Show Your US 1857 Perforated Stamps

widglo: I always love the 10c 1855 with red cancel! A nice clear red cancel set off against the green of the stamp always looks 'Christmas-y' to me. How appropriate to post that pic this time of year!!

I'm happy that others of you like my #35 pair - I didn't even think of how appropriate it is for the season!

As for the #38, I purchased it from Century Stamps. I feel like an idiot that I never examined the stamp closely enough to pick up on the alterations myself. Ed Reiser was pretty shocked himself, when I told him about the PF cert, and I have no doubt that he was completely unaware that the stamp had been worked on. He didn't hesitate a second to offer a full refund. Before I sent it back to him, I didn't dip the stamp, but I did look at it under a 30X microscope. The only alteration I can really swear to been able to see was the painted portions of the blue cancel. I looked at the back side, but unfortunately, I never made a scan. Ed told me he wasn't sure where he acquired the stamp, but he thinks it was part of a collection.

widglo46 - was only hoping to expand the learning process by examining the back for visible alteration signs. Sorry for your troubles- we all live and learn.

Probably more often than not, that type of alteration will come with an entire rebacking of the stamp, making it somewhat difficult to detect simply by looking at it. With that said, a rebacked stamp may look more opaque and the paper will usually look wrong. The alteration should be pretty much immediately detectable in fluid or when held up to light.

30+ years ago, I worked for a few auction houses. They are no longer in business, but if you collected at the time you probably heard of a few of them. Anyway, at one, one of our good customers bought a stamp years earlier and finally got around to getting a cert. The cert came back bad - like it is a fake, not like it has a corner crease that could have happened in the intervening years - and we refunded his money. He was a good customer and it had that 'problem' when we sold it, so their was no argument, just a check. A reputable seller will do that - it only makes sense in the long run. Oh yeah, and it's the ethical thing to do.

On topic? Other than the painted in cancel along the edges, the #38 could fool anyone from the front. After learning of the issue, the cancel sticks out like a sore thumb, but probably didn't (well, clearly it didn't) get noticed beforehand. Would've been interesting to see the back, and then in fluid. Pretty good fakery.

The #35 pair is shockingly beautiful. I think they are 24-25R2.

I don't have many of the green ones. Here's a few that I have shown before.

This stamp has added margins but not completely rebacked, I would say. The guy that bought this one is a real genius... NOT!.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/U-S-Scott-...t=true&rt=nc

That's an impressive imprint reconstruction, sinclair2010!

And, good eye on the #21 with added margins!

The "#21" scan is bad, but I suspect it's a #24, ... embellished.

It's a #24 and probably a Type Va but is worth $10 maybe.

That seller has had a few items I've questioned. I was watching that stamp and came to the same conclusion - likely a type V or Va. Hadn't looked too closely at the back. Don't care for their method of scanning which makes inspection difficult

I bailed out of collecting classic US precisely for reasons like Lorry's 38 issue. I was spending too much time with material that had issues. I ended up with five stamps bought at well respected auction houses within a four month period that had hidden defects and bad certs. One W-F was completely misidentified by Spink (watermark vs no watermark) One of the stamps had two clean certs, one 1980's cert from PF and a 2009 cert from PSE, but turned out to be reperforated when resubmitted to the PSE. Another reperf from Schuyler Rumsey. All of the games and stamp manipulation absolutely hurts the hobby. I spent very good money on my collection and now those funds no longer head in that direction and I know that I am not alone.

Still really enjoy looking though!

Here is a stamp that is exceedingly difficult to find. It is the only Type III stamp classified as having a recut inner line and is from one of the rare plates made in late 1857 - early 1858. It is known as the Q recut, an old Chase designation.

Sinclair - I agree with Classic Coins. Your reconstruction with the imprint is really outstanding.

The "famous" Q recut. Not something one sees everyday.

Yours shows the variety well - thx for posting it.