Scott #17 - To Grade Or Not ....

Here is an interesting stamp that I purchased, mainly for the nice centering. I am trying to tell if there have been any alterations but do not see anything added to make the borders.

Comments welcome.

if this example is sound I would send it in. imo this stamp has a corner crease (in the upper right corner) which would dq it from a grade, it is a nice example otherwise.

It has added magins and repairs... Won't grade.

I do not see any corner crease.
I also do not see any signs of added border either.
I am not sure what Sinclair is looking at but would appreciate enlightenment.

Float it

The change in paper color on the left and top (as seen from the back). From the front, the outer frame line at the top and the upper part of the right side appear to be drawn in. Part of the design at the top may also be drawn in.

The quickest way to check any used stamp is to dip the stamp in watermark fluid. Lighter fluid (Ronsonol or Zippo made in Bradford, PA), popular with dealers, will show flaws quickly. When fluid is added to the paper, absorption and drying rates will differ making parts of the back lighter or darker. Thins will display as dark spots while filled thins and added margins will generally be lighter. Creases often flash as lighter color lines while drying.

Yea, no question margins added at least at top and right, with top line and right frameline drawn in. Yet another paint job.

my eyes are not what they used to be.

jaxom100
Pillar Of The Community

Here is an interesting stamp that I purchased, mainly for the nice centering. I am trying to tell if there have been any alterations but do not see anything added to make the borders.

Comments welcome.

I have 2 such stamps and would welcome comments on these 2 if you all would be so kind. I doubt that I will send them for certs as I am not sure they warrant the expense.

Thanks in advance.

Better images may lead to something worthwhile in the learning department. Regardless of whether you provide better images or not, neither stamp appear as though they would be worth the cost of a cert. That means that at best, you could break even if you were able to sell the stamp for full retail.

jaxom- I agree with some of the others. It looks like a crease just outside the diagonal cancel at UR. The backside scan seems to show a difference in paper appearance between the left edge (left, in the reverse image) and slightly inward from there - like it is different paper.

Decades ago, I bought a #17 for a 'steal' to fill a spot in my album. A few years later, I 'discovered' that it had sides added to it. Similar linear paper differences. It was clear as a bell when dipped in lighter fluid.

TBH, though, both 'things' could be a remnant of the scanning process. So many things a hard to see definitively in a scan.

ETA:
OMG!!!!! I just noticed this thread is from 2018. It got activated again today. Sooooo……

Jaxom - did you ever send this off for a cert? Resolution? Inquiring minds want to know.

Unfortunately, I do not think jaxom is with us any longer. I was in contact with him outside the confines of SCF, and last year he seemed to have pulled up stakes and changed work and life. He might be off the grid now.

I heard from him right after the New Year, and his SCF profile shows that he still is visiting the community.
Don

Thanks, Don, good to know. He has gone low profile then. Jaxom, if you see this feel free to contact me.

I have a better image of the better stamp and welcome any information on it. Thanks It shows up horizontally when my photo was upright, can someone enlighten me on that challenge?

Nice looking stamp Chip.