Stamp Paper.....part 6

Has anyone been following the series of discussions/articles in Linn's about some of the Washington/Franklins being found on laid and/or ribbed paper ?

(Linn's issue dates.....May 7, 07--Aug 6,07--Aug, 27, 07........I'm fairly sure there are a few others but I haven't found them.







I found this very sad perf 12, wm190, #378 just this week. To me, it is ribbed paper, the ribbing can be felt, not like any laid paper I've ever seen. As you can see from the image above there are no #378's certified on ribbed paper. If certified as a #378 it would be the discovery copy, a singular unique item...(worth ???)....SCV for a common #378 is 75cents.....registered mail to & from the APS plus the $25.00 minimum for certification totals about $40.00-$50.00

Do you think it would be worth it or not ?







*** Moved by Staff to a more appropriate forum. ***

Very interesting Tom

Thanks for sharing it with us.

Dianne

I've been following your series on stamp paper very closely. As far as sending this off to be graded, I am afraid it would be a waste of time and money. But I understand your wanting to in the hopes that you are holding a unique stamp. This is a question only you can answer.

Hello Sfgoda.....

Getting a certificate and having a stamp graded are two entirely different things. Grading refers to centering, a certificate confirms the identity of a stamp.

My error. I thought you would get both the grading and the certificate at the same time. I didn't realize you could do one or the other.

Hi Butch....

The APS does not grade stamps, but they do have specialists that can properly identify stamps or confirm whether or not a cover or cancel is real or fake.

I think there are groups/companies that will grade & certify, but I've always used the services at the APS.

Besides, this poor #378 would probably be graded at about -10 !

Send it in. The only downside is you lose $20 in postage and donate $25 to the APS.

I own a 490 used with an APEX cert as genuine laid paper. Cert # 175695, 7/27/2008. Weiss made a good argument that the designation is a myth, but I have not seen anything recently. Anyone have updated info?

Sorry, the 490 is unused. The certificate reads " United States, Scott No. 490, on laid paper, unused, original gum, previously hinged and pencil notation, genuine.

I guess you know this article, also?
https://goscf.com/t/50032&whichpage=2#432380

What kind of paper would you call your stamp according to those definitions, ribbed paper or laid paper?
Of course it would be interesting to see a photo of your stamp, in oblique light and before the light.

For what it is worth, I've seen stamps that have been soaked and then dried and pressed between 'ribbed' blotter paper, resulting in a laid-appearing stamp. Not saying that's what's going on here, but something to consider anyway. I would suspect such a stamp would have constant thickness, but 'wavy' on both sides, with a crest on one side corresponding to a valley on the other. I would think true laid paper would have a series of thick/thin sections of paper (NOT constant thickness). The only way to be sure, would be to send it off. Only you know if the monetary risk is worth it.

My impression is that the time is right for a working group on paper, perhaps a peer-reviewed journal of sorts or annual proceedings. It's obvious that existing stamp clubs don't have the scientific or technical expertise to deal with the subject. A working group will take time to organize, it's also an international phenomenon. I predict a widely expanding growth in interest as well as scope as a variety of areas including stationery and various classical and BOB issues. Only a few people need step forward to get the ball rolling, and the benefit to philately is virtually incalculable.