Ireland 1948 2 1/2-P SC #135 Or Sg #144 - Watermark Inverted - Does Not Exist?

Good Morning,

I have a Ireland 1948 2 1/2p SC #135 SG #144 with the watermark inverted. I believe Stanley Gibbons has this stamp as "does not exist". Is that right? Correct me if I'm wrong.

Thanks



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Good Evening,

Okay, so no response there.... so maybe the better question would be - how much would a one of a kind stamp like this be worth?

Souljer,
does Stanley Gibbons print that? or is just what you think is inferred.

Have you read SG watermark comments front of catalogue?

I believe they generally do not indicate watermark orientations in their catalogues.

Stanley Gibbons pretty much introduced me to watermark orientation. They have stamps throughout their catalogs with emphasis on missing, inverted, reversed, etc watermarks. These watermark annotations are quite literally everywhere in their catalog and can be of high value. It's a difficult job, tedious... very monotonous work. That's what it takes though.

From stamp community:
The "cross" means the stamp is not known to exist in that condition.
The "dash" means it exists (or may exist), but no market price is known

You didn't answer my question, I cannot help you further.
Depends on which catalogue you are employing.

Souldjer777, it certainly looks like you have an inverted watermark from what you show us.

You need to be aware that SG make those symbol markings based on their experience of the stamp market. Your stamp SG144 is marked with a "-" symbol. In reality, all this means is that SG think that it may exist but have either never sold one or seen one at auction. Therefore, they do not have a benchmark price to put in the catalogue.

If you are absolutely certain that you have this stamp, my recommendation is that you contact SG (Andrew Mansie is a good person to start with; I believe the phone and email are in the front of the most most recent catalogue) with a high quality scan of both sides of the stamp and explain the possibility that you have it with an inverted watermark. If correct, send it to someone who can professionally expertise it (SG will not do this for you). This gives some amount of credibility to the stamp. If you are successful in both respects, the stamp will eventually be added to the catalogue.

Excellent advice and information Tim H, I'm 100% sure it is as you see it. I will attempt to contact Andrew Mansie now and I'll let you know how things progress in this forum topic.

Michel lists this variety (and has done so for past 30 years), but only as used. Catalog value has been somewhat static (1200€) throughout the decades.

-k-

With any luck that number will soon change

I have a MacDonnell Whyte "Stamps of Ireland" Catalog dated 1991 that does show the inverted watermark on the 2-1/2d value. There is no valuation for this listing. They do note that over 38 million copies of the 2-1/2d value were printed.

My 2009 Hibernian Catalog also lists the 2 1/2d with an inverted watermark.
No price is listed but it has an RRR designation in fine, used condition. I couldn't find a description of "RRR" but I assume it means very rare. Nice find!

Dan

souldjer777 - Just now came across this post. What was the outcome? Did you have it verified?
Pat

I do not think anyone doubted it is genuine. The stamp is an inverted watermark (Hibernian C31wa). OP looked at the listing in the Stanley Gibbons catalogue that was "does not exist or may exist but not priced," and interpreted it as "does not exist." As Danstamps54 wrote, Hibernian catalogues it as very rare: RRR (2009).

Although the stamp has an indent where there was a perforation tip, it should make or have made a nice sum.

NSK - That wasn't my question.

I was asking OP if he followed up with the TIM H advise and sought an experts opinion, or put in for a cert.
pat