A Used 60 Premiere Gravure Or 70c Reddish Color Variant

In the end I do believe that everything is subjective, including grading, because human beings are making the final decision and human beings are unpredictable.

It would seem to me that a reputable certification entity would owe an explanation detailing their rationale for the change of ID. I can't imagine you did not pursue one from them BlackJack. Did they offer any reasons? Technology, knowledge base, or mere change of opinion? Is no guarantee of accuracy offered by them?

For what it is worth, certifications -- however authoritative they may be -- are merely "opinions". Says so right on the cert. For us occasional skeptics, that's sometimes worth keeping in mind.

it has been said that offensive holding probably occurs in every play in pro football. Same can probably be said about at least incidental contact beyond the 5 yd marker between receiver and defensive back. It is a judgement call whether the referee throws his flag or keeps it in his pocket. Same can be said for an expertizing service calling a stamp deep violet. Violet, or red violet, noting or not noting a tiny perf crease or slightly short perf on an opinion, or grading a visually perfectly centered stamp a 90 vs 95. But let's not pretend that the ref or the expertizers don't know that the decisions they make have an impact economically or otherwise and that good money spent on a stamp and opinion can be essentially flushed down the drain for flimsy reasons. I think we have all seen this on occasion.

Beyond the subjective things that I mentioned above, there are a number of other variables which also make previous and current color identification 'iffy' at best. The most obvious is the lack of defined ambient lighting sources when IDing a stamp. Simply saying 'office lighting' or 'indirect natural daylight' does not cut it and would be rejected by any competent colorist.

In my opinion there are quantifiable things about stamps including counting perforations, measuring a stamp design, or determining a stamp's ink chemistry. In my opinion it was premature for those who came before us to begin issuing catalog numbers based upon color. One day in the future, there will be highly accurate non-destructive methods to analyze ink and paper chemistries. This will then make using ink and paper a viable method for IDing stamps and overturn generations of incorrectly classified and identified colors.

I am working on an article now which more fully describes the challenges of working with colors and stamps and includes some basic things which are required to develop a better 'color eye'. I should get it posted in the next 24 hours.
Don

Caper123 quote:

"It would seem to me that a reputable certification entity would owe an explanation detailing their rationale for the change of ID. I can't imagine you did not pursue one from them BlackJack. Did they offer any reasons? Technology, knowledge base, or mere change of opinion? Is no guarantee of accuracy offered by them?"

I asked them for their reasoning and they said the
"overturn committee" majority felt it was
not 60 but 70c. They said they many old 60
certs would comeback 70c today. Of course
there is no financial liability for PF
as opinions change over years for whatever
questionable reason they choose. The PF did
not reveal the expertizers who finally
decided to overturn my original PF cert. and
cost me loss financially.

It cost you money, so you are assuming it is a "questionable reason". Whoever was involved understood the ramifications.

Actually, if prior 60's are overturned and subsequently called 70v, the resubmitter should be a winner since the catalog of unused 70c trumps a 60 by a wide margin

It will be interesting to see if Gross bothered with these shades when that portion of his material is sold in the near future.

For comparison I am listing the other used 60 stamp which was sold in May 31, 2016
Siegel Rarities sale 1129, lot 342 and selling for $40,000 while unused 60 cat $15,000




My used 60 has similar target cancel, deep dark violet color and is sound.
It has thin paper and sharp perforations as all first designs stamps have.

Finished updating and adding new sections to 'stamp colors' ("How We See Stamp Colors" tab on page) page http://stampsmarter.com/learning/Ge..._colors.html
Don