Am I Correct That This Is A Bogus SC #17?

This stamp certainly appears bogus/created, but as I am unfamiliar with Essays and Trial Proofs felt I should ask the experts. The small dots in the paper and lack of sharpness in the whole stamp is what makes me suspect. Paper is thicker than stamp paper.

Looks like a photo of a stamp.

Just what I was going to say - looks like a grainy photo.

Do you have this stamp in your possession, so you can attest to what it really looks like?

Yes, it's in my hands. I just made the pics to share. I'm curious what technique/paper might have been used to make all those little dark dots?

Those are just pixels from the photo, it's part of what gave it away.

In anticipation of your next request, here's the back.

Caper123

What you have there is what is a half tone copy of the stamp.
Looks like someone took a photo of a stamp..If you want to see half tones, check out your newspaper pictures..Below is a sample of half tones..As a printer when I was younger, I have burnt and used half tones.

Robert

Thanks Robert. I just received this with several other stamps purchased from an overseas seller. The others were all fine but this one certainly stood out. Should have no trouble returning it... if they really want it back!

Ink jet printing can also create this effect as shown here in this close up of an ink jet printout


Don

I would look at the others under magnification too.

Caper123

If you are referring to a American Scott 17 that was printed from 1851-1857 and are sure it is half tone, I would think about it a bit more.

Stephen H.Hogan was credited with inventing half tone in 1880 (for newspapers)

Frederick Eugine Ives, born 1856 and at 13 he became a printer, and 1881 he invented half tone printing in America....Newspapers used 50 to 85 lines per inch half tones, but magazines, stamps would have to meet a higher standard using 120 to 150 lines per inch.

Robert

Thanks Robert. Interesting, though...where does that leave me. I make it out to be 240+ lines of offsetting dots for 1 inch on the stamp. So...

Can you get your money back..?

Robert

I think it is a modern printing.
Don

Don, you may have a point there cause Caper123 said it was a Scott 17 and that is what I based my reply on...He did not scan the whole front of the stamp.

Caper123, I don"t see the whole front of the stamp..Can you post Don and me a picture..?

Robert

Hi Robert
Understood. Note that it might even be a modern printing on old paper.
Don