Best Watermark Detection?

iHobb,Mystic,Amos Advantage,Subway,Potomac,Maryland,Wizard,Matthew Crandell,Kenmore,Gaylord Archival,Stamp Paraphernalia,eBay,Best Deals,Golden Valley,Stamp Mem,David Semsrott.

Randy, freakin' A you gadda problem with Brooklyn (Gallery)?

Leaving the "hills" after 2 years since my last vacation to Chicago tomorrow. Indulging some mania and ocd in preparation for a fast moving tough bunch.

http://www.brooklyngallery.com/cgi-...y=0300-SA005

Thanks for setting me straight.

sup guys,

when using the lighter fluid,

will it damage the watermark? I'm assuming no, but I figured i'd ask.

will I (or someone else) be able to identify it at a later date using the same method or other water mark detection method?

Lighter fluid will not damage the stamp or the watermark.

Once the fluid evaporates - (within a few seconds!) - you once again, cannot see the watermark. If you want to see it again, you have to put it back in the fluid. Welcome to the aggravating world of watermark detection.

There are some fancy lights on the market that supposedly can also be used to detect watermarks. Search around - maybe even on this thread - someone will have discussed them...

Even using lighter fluid there are many stamps whose watermarks I have not been able to see. Ultimately, what matters seems to be the and thickness and type of paper.

JJ2,

Agreed. I get really excited whenever I see one. Usually I don't.

Jack Kelley

I use lighter fluid and am pleased to hear someone confirm it is harmless. I tried using the proper stuff but it evaporated far too fast. Remember lighter fluid is highly inflamable and keep the area ventilated. I find it a good idea to identify potential watermarks and then look for bits of the watermark rather than expecting to see the whole watermark. I also check to make I am not looking through the stamp at a heavy cancel. I find the colour of the ink affects a watermarks visibility. If you want to see watermarks no problem collect Malta George the sixth era, I don't know why but their CA script watermark is nearly as obvious as the design on the front.

With the harder stamps, (like US stamps, especially orange or yellow) you have might have to watch for the 'flash' to spot a hard watermark. The flash, or change in color, occurs just as the watermark fluid evaporates off. I also like to use a black glass tray and some single malt Scotch.
Don

dope,

thanks all

What do you do with the single malt Scotch Don? Justin Wilson used something similar - made one see all sorts of stuff!

Peter

Just wanted to point out that British papers are very much different than American. The Signoscope (which I have) and other products coming out of London work best on British stamps. Allow me to explain:

Around 1870 British paper manufacturers began importing large quantities of Esparto grass from Egypt and North Africa. Rags were becoming a scarce commodity, and the British Isles lacked the forests to support a wood-pulp industry. Consequently, most British papers (and I'm no expert on this subject) are semi-transparent and readily show the watermark.

American paper manufacturers slowly converted to wood-pulp beginning in 1870 with the newspaper industry. American postage stamps began using wood-pulp paper exclusively beginning in 1890 (and revenue stamps even earlier). Wood-pulp is a fiber paper that is largely opaque. Consequently, watermarks do not show up as readily.

While I have in the past used a scanner to pick-up watermarks in stamps and documents, I find the method sort of like going-in blind with one hand tied behind my back. In other words, it's a hit-and-miss process. Rather, I prefer using a digital camera, generally 15 megapixels or greater is most useful. Here's how:

With the stamp or document laying in a black glass tray, slowly pour the watermark detection fluid until the paper is completely soaked. Pick-up the camera and begin recording video. As the fluid evaporates the thinner portions of the paper (ie. watermark) will become exposed first, and are more easily detected. One can then create snapshots from the video for further analysis in Photoshop or your favorite photo editor.

Questions? Comments?

I would warn that I recently tried using some of the old Harco fluid on a modern Tristan stamp and due to its rapid drying it made the stamp and tray cool and this caused some humidity to condense on the gum and I ended up with disturbed gum.

AJ- some of the toughest stamps for watermarking (at least for me) are Commonwealth stamps from the 70s - 90s. A thicker paper came into use during this time, and the watermarks for these are extremely hard to see, even with a Signoscope and the plastic films or foils. In some cases, I reached a point where I could only identify the watermarks on some stamps by inference/process of elimination.

Recording the process using video, brilliant...! That may be why I never thought of it.