Canada 87_1 Inverted Overprint

I found this in an collection I'm going through. The book is dated 1962, Scott Specialty Album, British Colonies in America. Can I get any information on this stamp as it has no catalogue value in used condition.

**I have added the back side of the stamp for all to see. It's too big of a file to upload, but I re-scanned the stamp at 4800 x 4800 dpi and when I blow up the image I can clearly see the post mark passes across the top of the overprint in two locations. I will take the advice and send it to V.G. Greene and have it examined.

This is exciting. I feel like a detective. You're all very helpful.**

Please let me know your comments.

Hi tazzmann30,

This is Scott 87 with an inverted overprint. In my Unitrade Catalogue (2009) there is no price for this in Mint or Used condition. It states "Inverted overprints are thought to be forgeries. Certificates of authenticity are highly recommended."

I would recommend that you submit it to V. G. Greene for authenticity.

- stamporator -

Yeah I've never come across this stamp either. If this is authenticated then you might be setting on a little gold mine! Here is hoping the best for you!

Joe

Is the surcharge overprint on top or under the cancellation or postmark of the used stamp? If on top, then it's a forgery for sure.

I would state that it is a fake overprint with a possibly fake cancel, doubly or triply struck.

Here is one pictured on ebay now from seller wild_rose_stamps . Note the width of the overprint. Well within the borders of the design of the stamp.


The cancel / postmark seems contrived a bit. The '0' in the center does not seem to belong to anything. Perhaps I am jumping to conclusions a bit but two or three strikes of a postal dating hammer does seem a bit odd for the time.

In my older 2005 Unitrade cataalogue the Earliest Recorded Date (ERD) (of usage) is July 31, 1899 and the cancel on the stamp reads 1898 I think, a year earlier.


The cancel is very hard to read. It should read a two-letter month and a numeral day date, with a two-numeral year date beneath.

Sometimes the date looks like '00 20 / ??' or '20 FE / ??' with a '98' somewhere floating around. Not good. Maybe my eyes though.


This is really neat to have in your possesion as a comparison to real ones. If sold it should be mark fake on the back and advertised as such.

I was about to state the same, as other members have already stated, they are forgeries. It would be best to get it expertized. At any rate, if it didn't cost you big $$, it is a nice addition to your collection to show as a fake

Chimo

Bujutsu

I will chime in here and agree with those that say it is a fake.

I don't think the cancel itself is wrong (I have seen many examples of a double strike). The date on the cancel looks to be 98, which (as pointed out) is too early for the overprint. The overprint appears too wide (as Puzzler also mentions).

One tell-tale sign of these fakes (meaning that it is meant to defraud a collector, vs. a forgery - meant to defraud the Post Office) is that the top curve in the "C" in cents is angled outward vs. downward as in the original. I have seen quite a few of these listed for sale. One went for a high price and was not listed as a fake as it should have been. I was going to contact the buyer, but got busy and forgot. Well, buyer beware I guess.

Anyway, sending it to the Greene foundation, they will charge $40 plus you pay postage one way.
You will in all likelihood (no one would say absolute certainty, since we are only looking at a scan) receive a certificate stating that it is a fake.

That's not to say it has no value. It is still a nice find and I would love one in my collection; but I would pay for it based on the fact that it is a fake.