Hi all. Here is the continuation of this story.
I did send the stamp to Garfield (gportch) and got it back. Here are the pictures and comments from Garfield, copied here with his permission:
First, here is the notes from its email when he told me the result:
Quote:
The "crescent" marking is nothing at all. Using oblique lighting from both the left and right and superimposing the images to crate a composite photo, there appears to be a slight depression in the paper surface that has not broken any surface fibres. The same examination from the back shows nothing.
Hyperspectral imaging shows that there are some tiny marks in the paper but there is no evidence that a cancellation or other postal marking has been removed.
Here are the pictures he sent me (scan of actual photographs):
First, the envelope I got the stamp back - NOT CANCELLED!
Now, a negative picture from UV lighting, with a comment on the back:
Then some other picture from the front and the back (I think). I don't have any comment for them, so maybe Garfield will comment later if asked for.
So here you are: It is an ordinary stamps, with a crescent shape in the design that could be damage or maybe missing ink or a foreign bit on the printing press (like a hair? crescent shape...).
Thanks to all for your comments.
Jacques.
Posted 02/09/2015 4:34 pm
