A Beautiful #122 For Grading

Now that you have lots of opinions, I'd go ahead if it were mine and submit it for certification/grading. It would cost $30, and you can specify a minimum grade. There is no additional charge for PSE or PF to include a grade. IF it doesn't meet your minimum, it's left off the certificate.

Matt

@revcollector

What is the difference between the proof and the stamp? And what's the difference in price?

"Hi Douglas, could you scan the reverse side and show us.

Also watermark it.

Stampmaster"

Here's a scan of the back side:



What fluid do you recommend? G&K? Ronsonol? Clarity?

I agree that the bottom and right side are suspect, especially the right side because they are not as perfectly straight lined.

Catalog difference between the proof and the stamp is huge, the stamp catalogs about 10X as much. Unscrupulous people have been adding perfs and gum or perfs and cancels to proofs since the 19th century, so they are out there for the modern knowledgeable crooks to find and use. Plate proofs were used to show post offices and others who needed to know what the new stamps would look like. They were also given out as favors at times.

@revcollector

Usually there are some differences between the proofs and issued stamps. From your words, I would assume that the proofs have no gum, no perfs, no grills and never been postally used. Besides these, are there any subtle differences in the design and paper? Usually proofs use different paper and secret marks.

No, proofs don't show design difference (except for the fact that the impressions are crisper), You may be thinking of essays.

American collectors use the word "proof" differently than people in most other countries. Finished U.S. plate proofs are identical in design and color with issued stamps. Trial color proofs are identical in design but not color. Plate proofs on India paper, or on cardboard, are without gum and imperforate. Plate proofs on stamp paper are printed on the same paper as normal stamps, and may be with or without gum depending upon the issue. Irrespective of type of paper, plate proofs are imperforate.

Plate essays are much more variable, but will always differ in some detail of design from the issued stamp.

@essayk

looks like you are an expert on proofs and essays. Thanks for your information. Would you please share your opinion on the possibility of the stamp #122 being a perforated proof?

Thanks

From the back image, it is clear that the Scott 122 is a stamp. However, it may have a diagonal crease from the right side of the top margin, as viewed from the back, to the left side about five perforations from the top. A crease will dry more quickly and will flash as a white line visible until the rest of the paper dries.

When dipped in watermarking fluid.

@cfrphoto

Thanks for your info. Are you saying that you can tell the difference between the stamp #122 and a proof from the back? Could you please explain how? And you are talking about the stamp I posted in the first topic, correct? There are a few other stamps posted later. Thank you so much!

And I will try the watermark fluid and see what happens as suggested.

I was looking at the most recently posted back scan. Your back scans are much less clear, but the poor quality of the impression and differing perforations on various sides suggest a highly altered stamp instead of a proof. Also, shaved proofs don't have convincing looking grills. Perhaps a scan of the back instead of a photograph would make the grill look more convincing.

A high quality scanner like a CanoScan 9900F Mark II or equivalent photo scanner with higher resolution than an "all in one" plus a copy of Adobe Photoshop Elements would be useful for making higher quality scans of stamps, especially if you intend to try to sell them.