British Guiana Stamps

Hello, I am hoping someone here might be able to help me with this. Around the time of my parents wedding my fathers uncle gave them 2 stamps. At the time he told them hey we're valuable and they have had them since then. With a new marriage and life together and not knowing what they actually were they were, they were all but forgotten about for 40+ years. A few years ago we came across the stamps in a old file desk again. Both stamps have a paper attached to them stating that they are 1856 British Guiana 1c stamps. One is grey and the other magenta. With modern technology I was able to look up the stamps on the internet and to our obvious surprise we were taken back. We are not stamp collectors and honestly didn't know what to think. We obviously haven't gotten our hopes up as this seems almost to good to be true. At times I have spoken with my father about taking them to a stamp shop but as he said, who's to say someone won't pocket it and say "what stamp". So that is why I have come here. I am hoping to shed some more light on this and figure out what to do from here. What confuses me aswell is that there are two stamps. I am curious if the grey one might be some sort of reference and not a stamp at all or just some sort of variation, it actually cracked in half while trying to take the photo and seems to be held together at this point by the tape hat was used to attach it to the paper. The magenta stamp itself is not readable and looks to have paper remnants attached directly to the back of it, seperate from the paper it is tapped to. The only way I was able to figure out what it was was by the attached paper. The papers they are attached to seems to be an old stamp book because the opposite sides have tape marks and dates but with no stamps attached at this point. Any information on where to go from here or if there's any way to find out their authenticity would be helpful. Attached are a few photos. Thank you

Any helpful information or suggestions on where to go from here would be greatly appreciated. Also any input on authenticity. Sorry for the spelling mistakes on the previous post, writing this from my phone. If it helps I am located in central MA, if anyone knows a reputable place to bring them to be authenticated. If you have any questions just let me know on here.

Welcome to the community.
You can try APEX...http://stamps.org/Stamp-Authentication

Don

I have thought of that in the past, I'm just afraid to send something through the mail that might hold that kind of value. I'm not even sure where to begin insuring something like this through the post office without being sure if it's real.

Perhaps you live in the general region of a reputable stamp auction house? Perhaps within drive distance of the APL? Take it in person. No one is going to comment on the authenticity of a stamp for which there is one other known example in the world. I think we can all figure the odds. Of course, "cracking" and "tape" does not sound good to begin with. If you are worried about a professional appraiser "pocketing" it, have a reliable witness with you, document it, etc. ...easy to do.

I'm aware of a skinner auction house in the area that I believe to be reputable, I will put a call in to them to see if they can be of any assistance. One I find anything out I'll post the info to here. Does anyone have any idea what the grey one might be? I've obviously heard of the magenta but they grey one I'm just confused about. Thank you agin

As has been mentioned, your best course of action is to have these expertized. APEX in PA has been mentioned; another choice is the Philatelic Foundation in NYC (google for their web site). Ideally, for something that could be as valuable as this, you would personally bring it to the expertizing agency. I share your concern about shipping these and I don't think you should take them to a local dealer either. Another route is to get assistance from a philatelic auction house; don't just take these to Skinner or another general antiques auction house. I would recommend R.A. Siegel in NYC or Kelleher in CT and MA. You can google them to get their web sites. They could guide you on the next steps to take regarding shipping for expertization, insuring the shipment, etc. If they prove genuine the auction house could then down the road sell them for you on consignment if you wish.

Like Rhett mentions, take a road trip. I would call APS and set up an appointment. It is not that far from you and should make for an enjoyable visit to the new APRL facility.
Don

Could I also just advocate extreme caution in terms of expectations? The possibility of finding a genuine second copy of this stamp, which has been extensively reprinted, is infinitesimal. And why, given the publicity that the stamp has had over the last 140 years whenever it has been sold, would a further copy, if genuine, not have appeared before now?

I agree with Geoff in a big way here. Best recommendation you will get from SCF is extreme caution on expectations...so continue on with your life as normal and have the expectation that what you are looking at isn't what you want it to be. I would just insure it for 10,000$ and send it by mail to PF. Done. My guess is what you have there is worthless but I'm hoping you prove me wrong. Good luck

I've used the APS Quick ID and it works well. It only costs $5 and they quickly give you an idea of what you have. My 1st one they said was a fake and then one of their expert had second thoughts and they gave me a Free cert. You should check it out.

I wish you the best for you and your family with such great success. I would suggest if you think they are genuine to please place them in a bank vault box not show them around to others in your area for your own security reasons. Rule of thumb: NEVER carry around any very high value rarity stamps to different locations because people want to see them. Only a handful people need to know for your own privacy and security reasons.
I would suggest you contact NYC Philatelic Foundation. They have excellent experts there. You can hire a stamp agent who understand the stamp world who has an excellent reputation with auction houses if they are deemed very high value stamps. I would also recommend that you have a personal attorney to speak on your behalf along with any arrangements if you go in direction with auction house sales.
If they find your pictures interesting, Make arrangement to have them come to your location. They would be happy to go to your place if they are worth the trip for them to get them to have a contract with you. Have them view the stamps with an attorney and stamp agent present. They will provided proper identification if they are arriving to your location. Best of Luck!

The last British G. mag. 1 , ( one of the world's rarest stamps) The postmaster, Dalton ordered the stamp to be autographed by the ED Wright with his initials in the front of it to prevent forgeries and the back has special markings as well.
Your stamps look very delicate with each of their conditions. I would not be surprise that the experts would have to determine through a series of scientific forensic tests necessary to authenticate if they are genuine. The experts would probably require to check the paper ect. If any expert comes to your area, and say need to do more evaluation at another location, I would recommend that you need ask about the insurance coverage for transportation from one place to another in case that is required to get it checked. If they don't have the equipment in their building, they may have to send it out to another location. You need to ask questions for instance, once out of their possession is it still covered under their insurance policy. These details are important in the contracts. You may need to have your own insurance policy for those reasons.
The experts may have to send out to do special advance technology methods so will not harm the stamps.

I would also suggest look at Frajola Philatelist website. Great website for stamp covers. The owner of the site may possible give you some excellent suggestions to proceed with your items too. He is very well known with NYC auction houses.
Best of Luck!