Unitrade Editor

Wert, rather than taking valuable space in the Unitrade catalogue, why not think about posting the list of these free tools on the website of the Royal Philatelic Society of Canada? I am sure that space can be easily found.

GJP

That may be a better idea gportch...I will contact them and see if they are interested..Thanks

Some collectors use reference stamps that they have for a particular issue for characteristics to compare against like color shade. I have seen color charts that are based on the actual stamps themselves which may be more accurate than generic color charts that are not based on the color of stamps. They show the stamps in an issue and the actual stamps with the different color shades. Maybe someone can have these charts which do exist reprinted for them to be more easily available or they can contact their manufacturer. The following poster charts cover early Canadian stamps and have the stamps of different color shades on one side and their identifying color description on the other side. These are the best that I have seen on these these issues so far. Many of these are based on the collections of stamp/philatelic specialists who collected the different color shades of a particular issue themselves so that they have knowledge and experience in this area of expertise. See: http://www.ebay.com/itm/201070336700

The issue of colour has been discussed here before. I think I suggested here that perhaps colour could be broken down more accurately by using the colour specifiers that photo software uses - each point the cursor lands on is identified with three numbers representing the amounts of red, blue and green. There are issues because of variations in monitors, scanners, etc. but this might be a starting point. My second point is why do stamp authorities identify stamp colour varieties using colour names that are not on standard colour charts? One example I am frustrated by is the Edward VII 7c "straw" variety. Is there a reference colour chart with this version of "straw" on it? (It is not on Gibbons.) If a particular chart is chosen as the standard or baseline, could publishers come up with a matrix to list comparable colours on other leading colour charts? Even with such variations as listed by gportch, we could be closer to uniformity.

It is interesting to note that the different major catalogue publishers do vary on their identification of colours.

I once saw a set of facsimile stamps, produced by Stanley Gibbons, that were used as a colour chart. It may have been posted in this forum some time before, I'm not sure? It was a small cardboard piece with these facsimile stamps attached with colour identifications under each one if I remember them correctly? Of course, this chart would be good for the stamps as described in the Stanley Gibbons catalogue, but not good for the other publishers.

Interesting thread.

Chimo

Bujutsu

jogil, I purchased a set of those charts you mention a while back when I was starting out with the earlier stamps because I was in the same boat of "frustration" with colours.

I found it helpful, but not in any way definitive. There are stamps on the chart that were identified as the same shade by someone, but they are very different on the chart.

I think what gportch is undertaking at VGG is the best approach, though it will be time-consuming to say the least.

At some point though, you will be able to send in a 7c KGVII straw for certification and they will have a proper baseline to determine if it fits the specs.

The average person will not have the equipment, so it would only make sense where value based on shade is a significant factor (or for a collector wanting a certified stamp to use as a baseline of their own).

There is still a lot of guesswork going on with colour shades (even among dealers), and a collector should not rely on a dealer's opinion solely when purchasing any stamp at this point. (IMHO)

3Dadeo...I tend to disagree a bit with what you are saying..Not trying to be ignorant or anything, but isn't that a little like saying if I belonged to a car club and the only valuable ones were say red...Should that be an excuse not to look at pink, blue, etc. coloured cars..Do you see what I am getting at..I never liked half way there, I always strived to do it all...But, I dont know which way to turn or who, or what group to get a better product for stamp colour identification...very frustrating my friend.

Wert, color has always been a weak point for one really big reason: our eyes! Nobody in the world sees a color the same way another person does. All the color charts in the world don't help a whole lot, because everybody uses a different one.
I believe however that a huge step in the right direction is the PMS, or the Pantone Matching System. In the past several decades at least the USPS has been listing (some?) stamps in their PMS color.

Peter

Petert4522...I fully understand what you are saying...Now, when my wife goes to the paint store, they can colour match a paint chip..Put a number and a colour to it...That might be the cheapest way to try it..I could bring in my Scott #17 say..as shown in an earlier post and have them take a look at it....Does this sound crazy guys, at least if I got a colour match and told you what it was, you could go to the same paint store which uses the same machine and go to that area where ALL the colour samples are shown..Pick it up and you would know exactly what colour stamp I have in my hands..Or am I thinking too far out of the box as usual...haha

And going one step further, if this experiment worked, then we could pass it on to Robin at Unitrade to see if he (they) are interested..

wert, I also added that it would make sense if someone wanted a colour opinion for reference (independent of value of the stamp).

Of course, your point (a valid one) is that it should not be so expensive to colour match a stamp.

Just to simplify things, I remember when the old Amiga commodore computer came in, in the late 80's, it was capable of producing images in 1,000,000 colors so imagine how difficult it would be to match anyone colour.....

Even more precise, just consider MS Paint. each color is defined by the amount of blue, green and red, with a scale of 1 to 250 per basic colour. That is there are 250x250x250 possibilities or 15,625,000. That is why I am happy with the current catalogue numbering and not seeking precision at all costs...

Hi again wert

With respect to your posting concerning placing the list of free software on the RPSC website, you have already reached people who can make that happen. I also happen (when I change hats) to be a national office duty officer of the Royal and none other than Robin Harris is our webmaster. You can email the listing to either of us and the listing should happen pretty quickly.

GJP

Why thank you gportch...I am in the process of writing PDF file for how to use these free software programs and also adding a link to each software program...I can and will get all pertinent information and links to about 3 to 5 FREE software programs...Thank you for listening to the average stamp collector..Makes us feel good knowing some one cares and makes this hobby worth while.

We all care wert

Chimo

Bujutsu