66,000,000. (to have the roof fixed at Windsor)

Way too expensive an item from a dealer who does not give any info about it.
These are Cinderellas after all.
If they gave more information about the printer,type of paper,gum etc then maybe the price would be realistic.
from this one ad in their own list, I wouldn't touch it with a bargepole.
If the item had been issued by the USPS, for example, and then offered by Mystic, then it would be OK to ask such a price. But without the info, no way.

UK's Royal Mail have issued a few reproductions in the past to celebrate Philatelic Events and they were not cheap. But all the info was provided and the collector could make their own decision as to their worth.
Later, some of these items were sold at much higher prices on Internet auctions and dealers lists.

I would need to know much more information before I spend $100 dollars on something, wouldn't you?

Londonbus1

Surely as a framing item with protective Mylar pocket it's worth it as a Cinderella ?

Judging by the above responses very few will be purchased, when considering the dollars we spend on Philatelic products whats $99 for a unique novelty item. !

Can you provide a citation/reference for this (Queen's private ownership and also the sale)? This is definitely news to me, and such a sale would easily eclipse the record for a sale of a philatelic item. I was also under the impression that there are no full sheets in private hands -- and that the only ones still intact are owned by the British Postal Museum; but my info could be wrong/outdated, and I would certainly welcome news that there is a full mint sheet in private hands. Thank you.

k

"Can you provide a citation/reference for this (Queen's private ownership and also the sale)? This is definitely news to me"

It was in the daily papers in England. Definitely the Mail, which I read and was also mentioned on TV. The Queen owns the best private collection in the world and has never paid for a single stamp. If she sends a letter she does not have to put a stamp on the envelope. When new stamps come out they are sent to her gratis. This is all common knowledge in England.

The sheet arrived safe, without creases at a total cost of $120 approx'. Being honest the sheet of 240 stamps is Visually stunning.

We missed going out to dinner a few times to make up for the loss/ cost.

I E/mailed Mystic asking if ALL sheets were individually numbered out of a total produced eg 2/100, I RECEIVED NO ANSWER.

My sheet has the number 2 in each corner, I suspect ALL these sheets have the number 2.

XYL's statements concern me, for they are presented as fact.

He states: "If she sends a letter she does not have to put a stamp on the envelope." If by this he means Her Majesty's Household does not pay postage, then this is erroneous. It does. Until 31 March 2001, the Court Post Office's postal and telegraph services were provided free of charge by the Post Office, but from 1 April 2001 the Household, at its suggestion, has paid.

It is wrong to state that Her Majesty does not pay for a single stamp that enters her private collection. She does. OK, only those issues that are determined by the Keeper of the Royal Philatelic Collection to be of significant importance, for as with any collector there is an annual budget set aside for such purchases.

Yes, she does receive many stamp issues free of charge when issued by some Commonwealth postal administrations. As royal.gov.uk states: "Today the Collection continues to grow. It receives stamps of the UK and many Commonwealth countries in mint blocks of four or six. Occasional purchases of rare historical items are also made to enhance the Collection further."

As for Her Majesty owning several full mint sheets, including Penny Blacks, I am sure that she would love to. However, as far as the Penny Black goes, the only sheets in the world are owned by The British Postal Museum & Archive here in London. As the museum states: "In our collections at The British Postal Museum & Archive we hold unique treasures illustrating the history of postal reform and the design and production of the [Penny Black] stamps. These include proofs, the Old Original die from which all the printing plates were made, and the only sheets of Penny Blacks in existence."

Royal.gov.uk goes on to state: "The Royal Philatelic Collection contains many examples of these first stamps, including 1d stamps printed in black ink (penny blacks) and 2d stamps printed in blue (two pence blues)." No mention of full sheets anywhere.

In May 2001 Her Majesty sold some duplicate material to pay for two lovely additions to her collection (a block of ten Penny Blacks as she possessed no larger multiple, and a 6 May 1840 FDC). In 2008 she put up for auction 13 duplicates, including two single mint penny blacks. There is nothing that I have ever found on record to indicate that she sold philatelic material to a US businessman in 2011 - or ever - and certainly not for $66million. There is nothing on the internet, nor has it appeared in any of the dozens of philatelic magazines that I have access to. Trust me, if it were true I would have read about it, as this would be a major headline in the British stamp press. Until documentary evidence is provided, it is simply hearsay and as TV's Judge Judy would say "I don't listen to hearsay in my court".

The above is all common knowledge in England.

Glenn H Morgan