Did I Buy A Fake?

Hi stamp fans. I am new to the forum, after lurking for sometime thought I should join. Great folks and info on here.

I have attached an image of a recent purchase.Scott #19 Cartier blue.

It looks like an imperf single, the unitrade cat shows this stamp did come as an imperf but only mentions pairs.

Is this an imperf or is it just had the perfs cut off?

I found it interesting, I got it for $15.00, so if it is useless at least I didn't pay much for it.

Please send me your thoughts.

Thanks. Its nice to join this grup.

Looks fine to me but the perfs might be scissored off, hard to tell from that small picture.

That is why most recommend pair for imperf, an a irrefutable proof of authenticity

Looks fine to me as well. Too bad the margins weren't larger. Imperf singles are always hard to determine.

If it is a fake, then you have it to compare against the original item later on. Some collectors specialize in them for the sake of compiling them for reference material.

Chimo

Bujutsu

To be truly declare an imperf, you need at least one of two things: either a pair OR very large margins on more than one side. The pair is preferred since it is hard proof. With very small margins like the one you have here, it may not be possible to prove that it is a stamps with perforations cut, but it is probably not possible also to prove that it is a real imperf stamp. So you would probably get many "inconclusive but probably perforation cut" answers.

There might be a way to prove that it is an imperf IF there is supposed to have paper difference between perforated and imperf stamps. I don't think that this is the case with this stamp.

Just a thought that occurred to me. Is there a chance it could be a proof single?

Usually, proof should have been used for postage... But I heard of some that were.

I think that usually, proofs are on different paper. Then you can try and follow this lead... The best way would be to compare with a true #19.

It's a used perforated stamp trimmed to look imperforate.

Thanks for all the input, I will put it down to a messed up stamp...lol

I now have 4 or five used copies of this so it will just be a conversation piece.