Colonial Stamp CO Auction 6 November - False Cancel

http://stampauctionnetwork.com/i/i1227.cfm#20

Lot 134 has a faked cancel (most likely applied to a poor mint copy by a Melbourne dealer who is never mentioned by name but known by many for having done so) in the 1980s. He was so dumb he applied Victorian cancels to stamps never used in that state (only the red-and-green Australian postage dues were used in Victoria.

I emailed Colonial on 23 October stating the problem with the stamp and quoting the relevant information contained within Vol 10 of the ACSC Postage Dues volume.

Email content here:

Dear Sir,

It is impossible for this to be genuine usage, the clear 'Vic' cancel is a 1980s addition from a Melbourne dealer. These stamps were not valid for use in Victoria and were not distributed outside New South Wales.

Note 2 on page 10/82 of the second edition of the ACSC volume on postage dues states:

"At present, two examples each of the 2/-, 10/- and 20/- stamps, all cancelled with the Parcels Branch Sydney datestamp in violet are recorded, and represent the only acceptable used stamps.....Collectors should beware of formerly mint stamps which have been "improved" by the addition of non-contemporary cancellations."


I have not received a response to any of the three emails I have sent, the item remains avalable for sale.

Buyer beware, I guess

Dave Lustig from Colonial Stamp Co has now responded saying he "Is not a philatelist". He referred by email to George Holschauer (and I had emailled George earlier) but no change to the description.

George emailed me this morning saying the lot was withdrawn from auction and returned to the vendor.

A good result.

Yet despite the above email from George Holschauer, the stamp is offered again as Lot 123 in Colonial Stamps; May Sale: http://www.colonialstampcompany.com...lts.cfm?id=2





You have to seriously question the integrity of a dealer knowingly selling misdescribed items.

I have reported Colonial Stamp Co and George Holschauer to the ASDA.

They either have a short memory or hoped no one was watching this time around.

I stand corrected, it is not the same stamp.

But it has the same faked cancel.

Bidding at $1,050 on this fake with this misleading description:

J21 (D43) 1903 10' dull green Postage Due, wmkd Crown and NSW, perf 11, very rare and substantially undercatalogued, perfectly centered, lightly canceled, XF

I won't claim to be an expert but I have accumulated significant knowledge of these issues in nearly 40 years of collecting them. The arrogance of an auction house ignoring properly referenced and accurate advice when they have made a mistake astounds me.



Tis is what a genuine one would look like (only 2 known like this, image from Prestige Auctions: http://www.prestigephilately.com/ca...tionnum=115)