Possible Paper Fold Crease Error On Battleship 5/8 Cent Proprietary Revenue (Usa #rb23)

Stumbled upon a possible and very interesting paper fold/crease error. The error is clearly seen at the "UN" part of United States and at the "PR" of Proprietary. This error occurred before usage, sometime during production/printing, as proven by the "J" of June in the "H.B. - Howard Brothers" Overprint Cancellation which seals the fold error.

It is very difficult to display in the pics but there is a double layer of paper approximately 4mm x 13mm that lays just underneath the left corner area beneath the error. When carefully, ever so slightly, bending the corner back (from the front) one can see the unprinted and pristine white fold of paper laying underneath. Unfortunately, the back is quite messy with remnants of two or three hinges and clearly shows that the stamp is suffering a number of thin spots :-(

I agree with your view of the PR, but the UN looks like a poorly repaired tear which is just overlapping.

I'll be candid: it all just looks like damage to me. Regardless, even if either are preprint paper folds, neither would be dramatic enough to garner any kind of premium, in my opinion.

Concur, a lot of damage here. Just thought it was an interesting piece to share. I don't really care about premium just studying. If a repair wouldn't there be more evidence from the back? Also, remember when the corner is bent there is a few mm of paper underneath the stamp that is pristine white.

i think it is repaired damage. the only way to tell if it's a pre-printing paper crease would be to soak it. that stamp has led a hard life.

@ m and m - Great suggestion... I was mulling that over before but will go ahead and do it since you have mentioned it and I do have multiples of this same dated "H.B. - Howard Brothers" print cancel so no loss if it falls apart during the soak. Respects,

To me, it looks like a damaged stamp with a tear on the left side and a fold on the bottom left. If they're connected somehow, I don't see it. Maybe you can, though.

just give it a good bath and see what happens

please post your findings so that our curiosity can be satisfied.

Hi

Came across this thread and the issue of pre-printing paper folds. Recently I stumbled across a stamp of Mexico which falls into this category and wondered if this feature was interesting enough to post on the forum. The stamp appears to have been cut from the sheet with the fold intact and later pulled apart based upon the shape of the stamp as it exists now. I scanned two stamps of the type. One without the fold and one with the fold:

Howdy all, well "ClassicPhilatelist"; "revenuecollector"; and "m and m" were spot on... as soon as I began to soak it the stamp turned a slight shade of yellow from old glue used to repair it. After a few minutes it fell apart into four pieces. Amazing that someone had taken the time to repair such a low value stamp.

i once was given a mounted revenue collection to sort with instructions to soak the items and watch what happened. alas I followed the directions and watched as every item came apart. I wish I had not done that and saved them as reference copies. all were cheap stamps expertly repaired.

@ m and m - LOL. Why the instructions to "soak and watch"? A jest to you from the seller I take it?