Faked Confederate States Of America W/Stamp Cover

I don't usually make posts for the bad listings that come across Stamp Smarter but this one epitomizes a trend with some sellers regarding being able to update an incorrect listing.

*** Edited by Staff to add link *** http://www.ebay.com/itm/201201205364

I'll not post the entire listing but add only an image of the faked cover below. The listing title is "Orig.Confederate States of America POSTAL COVER/LETTER w/Stamp Sept. 1st, 1861" with the added details of "This is a Wonderful piece of CONFEDERATE Postal History--a Stamped COVER, post-marked "September 1st, 1861" sent from Richmond, Virginia to Lynchburg, Virginia containing a handwritten LETTER regarding a small legal matter. The COVER, itself, is outstanding w/a RED Richmond Cancellation & and early Jefferson Davis 5 CENTS "Blue Stamp".

The seller was contacted by two different people and notified that the stamp had obviously been added later and is not tied to cover in any way. The response was that that they cannot modify or update the listing because it already had bids. For whatever reason this seems to be coming up a lot lately and is not true.

What is true is that ebay does limit what can be modified to some extent. But a seller can always add to or improve a listing at any point whether or not there are bids against an item.

If nothing else sellers can always use the 'Ask a Question' to provide additional information to a listing to clarify something or make an correction.

Isn't this "completed" ebay listing depicting the exact same cover before the CSA stamp was added?



http://www.ebay.com/itm/STAMPLESS-L...047675.l2557

And it's even dated 1867. Which the seller conveniently covered up after adding the stamp, since it helps prove it's a fake.

Wow unbelievable! Was there a huge price difference between the regular stampless cover and the altered cover? This is the sort of stuff that ruins the hobby for people. I'm glad that there are "watchdogs" on the lookout for this kind of stuff. I know I try and do my part but my finances of late has almost forbid me from entertaining any new purchases (although I do have something sort of amazing in the works but more on that later...much later). Thanks. -Jeff

The new bid is almost double the original auction from last August. It was a beautiful cover to begin with.
What a shame. I hope it isn't ruined. Perhaps the winner (who will probably be more than a little disappointed) can remove the Davis without too many ill effects.

It's one thing for a seller to declare ignorance on a reperf or use the excuse of 'that is the way I bought it' or 'it was my grandfather's and I didn't know any better'. But the original listing was in Lane Cove, NSW, Australia and it was shipped on Aug 27. This means this cover was forged only in the last few weeks. What possible excuse can there be other than someone intentionally producing a forgery for profit?

There is none, and unfortunately this sort of thing goes on all the time and has practically since the first person said "wow these are great, I think I'll collect them".

The only thing worse would be if the stamp is also fake. Another reason why I don't use ebay any more.

Seller has responded to my request for improving/removing the listing by saying that they will not. The seller insists the cover had the stamp when they bought it a few weeks ago

However they are saying that they will give the cover away to the highest bidder at no charge and let them know that the cover of a forgery when the auction closes. I am tempted to put in a high bid to see if the seller if being truthful or not but have zero confidence that ebay would back me up if a case was opened for non-payment.

The stamp is a fake and the seller is engaging in fraud.

Brian

Even more frustrating is that ebay provides no way to publicly post information indicating a possible fraud. The "Post a Question" link doesn't really post a question, in the sense that "post" is usually used. It sends a private message to the seller.

For me, the only remaining use for ebay will be for transactions with sellers who also have brick-and-mortar locations and a business phone number that I can verify with a phone call, such as reputable dealers in business for a long time who use ebay as an additional channel. For sellers who cannot be identified other than through their ebay handle and online store, no thanks, regardless of the number of positive transaction ratings.

Just to clear up one fact about the stampless FLS - it is dated 1847, not 1867. The 5c rate was in effect from 1845 (I believe) until 1851. These types of covers are often used as raw material to fake a CSA use since the CSA rate was also 5c, but usually the faker's aren't dumb enough to leave the integral date on the FLS intact! They usually remove evidence of the date.

Just looked, and the seller has ended the listing.

I can't find ANY red handstamps for Richmond Va during the Confederate period in either Dietz or ASCC Vol III. They list only black and for a few days blue.

Before the auction was ended, I noticed that one of the bidders was M****M (2149) who was bidding up the price. Interestingly, M****M (2149) was the high bidder on the lot when it was offered a few weeks ago.'

Glenn Estus#8232;President, Vermont Philatelic Society

http://www.vermontps.org

editor, The Vermont Philatelist

First Day Columnist, Stamp Insider http://www.stampinsider.org

http://empirestatepostalhistory.blogspot.com/

http://nypostalhistory.blogspot.com/

http://vermontpostalhistory.blogspot.com