Color Changeling Of The Week

Good Day Everyone; very long time lurker and I finally decided to create a post. First, just wanted to thank everyone for their incredible knowledge - i've been collecting for the better part of 40 years, yet I'm continually amazed by the good graces and expertise of the board members. Thanks Again -

But for the topic - Came across this while browsing a collection online; I was able to acquire it.

I know it's a changeling. 1936 TIPEX was never issued in blue (however, research indicated 1600 pieces from 120 sheets were 'accidentally' printed in a violet / black due to an error with black dye. All of those were accounted for and destroyed in '36 - based on records).

I found it pleasing to look at although I have never seen a changeling in the TIPEX sheet, it doesn't appear to me that UV (exposure to sunlight) would completely wash away the red dye in the original violet. I'm under the impression that 1936 dye was relatively stable.

So I would guess it's chemical alteration. Carbon Tetracloride? I know that it attacks certain dyes, but perhaps someone could enlighten me for the actual chemical used to do this?

BTW, the gum on the back is intact with a few disruptions i.e. hing placement removal. My own scanner washed out the image so I'm posting a nice photo of it.

Cheers -

Matt

I don't have any idea how this could have happened but I like it in blue! But violet was definitely the chosen color to use back then! Not my specialty area at all but perhaps the UPU was dictating the color violet (after several years of dictating red?) for letter rate stamps?

I like it in Blue quite a bit as well. But I am still curious for this process to occur - like I stated, the gum is intact with just a hinge placement removed; I would think that chemical alteration would also alter the gum.

I ran a scan through some photoshop filters to see if I could pick up brush streaks or other obvious manipulations to the piece. I saw nothing except the gum ticks.

Fortunately I have a friend who works in a chemistry lab. I'm going to purchase a control set of TIPEX sheets and see if I can modify one to match the blue.

It'll take a month or two for the experiments; I'll post here when I'm complete and have a reasonable conclusion.

P.S. I'm a scientist by training. 8)

Matt

Try a sun bath. Violet = Red +Blue. Red fades first and easiest with sun (artificial or natural) and leaves Blue.

It is the short wave Ultraviolet on the Red changing the bonds and should not take long to turn to Blue.

Submitting a few color changelings for this old thread. Interesting in their own right as cautionary tales of the dangers of improper storage.