Need Help With This One.......

I've had this classic cover with a Nova Scotia bi-sect stamp on it from the mid-nineteenth century. Since the stamp is cut in half I only had partial information on it. I've looked up the period stamps for two-cent classic Nova Scotia Victorian stamps and the colour of a two-cent (somewhat purple) clearly does not match the light greenish colour of the one bi-sect on the cover. Therefore, can someone help me identify my bi-sect stamp (pictured in detail below) and explain why it is not the colour shown in the website referred to here---->:- [http://frmfoundation.org/NovaScotia...d3/index.php].

I don't know if you've stumped the experts, but you've stumped me. Looking through my catalog I see the same thing you see. Maybe need a specialized catalog. Or maybe yellow and lilac makes green.

I want to see the whole cover for purely selfish reasons. It won't help me identify it. From what I can see it's a real beauty.

plate proof of this one exist in Green and Dark Green , worth about 100$ (see Unitrade, # 8TC v and vi

Doesn't it seem odd that someone would go to the trouble of perfing a plate proof in 1861 to use as a stamp and then go to the even further trouble of creating a bi-sect of it? The proof had to be worth much more than the real stamp back then. If this is a proof is the cancel real? I think it is more likely a color changeling. Of course if I owned it I would be hoping it was an error. Does the rest of the cover look faded or altered at all?

So, Gilles le T, it was cut along the diagonal word "SPECIMEN"? Could plate proofs be used legitimately as postage?

Gilles, the problem is that 8TC proofs v and vi are both 1¢ stamps. That is definitely a two cent-er! It should be a 9TC, but they are only listed as grey, orange or dark slate violet in Unitrade. 9P is listed as lilac.
I wonder if the grey could oxidize to green, but that's a pretty even looking colour.
Very odd. I'd be suspicious. Although tied nicely to the cover, I'm thinking that cancel looks almost too perfect.
Ever the sceptic!

PJS, Sak, your points are valid and I think we are back to the start, trying to find another explanation....I was only trying to offer additional info regarding the color. Maybe the bisect is a fake (I have one on the 2c small queen in my collection) (look at the right leg of the M on the MY postmark, it appears a bit out of line with the rest of the letter...

I'd also like to see the whole envelope.

Any natural occurrence that might change the color of the stamp should also affect what's written on the envelope. It's very dark. Based on the scan seemingly too dark and pristine for a 150 year old cover. It looks like there was moisture or staining on the bottom, yet the ink in those areas is perfect.

Add to that a somewhat off looking postmark, both the M and the W. Is that a W? Toss in a green 2 c bisect when the original was lilac that faded to gray / purple. There's not even a green plate proof.

It seems you'd have to forge a stamp or change the color of the existing stamp or proofs...and why?

I suspect that the illustrated item is a clever fake in which a plate proof has had the colour "massaged" to green and (as guessed in the response by sak) diagonally cut to remove the SPECIMEN overprint. Additionally, plate proofs are imperforate meaning that the proof has been subjected to some "post production" perforating. The perfs on the side almost cut into the design and they also look too even to be true.

Have you attempted to lift a corner of the stamp to examine the paper? All proofs are on india paper while the actual stamps are on a wove paper.

GJP

Here is the full image of the classic Nova Scotia cover, with bi-sect stamp that I was referring to in my posting, and in which I was inquiring about - hope this is helpful to those who were interested.

to gportch:
...putting aside your suspicions...what you are proposing would damage the provenance of this classic item and, most importantly, philatelic historians would turn over in their graves over such a preposterous idea - a crude solution nevertheless to seemingly satisfy your personal, unfounded and, unsubstantiated damaging remarks. The innuendos implied of suggesting falsification, through the alteration and manipulation of this ORIGINAL piece of manuscript that represents Nova Scotia's philatelic history is unprofessional. THE ITEM POSTED IS AUTHENTIC AND ORIGINAL. To ignorantly tear it down on the face of the apparent legitimacy of this rare, historic cover is evidently showing shallow regard for preservation and distaste toward historical research methods. Having entered the "forum" with a open and sincere interest in sharing this find of such significance and to read your weak and clearly bias opinions behind those who on the whim chose to take an adversarial route, then my response will mirror that in kind!!. Nevertheless, you are entitled to your thoughts and although I respectfully disagree with your opinion and the seemingly self-serving solution on the back of others leading the charge, however meaningfully intended, it was nevertheless disgraceful. Forgive me for sounding out like this, but the volley originated from within your cluster which necessitated a quick and blunt response. Good day to you, et al.

SaveBig Blue

Your emotional outburst is misplaced. You are a novice and might want to reconsider your comments. You are obviously unaware that Mr. Portch is a recognized expert in these matters. We are fortunate that he participates in this forum.

This forum is an excellent source of ongoing information about Canadian stamps and postal history on the internet. There is great potential for this forum in this regard. Your attack of Mr. Portch is unwarranted and should be retracted.

If I also offended you I apologize, Savebigblue. I hope we didn't drive you from the forum. I think it's a beautiful, old cover. It's hard to judge something like this just looking at a scan, so some of us were trying to talk it out. Like you, we couldn't find the 2 cent green anywhere. Some posters thought it was an original (old) piece, but maybe not authentic. If you found something that shows it's authentic, I'd enjoy hearing about it. I still have a lot to learn. I understand Canada has a non profit expertizing service. If they do covers, it would be interesting to hear the results. Maybe you have a one of a kind piece on your hands.

I do have a friend that I can show this to. He is an APS judge and he is consulted for authentication on Canadian revenues and has authored books and contibuted to others books on Canadian items. I will see him next Wednesday for dinner. I am still holding out hope that it is the real deal and still believe it is a beautiful cover with value no matter what the outcome.

Dear SaveBigBlue

Please forgive me for expressing an adverse opinion on your cover but I suggest that you should not ask the question if you don't want the answer.
Since you are convinced that this is a genuine and classical piece of postal history, I would suggest that you submit it to the Greene Foundation for examination by the Expertizing Committee. You will find the submission form and instructions on the website aw www.greenefoundation.ca. I will refrain from expressing an opinion in the committee and if it gets a genuine certificate, I will see that your fee is refunded in full. By the way, the Greene Foundation does not employ any destructive techniques in the analysis of submissions.
GJP