Analytical Methods In Philately

Just found this book online. Some people do some serious stuff to ID and grade stamps.

http://www.sil.si.edu/smithsonianco...SHT-0057.pdf

Awesome; I love it!

Wow! And thank you for showing this, vacuum man! I especially like the scuba diver on the Canada $10.00 stamp!

Peter

I had some correspondence with David Herendeen a couple of years ago about the Labuan Postage Due inverted frame. He had forgotten more than I will ever know about postage dues. Generous with sharing his knowledge too.

Hi vacuum man,

Thank you for posting that, it is truly fascinating. I will pass a copy on to my granddaughter, she is studying Forensic Science and I am sure she will find this a useful area of study.

Terry

A great link - plenty of reading

Wow that's some serious investigation methods right there!

Thanks for the link vacuum man. There is a lot slow serious reading there, but I'm sure we'll all develop a new insight to this hobby!

That is a valuable resource. The article about Statistical Estimates of Rare Stamp Populations wouldn't work well with classic Mexico. For unknown reason, the government kept good records and there is record of how many stamps of various types and denominations were sent to each sub-post office, or branch. Often, the number returned is known.

This is great for philatelic institutions that can afford the instruments but not for the average scientifically inclined collector!

And besides, from what I read they don't even consider the direction of paper [the wire, mesh] in the case of machine made paper. This is something every serious philatelist - let alone the so-called experts - should establish without any problem! And that is more telling often than any percentage of kaolin in the paper pulp ....

Probably it won't pay off to perform such "philatelic" research on any stamp issued past 1870!

It is the same type of science that is explaining you why your Van Gogh is not original, and my Rembrandt is painted by the nephew of his housekeeper...

Saludos, Rein

Vacumn Man,

Thank you for this article, it is right up my alley. I work as an analytical chemist. I can't wait to read this thourghly.
I have always wondered if there was not a way for me to determine the Inks in the older stamps more accuratly than just trying to describe the colors.
This will be very interesting reading.
Thank you.