Need Help On Ebay Lot Of KGVI Mint Stamps

Hi,

I am new to stamp collecting and I was wondering if I could get everybody's advice on some stamps I saw on ebay.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/KGVI-Common...em2eda63fee6

Since I am new to all this, I do not know if this is a good deal or not. The seller originally offered this lot at 0.99 GBP before the bidding went crazy. Are KGVI stamps often faked?

There are others here who will know much more than I.

First question to ask, does the picture represent the actual stamps you will receive. Some sellers use a "generic" photo for multiple auctions. I would want to know if these are the actual stamps.

Also, these have been previously hinged (mounted in an album). I'm not saying that's bad -- there are may opinions on how important that is, but it DOES lower the value of the stamps a little.

This person sells quite a lot of stamps but is only selling two lots of KGVI Empire stamps at the moment. Therefore I believe these stamps in the picture ARE the actual stamps because his other KGVI lot is composed of a mix of used stamps in various conditions and that is reflected in his photograph. So I believe he is most likely not using a generic photo.

Looks quite an attractive lot. Forgeries tend to be of older material, not GVI-period, and of high-value stamps.

If that's what the winner got for his money, I'd say that's a good buy. The "no omnibus" caveat is useful too, as I think they are really a separate project.

I don't think there's much of a problem with forgeries of this type of stamp (except maybe one or two of the very rare ones), and at £22, the risk of losses is pretty low.

Have you come across Murray Payne yet? Among other things, they publish a KGVI commonwealth catalogue - back copies are not too pricey on ebay when they show up.

I'm late to the game but KGVI is the one area of greatest expertise for me. I agree that forgeries are very rare in KGVI philately with the exception of specimens, Occupation overprints, and some other rare overprints. Even regumming is easily detected due to the paper and gum characteristics found during numerous war time printings.

Just my opinion, you didn't miss anything. Stamps are all hinged and some have condition problems. It's always possible to find plate flaws in a large lot but once you learn what to look for you probably won't want to buy a large lot to find them. Most valuable basic stamps from the KGVI era are perf and shade varieties as well as high denominations but it's basically impossible to see the stamps well enough in the scans.

If I can be helpful about KGVI philately I would be delighted to assist.