263 For Sale With Clear Weiss Graded Cert - Missing PF Cert As Reperfed

In the spirit of recent topics I offer another example of a certificate gone " missing" when a stamp is offered for sale.



The Hipstamp listing:

https://www.hipstamp.com/listing/26...l+Interested

There is a PF cert (515454) issued subsequent to the Weiss cert:

http://pfsearch.org/pfsearch/pf_grd...mitNext=Next

It takes time to search through the PF database, but it pays off time and again. My experience with this seller has taught me that I can't be careful enough.

Reperfed?

PF cert states reperfed on right.

Still, that is a heck of a 263. What is more sobering to me is that if the PF is right, that Weiss missed reperfing. This to me is different than some certificates listed under a single name rather than an organization. I am specifically NOT referring to those of Bill Crowe, for he, like Weiss is a recognized expert who prior to issuing his own certificates certified for the PF at a minimum and Weiss certified at a minimum to my knowledge for APEX. To my knowledge, however Miller, with all due respect, was not a former certifier for PF, PSE, APEX, or PSAG, so my expectations might be a little lower for accuracy there even if he was more knowledgeable than everyone else.

What was thought of Bill Weiss level of expertise depends greatly upon who is asked. Collectors thought him extremely knowledgeable, but other knowledgeable professionals were often far less effusive in their praise. Their attitude about him was often "anyone can do the easy ones". That's just how it was, rightly or wrongly.

If anything, it is the left side that looks different from the other 3 sides. It also looks like all 4 sides were scissor cut.

I'm glad I'm collecting an easy country like Germany.

Yes, I don't collect US stamps, but extensive scissoring was my thought too.

Except for really bad. obvious fakes, telling reperfs requires having the stamp in hand and looking at the reverse under high magnification. As paper became softer, the perfs got more funky looking, and even genuine perfs can look off to some degree.

A Google search of Lincoln Philatelics leads to Dana Okey.

I worked for a few auction houses in the 1980's, and it was common to see Dana and Bill (and a couple others in a similar age group) in the same circles. It was not uncommon to see them working closely together at the auctions. I am not making any allegations - please don't read anything into that. I am just saying that their career paths had similar trajectories and I suppose they both thought it would be to their advantage to work together rather than not. I am not surprised to see a stamp associated with one being sold by the other.

ETA: Any and all comments are welcome!!!!