StampChat Archives

Archive:  July 1 - 15, 2003

• Last updated:  20 March 2004

July 15, 2003 anne <abt1950@aol.com>

Good night to all and to all sweet dreams of APS codes of conduct, a cleaned-up ebay, and fakes sold only by idiots who don't have the sense to erase the old catalog number on the back. Anne

July 15, 2003 Jim Griffith <griffith@dweeb.org> http://album.dweeb.org
 

Jim

July 15, 2003 Bill Weiss

APS & Crooks
RICHARD;
They may not have any additional liability to the buyer but my guess is that the Board of Vice Presidents would not look too kindly on any member who continues a pattern of fraudulent descriptions despite being told about them (and documented by third parties). Some common sense has to come into play, if you can show them that a member is committing "conduct unbecoming a member" I believe they would act accordingly in their ruling.
BOB H., I guess your right, but I can't understand a system that simply allows untrue statements to go unpunished. If retaliatory feedback is left, then it should be so labeled as such. Once it's left in the seller's feedback there is nothing the buyer can do about it. Don't get me wrong, it would be worse if the bad untrue feedback were left in the buyer's feedback rather than the sellers, but I don't think it should be left unchallanged. For example, if you leave feedback in my sales and say, for example, "Bill Weiss sold me a misdescribed item", OK, so I now have a negative feedback on my record, but if I than turn around and say in response to yours "Bob H. is a well-known crook who regularly cheats people out of money". Now a third party looks at the seller's negative feedback and sees that Bob H. was unhappy with Bill W's material so he posted a negative feedback, but now he sees that Bob H. is supposedly a crook! Now who comes out of that exchange the worse for wear?? Obviously, the person who was made to be the crook is the one who loses, despite the fact that he did nothing wrong! See my point?

July 15, 2003 Chip G <cgliedman@usa.net>

Code of Ethics
APS Code of Ethics.
Paragraphs 7, 13, and 17 are particularly pertinant.
There is also an APS Internet Code of Ethics which basically says that the basic Code also applies to Internet dealings.
Complaints about violations of the code can be sent to complaints@stamps.org. One does not need to be an APS member to file a complaint. However, if the target of the complaint is not an APS member, there is probably not much that can be done. However, if the APS and eBay get together is some way, a record of complaints to the APS about a shady seller may make its way to the powers at eBay.
Chip

July 15, 2003 Secret Shopper

That strange 355
Well that suspicious looking 355 did get bids above its reserve, selling for $42.01 to a buyer with no feedback.

Check out the text provided by the seller, he describes himself as a new APS member, number 201859.

SS

July 15, 2003 Jim Lawler

Evening Bookmark

July 15, 2003 chas adrion

Richard, I am not altogether conversant with the APS code, but I would hope it bars 'selling fraudulent material' rather than simply requiring refunds.

I agree with the victimless part, clueless is more apt.

July 15, 2003 Richard Frajola

To an extent with ebay we are dealing with what are largely "victimless" crimes. The buyers rarely even know they have been defrauded. If they become aware, they can always ask for a refund. Any APS member who gives a refund when requested has no further liability that I am aware of. I have seen auctioneers both in the real world and on the internet keep selling the same item and having it returned until it eventually sticks to someone who wants to believe that it is real.

July 15, 2003 chas adrion

Now a short commercial message - I am conducting the 'count' of flag cancels for the Machine Cancel Society. If you are a member and can contribute a count - please email me before July 22. The next issue of the MCF will have the counts for the central states. Email me for more info at the address below - member or not!

thanks, Chas

July 15, 2003 Bob Hohertz

Bill W.
All you can do when left a retaliatory negative is comment on it, factually and calmly. And you should do that. eBay is not set up to adjudicate whether you or the other party is at fault - and would you want them to, at their level of expertise? Somebody would rule against you, knowing little or nothing of the issues, and that would be worse yet.

July 15, 2003 6:55PM Bill Weiss

APS and Ebay
CHAS is absolutely right. APS has a code of ethics to which every member pledges to uphold, and a fine complaint resolution system as well. When an ebay seller commits an act that another APS member believes is in violation of the APS code, he should consider filing a formal complaint. I have every good reason to believe that APS seriously wants to take on cases involving ebay transactions so when offending sellers are encountered, do something about it.
On the other hand, if the seller (and most are not) isn't an APS member we are left to the ebay system to try to remedy whatever wrong has been committed and frankly, I don't think ebay gives a rat's ass about fraud in their system so long as they can collect seller's fees. I have several cases pending right now with ebay and I may report on this board the situations involved and how ebay handles (or not) them. One seller, in response to a legitimate return from us and negative feedback for taking a month to refund the money, gave us retaliatory feedback that is absolutely libelous and has no basis in fact whatsoever. That is the kind of bull that ebay allows all the time. An honest complaint against a dishonest seller results in dishonor to the party that's right - and what is the remedy? I am asking anyone?

July 15, 2003 chas adrion

aps & ebay
What the APS should do FIRST is throw all of the uncertified flat plate coils out of the APS online sales system (they've tossed the high-catalog ones, but left the little guys - not rational).
 

July 15, 2003 18:42 chas adrion <cadrion@rochester.rr.com> http://home.rochester.rr.com/adrion/stamp.html
 

aps & ebay
I've seen some noise about the APS (I'm a member) getting involved in shaping up ebay. I hope we don't get directly involved in that rat's nest. I love ebay for what it is and I use it daily, but its not something you are going to improve philatelically without getting yourself real dirty.


My suggestion would be for us (the APS) to go after the badguys who claim to be APS members. Hold them up to the code of ethics on fakes, illegals, and scissor jobs. The APS should institute a reporting mechanism for bad eggs - with the sanction of APS suspension or expulsion. No lawsuits please, and no partnerships with ebay. Don't make it a 'restraint of trade' issue. Simply hold our membership up to the code we believe in.

The APS should take steps - but careful ones.


 

July 15, 2003 Brian McInturff

Fake Coils, etc.
Bill It reall annoys me to and I haven't been looking on ebay in a while now. You can't help but wonder what are all those buyers thinking. Or will half of them become crooks to recoup some of there money. The guy with the 355 has over 4000 feedbacks. 22 of them are negatives but on the page with the listing it shows him at 99.3%. That percent reading throws people off. They think the can trust him because he's got over 99% good feedbacks.
I am reporting him and his postings to the APS along with his emails offering refunds.

July 15, 2003 6:10PM Bill Weiss

Fake Coils, etc.
Wow, this guy is bad. Of course he's going to "cancel" his "pending" APS membership because he knows he won't be able to get away with selling such crap! This is probably the most annoying thing about ebay, when an obviously crooked seller can't be stopped because ebay has no policy in place that really will work. Last night I caught a guy selling a trimmed #35 as a #13 and it sold for $202.50! I emailed him hours before it ended. He neither answered me, nor cancelled the item. Now the burdon is on me to try to contact the foolish/unlucky/unskilled buyer to try to help him - meanwhile putting MY status on ebay at risk! What a stupid, unfair, backward way to run a business!
By the way, a #356 (10cent Per 12 Coil) can only be made from a sheet stamp as there is no corresponding imperf stamp. Anyone who considers seriously buying UNCERTIFIED flat plate coils should have their heads examined, as probably 95% of those offered are fake - especially the higher-catalog value ones, but even the cheaper ones. These coils (flat plate) MUST either have expert certificates or the buyer MUST allow certification.

July 15, 2003 Brian McInturff

355
And the seller responds:
For your info.....I have told ANYONE interested enough to email me that if the item was sent for certification & came back that it wasn't what my Grandad marked it & what I was told it was, yes! by all means I would refund PURCHASE PRICE.
However, none of the reserves have been met on any of the items that you are having a problem with so, they won't sell anyways.
I am a pending APS member & intend to cancel it. Don't have a choice.

I informed him these emails would be forwarded on.

July 15, 2003 Brian McInturff

355
Our seller says he had them expertised. I told him to get a refund. I also explained to him the policies of the APS. I've asked him if I bought a stamp and sent it in for certification and it came back not as described if he would give me a full refund and refund the cost of the bad certification. Like I explained, if he had them expertised then this shouldn't be a problem tnen. After all, he believes the expertisers and wants everyone else to beleive them.
 

July 15, 2003 Brian McInturff

355
and this is suppose to be a #100 We could spend all night talking about this guys stuff. He's got a 140(he thinks)also, bid is at 36 dollars. Think I'll email him and tell him I've copied his ebay items with pics and am emailing them to the APS. I'll also tell him he has an option of cancelling the auctions before I email them. What a loser. I bet his Granddad would row over in his grave if he knew.

July 15, 2003 Jim Griffith <griffith@dweeb.org> http://album.dweeb.org
 

Jim

July 15, 2003 Jim Griffith <griffith@dweeb.org> http://album.dweeb.org
 

Jim

July 15, 2003 Guillaume

Paolo: If you are still awake, check the eBay board. David B and I have posted some links, I think you will be delighted.

July 15, 2003 Jim Griffith <griffith@dweeb.org> http://album.dweeb.org
 

Jim

July 15, 2003 Mark Bardell http://www.philatelicnetwork.com
 

Coil - #355 - Secret Shopper
I emailed the seller and said that it is a normal stamp with the top cut off this is his reply :

nope, my grandad marked the stamp after perfing it as a regular set stamp and then went back and marked the coils.
Thank you

July 15, 2003 Paolo Bagaglia

Richard B. I neglected to thank you for looking at that picture and for your comments with which I fully agree.

I would be interested to know to which Issues of Spain those forgeries you mentioned are inspired.
Sadly my only hard reference for Spain is a 1998 Michel Cat. but I find very interesting and very pleasing graphics those early Spanish Issues.

David B. Thank you for the information!

Best, Paolo (gotta crash)

July 15, 2003 David Benson

Paolo, there was a website that listed the various codes. I had it bookmarked but a few months ago I tried and it had disappeared. If I come across it again, will let you know.

Most of the codes are the initial for specific purposes, some internal and extra territorial and military usages. Some are just for specific purposes in main offices,

David Benson

July 15, 2003 Paolo Bagaglia

Xavier indeed there was a typo, should be "CNP" and not "CEP".
Thanks for sharing your erudition ;-)
Paolo
 

July 15, 2003 Paolo Bagaglia

Alleged forgery
Richard B. yes, those 2 breaks in the lower outer frameline are a constant (they can get a little harder to tell on over-inked printings). That is because the same matrixes were conveniently used to obtain the compositions for all the different values, after having put in the right 'rectangular component' bearing in negative the different denominations; these were held in place by the frame line at bottom. Normally this frame line (little segment of line about 13.5 mm long) is slightly thinner and it is not aligned with the two horizontal portions of the outer frame line at bottom left and right.
As a consequence of this procedure the variety "inverted denomination" would have been possible. In fact, it is known on one copy of the 4 crazie denomination (cited as "one of the world's most important philatelic errors" in Sassone Specialized edition of 1999) in used condition.
Paolo

 

July 15, 2003 Dave P

Larvar

My first boss's saying was "money no object, providing it aint mine"

July 15, 2003 Xavier

CEP = "cagot et perdant"

July 15, 2003 Richard Ballhagen (spain_1850)

Alleged forgery
Paolo - I see lot's of differences in the lettering you mention. On the genuine, the 9 is much closer to the left corner, compared to the forgery. Also, I notice that there are 2 breaks in the lower outer frameline on the genuine stamp, is this also a constant? Alot of times that is one of the big giveaways of Spanish forgeries, where the forger has made solid lines where a break should be.

July 15, 2003 Paolo

France cancels
Here (previous link is bad).

July 15, 2003 Paolo Bagaglia

France cancels
Regarding this page I'd like to have information on those "losenge of points" cancels on those 1862 Napoleon III, perf'd: "CEP, DE2, PSS"???

Paolo

July 15, 2003 19:30 CET Paolo Bagaglia

Alleged forgery
Richard B. (spain_1850),

Thanks for your reply. I would guess so! I think we've got to take his word for it, especially at the light of that intense bidding activity! ;-) I think that the bidders think that that stamp is some kind of "proof", even though I know that this might be far from true.

Here is a scan of that 'alleged forgery' put aside a genuine used 9c. brown violet on blueish paper. The stamp on the right is genuine and bears the known stereotype defect "large printing flaw on shield". Among else, note the differences in the wording of denomination "9 . CRAZIE".

Paolo

July 15, 2003 10.21 am Colin Judd UK (xzephyr) <thejudds@saltsvillage.freeserve.co.uk> http://mysite.freeserve.com/xzephyr_Japan_stamps
 

Colin

July 15, 2003 Lavar Taylor

Duncan --- Your quote reminded me of the favorite saying of my first boss when I went to work as an IRS attorney (sounds like something Yogi Berra might say): "Rich or poor, it's always good to have lots of money."

July 15, 2003 Secret Shopper

Multiple choice question:

What tells us that this stamp might have its perfs trimmed off to create a coil stamp?

Scott 355?

A) The crooked trim job across the top

B) The pencilled number still on the back of the stamp

Hello y'all from the Secret Shopper!

SS

July 15, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

duncan
Methinks grandads stamp would fall apart were it not for the valliant effort of the hinges.
The bidders seem to be having fun though.

July 15, 2003 Duncan Doenitz

Heavy hinge

Often, stamps are offered as "lightly hinged".

This one has a heavy hinge. Isn't it refreshing to see such an honest description?

Duncan

"Price is no object as long as it's cheap."

July 15, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark http://www.iomoon.com
 

Winner of todays pointless scan award

July 15, 2003 04:40 AM Jim Lawler <jlawler@comteck.com>

Jim L.

July 15, 2003 03:55 Jim Watson

Good Morning, Everyone!
Today's first dated postal history item is a registered airmail cover from Persia to Germany in 1933. It has some better stamps.

July 15, 2003 anne

Good night to all and to all sweet dreams of Washington-Franklins (and not nightmares trying to see watermarks or detect reperfs), fewer dangits per poster, and unified ebay categories internationally. Anne

Good evening/day to all. Today's featured item of postal history focuses on Hong Kong Treaty Port mail. This cover is franked with an 8c orange QV (watermarked CC) stamp. There is a nice B62 obliterator cancel. The cover is addressed to Hong Kong and bears a firm chop from Amoy. It is datelined Amoy, Oct. 1, 1873 and is endorsed per the ship Kwangtung. Near the top of the scan is a light Amoy CDS (index letter A) in blue dated Oct. 1, 1873, and a Hong Kong CDS (index letter C) dated Oct. 3, 1873. The 8c stamp paid the 1/2 ounce rate from the Treaty Ports to Hong Kong. The local rate in HK was 4c per 1/2 ounce at that time.

Alleged forgery
Paolo - I can't comment on the stamp, as it's not my area, but the seller says "Guaranteed 100%" in his description. That's got to mean it's OK, right???? (Sarcasm intended).

July 14, 2003 9.50 John Gordon <johnr@castlemoyle.com> http://www.marianstamps.com

Dangit Club?
I think I've got the rules right, and this is my entry into
the Dangit club?
John

Mauro
The Washington-Franklins ARE complicated, but the Banknotes really are NOT. I would encourage you to continue with them if you like them. I have always found them to be highly interesting. In 1870 there was a grilled and ungrilled set by National BNCo, in 1873 a set by Continental BNCo, in 1879 a set by American BNCo and then in 1882-1889 new re-engraved designs (easy to identify) and new colors. It's not that tough, sometimes tricky (you must be able to identify "hard" and "soft" papers, which isn't tough, just tricky) but very interesting. Further, I'm sure board members (including me) will be glad to help. I wrote a couple of books involving this area so know a little bit about it, and will be happy to help.

US Stamps
Bill W & all of you: thanks for your help! think i made a bad decition, thaught that W-F's were just too complicated to start with and decided to look at Banknotes ...
Regards

Mauro

July 14, 2003 Victor Horadam <horadam1@airmail.net>

general
Just received my my latest issue from Portuguese Philatelic Society and they have an article alerting members to the picture reproductions (as they distinguish from "forgeries") being produced in Florida for the Hialeah prints of Portuguese colonies stamps. Interesting reading, and they link to multiple sites trying to correct the problem.

July 14, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark http://www.iomoon.com

For anyone interested, todays web site updates.

Tarawera

Rotorua

Reporoa

Egmont

Nikko-Shirane

Nantai

Alleged Forgery: Would anybody PLEASE enlighten me on the why of this bidding activity (it reached US$ 910.00 and I indirectly know that the bidder, knows about that stuff)???

Ebay categories
Yes, they ought to unify them across sites. And when I started listing, I found I had to put quite a few items in two categories just to hit the nail on the head. Eg Cape of Good Hope revenues had to go in both stamps/commonwealth and cinderellas. Seems as if it's in their interest to keep the categories a bit obtuse, so that we can pay two listing fees. This is on Ebay UK - maybe next time I list I should go via the parent site?

July 14, 2003 Victor Horadam <horadam1@airmail.net>

General
Good

U.S. Stamp IDs
MAURO;
Here is the best we can do without seeing the actual items,

1. If pre-1879 likely 161+179; if 1879 or after, #187 or #188 + #185;
2. If 1870-73 either 134(grill) or #145 (ungrilled); if 1873-78 #156, if 1879 or after #182;
3. If 1870-73 #147 + #150 (if ungrilled); if 1873-78 #158+#161; if 1879 or after #182 + #187 or #188;
4. Probably #184 and #187 as note says;
5. #63s if ungrilled;
6. #206

Good Morning, Everyone!
Today's first dated postal history item is a picture postcard from Vatican City to Germany in 1932.

As a special for today, I also have a commemorative cover from Canada to the United States for the Good Will Tour of General Balbo's Italian Flying Armada. Enjoy!

July 14, 2003 04:22 AM Jim Lawler <jlawler@comteck.com>

Jim L.

Categories
Ebay really should do something about unifying categories across sites. The same thing happens under collectables, when I list postcards on UK they are often invisible on US site, very frustrating.

July 13, 2003 anne <abt1950aol.com>

July 13, 2003 Jim Griffith <griffith@dweeb.org> http://album.dweeb.org

Topicals
Guillaume, yeah, I know. I was just being the resident smart-ass. Someone has to take on that responsibility.

Topicals
Jim Griffith: re space + sports. That was just a "manner of speaking". I really have seen the craziest topical combinations, though.

July 13, 2003 12:45 CET Paolo Bagaglia <bagaglia@wanadoo.nl>

Air Magazines received!
Hi Bill B. (Jakstay)

Many thanks for your gift! I went to pick it up at the local PO on Friday and I could look at it only today. The various articles, pictures, designs, three view drawings of reciprocating engine aircrafts and not only, some known others much less known, are extremely interesting & useful for me. I have got months of very enjoyable reading ahead!
I'd like to know, if there is a way I can reciprocate.
Thank you very much again, Bill!
Paolo

July 13, 2003 Paolo Bagaglia <bagaglia@wanadoo.nl>

postmarks on postcards
I ran across an odd postmark on a PPC today. Instead of the normal CDS on the left and killer to the right-type duplex, the stamp was just cancelled with the CDS. At first I just thought that they missed the stamp with the killer portion. But, after going through the rest of the cards in the dealers' box, I ran across about 15 of them, all cncelled the exact same way, from the same town of Chandlersville, Ohio. Was it acceptible to cancel stamps during this period (1908) with just a CDS? Could it be that the killer portion from this canceller was broken or something?

Burma Japanese Occupation
For anyone interested: now on my website - "An idiot's guide to peacock forgeries" by "Thahan Phaung"

July 13, 2003 1131 Rosemary <tulrose@aol.com>

PayPal again
As a sometime small seller of the "junque" lying around our house I've been forced to accept CC payments via PayPal. You don't have to click the PP box on an auction but can mention it in a follow-up email if the amount is large enough ($10-$20 is about my limit). Yes, I may miss someone who will only pay via PayPal but that's just how I like to use it.

Pay Pal
Richard,

Tho I am intensely aware of many of the negative allegations about Pay Pal I do in fact accept and pay some by them myself. I trust stamp buyers and figure if my policy is to make any problems right (reserving the right to block future bids from a buyer in the wrong), it seems unlikely I'll have a serious problem directly from Pay Pal.

Mauro's scans
Mauro, the only scan where the stamps can be conclusively identified is the last one (#6). Those are Scott 206's.

Problemo
Jim... Thanks for any suggestion and as soon as one of my grandsons come round we shall try it out.

Paypal
RW I have just read your link to Goodmans site and I am in shock.
I was hoping that my problems are over but.. where does one go from here.
are there any other firms that give service to the real auction comiunity?

July 13, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark http://www.iomoon.com

US STAMPS ID
Hello all, again and as usual im needing some help with US Stamps ID, this time are stamps on cover, also any comment about the covers will be welcomed.
1,
2,
3,
4,
5,
6.
Regards

Mauro

Guys and gays
David - It may not be so immense. I have a gay friend who always maintains that the only difference between a straight man and a gay man is six pints of beer. But then, he's an optimist ... (Excuse non-philatelic post ..)

Todays Postcard 1940 censored
Prometheus, Jim Watson

Interesting postcard, and valid point Jim re. the futility of crossing out the name on that building.

That happens to be the Asiatic Society Building (formerly the Town Hall), built in 1804 - the first major building built in Bombay by the East India Company for government (as distinct from trade).

A bit like trying to disguise the Lincoln Memorial! Not too many buildings more distinctive than that in Bombay.

Regarding the message, weelll... "interesting is a good way to put it. There is a particular breed of traveller who expects everything overseas to be exactly the way it is at home, and the writer appears to be of that breed.

Pay Pal
Smaller sellers, especially hobbyists dealing in occasional sales of lower-price items, sometimes try to hold to a "personal" PayPal account which has a limit to total amount allowed but also no transfer charge from PayPal. These personal accounts will not allow a credit card funded transfer by PayPal rules. Allowing PayPal by its full-service account can be very painful to a seller of small items like $1 or $2, the charge from PayPal is around 45c per transfer not counting what they ding the buyer for on exchange rates if international. Ebay makes it possible for a buyer to do a compulsive checkout click each purchase without waiting to make one consolidated payment, again very expensive for a seller of $1-$3 items if they don't protect themselves with apparently excessive "handling" charges on everything, or simply refuse PayPal.

There are a lot of horror stories about PP's chargeback and account restriction policies. If you want to do some reading on those issues, try Goodman's site.

July 13, 2003 05:23 AM Jim Lawler <jlawler@comtreck.com>

Jim Whitford-Stark
Thanks for the heads up

Jim L.

Good Morning, Everyone!
Today's dated postal history item is a folded letter from Sardinia in 1860. This is another item the years have treated well!

Spelling
David Benson.......Forgive an old Polack for his English spelling, that is why I used Word2.
Richard V

July 13, 2003 David Detrich <ddetr@aol.com>

Pay Pal
Use Pay Pal whenever I can and thus check terms before bidding. I admit that now it takes a second thought to bid on items that don't take Pay Pal.

In this process I have seen some sellers who state that they will not accept the payment with the credit card option (must be from bank account). To the sellers out there is there a reason for this? Is there an additional charge? Is it harder to settle disputes?

I have been picking up a few items from the European site. Few of sellers that I have looked at accept Pay Pal. Many also severly restrict the parts of the world they will deal with (reference to the discussion a few days ago that I just read). In their defense many of the sellers seem to be collectors or small time dealers.

David Detrich

Tech. Problems.
Dave and all you gays.....I am sorry for giving you all a problem and I have been checkin all morning trying to find what it can be.
The only difference on this posting fro my others is that I composed it on Word2 and then pasted it on here. Now I did the same thing putting an item on a auction side and the same numbers turne out, so maybe it has something to do with Word? I am not very technical but this is the first time something like that happend. I apologise again for any dificulty I have caused and hope it will not happen again.
Richard Vanger

July 12, 2003 Jim Griffith <griffith@dweeb.org> http://album.dweeb.org

585
While PSE might not grade it in the VF class, I'd have no problem with a dealer calling it a VF stamp. It's somewhere between F-VF and VF, for me. It's definitely not an XF/Superb stamp, though. He's capitalizing on the larger image and the selvedge to pass it off as such. Its centering is pretty bad for a high-end stamp. As for the cost, well, it's not a $60 stamp. Yes, it's got margins larger than most on that series. But 585 is one of the easier stamps in that series to get in good condition. Still, he can probably get CV for that stamp, by nature of the large scan and the selvedge.

Cleaned and Reperfed Stamps
John, Bill,

Taking a chance on being wrong, but.... The $5 looks reperfed at the bottom. The top of $2 does not look so great either.

Bill,

Thanks for providing the AEF reference the other day. Johl points out that the straight edge margin may be quite large since the vertical spacing between the panes must subdivide the area normally assigned to the tab for booklet panes of six. This page in a Siegel Auction shows the possibilities.

Cleaned stamps
I wouldn't touch Roecy's auctions with a 10 foot poll. Shoot I wouldn't even bid with YOUR money.

pair of 63's on cover
More to the point on this cover,the rate should be 3 cents and there seems to be a third stamp missig -at the left of the two on the cover.

63's on cover
John I agree. With the heavy cancel stroke in the center there should've been some ink on the envelope between perfs. Also there seems to be some foreign matter on the left of the stamps which appears as if there was another stamp(possibly the original).

Cleaned Stamps
JOHN; we talked here before about being careful when buying stamps where the buyer shoots the photos so that the stamps can only be viewed at an angle. This is a good trick to keep bidders from being able to determine such things as reperfing, etc. I bet if you asked this guy to send you scans of the stamps that he would have some excuse why he can't scan them to you FLAT. BE CAREFUL!

#63 Cover
JOHN;
I got your address, thanks. This #63 cover is missing one stamp to the left of what you see plus the left stamp in the pair has perf scrapes at the upper left. Don't you remember that this is the guy that blocked me from bidding because I returned a misdescribed cover to him? He conveniently forgot to mention the missing stamp at the left. BE CAREFUL!!

and while were at it!
tell me which of these appear to be cleaned!Lets keep in mind that these are suposed to mint never hinged.looks to me like the 50c and the 3Dollar stamps either has some stains and the $3. has what looks like a black cancel just to the right of the center!here

Oooops
I forgot to list the sale here it is!look here

pair of 63s on cover
Sometimes I like to get 2nd opinion before bidding,So somebody look and see if these stamps belong where they are or if they were recently put there.although they are canceled they do not apear to be tied and the ink between the the perfs should have touched the cover as it should of done on the left,VermontPhilatelics this not meant as a slap at your integrity!rather a simple question.

PSE
Brian; there will be more ahead about PSE and expertizing in the weeks ahead. Keep watching Linn's.

PSE: Items they won't cert.
Article in the upcoming Linn's state that PSE will no longer certify CSA, Hawaii, US Possessions, or Postal Cards. Reason was cost of experts and postage. The article will be on page 3.

585
Thanks Ken and Bill I was beginning to think I was losing touch on prices. I too thought superb was an overstatement but then again I wasn't sure if that was as good as that issue got.

#585
Ken & Brian; Indeed, I think it's only BARELY F-VF. If the selvege was torn off the right perfs would just clear the design ("Fine") but it is a difficult issue so F-VF is about it. The seller is a well-known high retailer but doesn't grade as accurately as Century. Actually, I find most ebay sellers, no matter who they are, to either overgrade or not grade at all. I find the full-time professionals, like Century, etc. to have start/reserve prices pretty much in line with what they would be in a retail-level business - no bargains, but in line. Thanks Ken, for asking my opinion, it's been pretty chilly lately.

Todays Postcard 1940 censored
Nice Real Picture Post Card sent from BomBay to Seattle Neatcensormark 12 July 1940 and I am Guessing that the Scratches through the Picture are the Censors work to remove what ever the Building name was from enemy eyes. Nameremoved

browser probs
Jim: Well, that would explain why it happened. Since Richard is in Israel, his system is probably set up to handle or default to Hebrew, so he has to specify left-to-right character flow or it is specified for him in the background.

Unfortunately, it doesn't explain why Jon in particular is having a problem, but I think we've gotten to the root of the problem.

David M: I mentioned the reboot solution in an email to Jon just at about the same time as you posted it on here. You know what they say about great minds ...

585
Brian my guess is that if that 585 was submitted for a PSE "graded" cert, it would come back F/VF (Bill W., do you agree?) Outside shot at a "VF" if they were feeling particularly charitable... It does have nice margins for those perf 10's though.

Normally those code characters would not appear in the text, the left to right symbol.
here
For some reason Jons' machine is refusing to ignore it.

July 12, 2003 David Moser <stamphick@dospalos.org>

browser problem
I've often found that rather than trying to figure out what is causing some wierd problem a simple reboot of the system often is the cure. Also requires less thought.

troubleshoot
Bill: Well, I appreciate that Jim Griffith didn't dismiss my browser problem to just one person. But I'm afraid this is beyond my skill set to solve. We have at least diagnosed it.

Perhaps one of the other technical people will drop by later and know right off the explanation for what happened.

troubleshoot
Well, in email from Jon, I'm learning that those strange characters are the source of the problem for him, because now the later messages where we've included those characters create a problem for him as well. (So now a lot more messages need to scroll off before he can read it normally again!)

Does anybody know what those characters are, and why they don't the browsers of some of the rest of us?

July 12, 2003 17:45 Bill Claghorn (claghorn1p) http://www.geocities.com/claghorn1p/

Troubleshoot
Dave It seems that this is a problem with one particular user and his browser. Perhaps you should just write the problem off to general incompatibility and forget it.

troubleshoot
Well, I attempted to edit the post in FrontPage. I pasted in the message, switched to the html view, deleted those characters, and repasted in the message. Looks like it took out the original strange characters and added its own odd-looking "y". Not sure what to do from here.

July 12, 2003 17:36 Bill Claghorn (claghorn1p) http://www.geocities.com/claghorn1p/

Troubleshoot
Here is the text:

troubleshoot
Bill & Jim: You're right about both the "greater than" and the "‎" characters. Unfortunately, I have no options to be able to edit this out of the post. If it were a normal page that I could edit, then I could take it out. But I don't have that option with this database record format.

Is it possible for the reader to do something to increase the number of character sets he can read?

If not, otherwise I suppose the only thing we can do is wait for that post to scroll off to the next page?

troubleshoot
Bill C: That would make sense. The thought had crossed my mind since he had he was living in Israel now that he might have a different default character set.

Let me see if I can edit that info out of his post.

July 12, 2003 17:16 Bill Claghorn (claghorn1p) http://www.geocities.com/claghorn1p/

Troubleshoot
Dave The "July 11, 2003 Richard Vanger " posting contains multiple &#8206; characters which may be confusing his browser.

July 12, 2003 17:16 Bill Claghorn (claghorn1p) http://www.geocities.com/claghorn1p/

Troubleshoot
Dave The "July 11, 2003 Richard Vanger " posting contains multiple &£8206; characters which may be confusing his browser.

troubleshoot
Jim W-S: Not sure, but I would presume the most recent one.

Here is the reply I just got back from him:

I tried to post to the Stampchat, but that would not work either! When I try to read the board, I consistently can scroll down to the line:

"July 11, 2003 Richard Vanger "

then there is a mile of blank lines and the last line of the page says

"Jim W-S:Interesting. The irony is, I was only speaking hypothetically, that there"

Could there be something in that post that is messing me up? I did a test post to the Ebay board (for what it is worth! with no problems.

- - - - - -

Any further thoughts from anyone? Has anyone else had this kind of problem on any kind of webpage? (I don't believe I have, which is one of the reasons that I'm not sure how to resolve it.)

Thanks again!

July 12, 2003 Brian McInturff <turff49@aol.com>

APS Circuits and Forgeries
Just finished checking out those Newspapers(PR's) and 3 of 5 were forgeries. 2 of the 3 were old forgeries and the 3rd was a European 5 cent blue forgery. The other 2 appear to match up as genuine to the most part but there are a couple of characteristics that don't match. They could be European also. Those 2 have significant faults anyway though. I made annotations so the next guy and APS will know what to do. Unfortunately there was 1 that was sold before the circuit got to me. Based off of what I've seen it was probably a forgery also.

troubleshoot
Let me post his reply:

I can read the first part of the board - no I am not using AOL!!! I tried the Control refresh and it turns the entire screen gray. I have flushed the cookies and files, etc. (and do so regularly). I also checked the other items that Bill C. recommended and am set up as he suggests. But, it is still not working and it seems to only be the StampChat!

- - - - -

Any other thoughts on this problem?

I've also sent him an email asking if he is able to post here directly. If he isn't, then I'll be the intermediary.

Thanks again, everyone!

July 12, 2003 David St Maurice <davestm@rochester.rr.com>

BidPay spoof
I recently have received emails, supposedly from BidPay, informing me that they were unable to insert their logo into my auction. I was supposed to email bidpay, link supplied, to resolve the problem. Since I don't have any auctions running at the moment, I trashed the email without opening it. Beware, I think it is a spoof.

July 12, 2003 David St. Maurice <davestm@rochester.rr.com>

585
USA #585, Matha Washington
I have the recent Century and Valley Stamp cats., two dealers who specialize in USA superb material. A superb 585 will cost you low $45 to high $85. So Jack's starting bid is not out of line.

July 12, 2003 15:19 Bill Claghorn (claghorn1p) http://www.geocities.com/claghorn1p/

Troubleshoot
Dave The first thing to try is to hold down the Ctrl key and click the Refresh button. This will force a complete refresh of the page.

Troubleshoot
Is he using AOL? If so tell him to type Autofix into keyword, this will bring up some directions and all he does is follow those.
Sounds like it's caught in a cookies loop where it won't go past that last point before he shut down previously.

troubleshoot
Can you help me troubleshoot this problem? I just received a note from a regular reader who is having problems with the board.

Here is his description of the problem:

All of a sudden, I can not access your stampchat. It is the only website I am having trouble with. I can read down thru the post by Richard Wengier and the board is blank after that. I am using Microsoft internet explorer. I get to your site via favorites and if I close the favorites window, the entire screen turns the gray background color. All other sites I try to access afterwards are also blank. If I close the window and reopen it, I can access all other sites and bounce between them with no problems.

- - - - - -

Is anyone else having this problem? What does it sound like? Does anyone have some suggestions for how to fix it?

Thanks in advance,

-- Dave

585
Ken Am I missing something? His starting price is 60 dollars. The 2003 catalog list it at 32. Are these bringing that kind of premium now or has the guy lost touch with reality.
585

polar bear fantasies
Richard - Thanks for answering the 'who'-question. Glad that mystery is solved now. Any idea about 'when' and particularly 'why'?

Alaska triangles
Bill posted a link to the Alaska triangles here.
It is indeed the polar bear design so I presume we're talking about the same thing. I am of course very interested in all kind of (reliable) information about these issues. As I said; I heard/read a lot, but have no confirmed information yet regarding who, when and why.

July 12, 2003 Maarten Willems

on triangles
Bill C - The Swiss block you've linked is one of the so-called soldiers stamps. Over 2300 different designs were issued in both WWI and WWII, among them 52 triangular shaped. AFAIK they were indeed legitimate; they indicated that the letter was send by a soldier and therefor didn't need regular postage. (I have the perf version of that block as well as a handfull others and 3 covers. Nevertheless I do not actively collect these as I consider them as Cinderella's.)

The Alaska triangles are interesting. That is, there is hardly any confirmed background information on those. It is assumed that the issue dates from 1925, at the time of the diphteria epidemic in Nome. The American Newspaper Alliance started a campaign to get serum to Nome. They planned to transport it through the air. (There is no evidence that such a flight actually contemplated. It is said that eventually it was transported by railroad and sled dogs.) The stamps might have something to do with raising mony for the proposed flight. Despite the fact that I had correspondence with old collectors in Anchorage, I don't have confirmation on that story. (There are about 40 different stamps, all the same design. I have 2 of these Cinderella's in my collection. They are not really expensive; $3 - $5 each, especially when they're offered in larger batches).

Maarten

July 12, 2003 Victor Horadam <horadam1@airmail.net>

All, from sunny Dallas.

July 12, 2003 07:01 Bill Claghorn (claghorn1p) http://www.geocities.com/claghorn1p/
 

Two Bisects still Attached??
IOmoon Is a "Bisect Pair" still attached still a bisect(s) See HERE ROTFLAMO

July 12, 2003 06:55 Bill Claghorn (claghorn1p) http://www.geocities.com/claghorn1p/
 

Forgery Identification Site

July 12, 2003 06:44 Bill Claghorn (claghorn1p) http://www.geocities.com/claghorn1p/
 

Forgery Identification Site

July 12, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

Mr Lawler

Looks like a surfeit of Indiana literature has appeared in eBay publications!

July 12, 2003 04:22 AM Jim Lawler <jlawler@comteck.com>

Jim L.

July 12, 2003 03:56 Jim Watson

Good Morning, Everyone!
Today's dated postal history item is a neat letter from Mauritius to England in 1881. The years have treated it well!

Lavar,
Thanks for another interesting cover! Clearly those lawyers were interested in being able to say that they had followed the procedure.

July 12, 2003 David Benson

IO, sorry about not answering sooner but I have been out since early this morning and just got back. Auction day,
Reunion to Reunion is not bad but I have been there and done that, how about Greenland to Greenland or Ascension to Ascension, Anguilla to Anguilla. Senegal to Senegal, Falkland to Falkland, Mongolia to Mongolia, all went through without a hitch. One of the strangest was Israel to Antarctica. He was US Airforce stationed somewhere down there.
 

July 11, 2003 22:37 Lavar Taylor

It certainly seems curious that someone (and particularly a law firm, as indicated by the return address) would attempt to mail a letter to Germany in March of 1942, 4 months after hostilities had broken out. One would think that they would know by then that mail to Germany would be returned. Actually, I suspect that the sender did know that the letter would be returned, due to the other contents of the letter, which can be seen here . This is a copy of a notice of time set for proving will and of application for letters testamentary. Translated from the legalese, this means that someone has died, with a will, and that anyone desiring to contest the will needs to show up in court. No doubt the executors of the estate were required to send notice to the person in Germany, who was likely named as a beneficiary of the will. Thus, even though the executors probably knew the letter would be returned, they had to follow the procedure set forth under California law for notifying interested persons. I wonder if Karl Graether ever received whatever it was that was left to him under the will.

July 11, 2003 john

Computer access from the truck stops only $1.00 a minute.darn thing is I cant get my email here.....

July 11, 2003 Jim Griffith <griffith@dweeb.org> http://album.dweeb.org
 

Jim

July 11, 2003 Brian R (briguy)

Scan of the day

July 11, 2003 Guillaume

I do not know in what direction our hobby is going, I only know that topical collectors are fierce competitors when buying stamps (CEPT anyone?). Their market must be a healthy one. As for countries, I believe that is the traditional way of collecting and it will never go away.

July 11, 2003 Guillaume van T.

July 11, 2003 16:49 Ken Srail

585
Jim, maybe he's breaking a sheet or large multiple. Very possible with a number like that, and even makes sense if the singles are pretty well centered (you'd get a "lot" more selling individually than as a block/sheet...)

July 11, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark http://www.iomoon.com
 

David B

Who would have thought it, my last four selling feedbacks have been for:
A RSW stamp to England.
Christopher Columbus stamps to Italy.
Reunion stamps to Reunion.
And Pricess Wilhelmena stamp to the Netherlands.

Anybody in Newcastle need coal?

July 11, 2003 Jim Griffith <griffith@dweeb.org> http://album.dweeb.org
 

Jim

July 11, 2003 Prometheus

Today's Postcard from 1966
Little picture post card of the Scottish Pipers at the Nova Scotia Border
Mailed with a US stamp Cancelled by the Canadian post Office Tagged as due in Canada T8cents
But I don't think collected in the US Because the stamp was right for US.
I picked it out of the 25 cent box for the Expo Advert Cancel.

July 11, 2003 Duncan Doenitz

209
Thanks Ken and Brian.

Came real close to bidding on that one, but I was literally "out to lunch" when the auction closed, and was a bit surprised when it sold as high as it did, and wondered why.

Some days when poking around in e-Bay Stamps... well yesterday the mental comparison of poking a dead bloated pig came to mind, you know? One of those all too frequent days when a decent common stamp stands out like a real gem.

I did enjoy looking at some of Gary Posner's offerings though. I see they tend to attract a lot of bidders.

Duncan

July 11, 2003 14:01 Ken Srail

That 209
Duncan, it's definitely a 209 or 209b. My gut tells me just a regular 209 in one of the darker shades (it looks too "brown" to be the scarce "black brown" shade). My guess is that the buyer just overpaid (probably thinks it's a $25 Scott 188 and $9.50 is a fair price...)

July 11, 2003 Jim Lawler

Bookmark

July 11, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

Richard V

I don't think there is a simple answer.
To quote an old addage "it takes all sorts".

Some people like to browse through completed pages with satisfaction.
Some like to admire the artwork of etchers or photographers.
Others like the vicarious "thrill of the chase".
Yet other like to acquire knowledge through either classifying their stamps or assimilating the information compiled upon them.

The list is probably endless.

Some even get more fun out of selling their stamps on eBay than acquiring them.

Some collect for a profit motive or, at least, a non-loss motive.

July 11, 2003 Dave P

Stamps for collectors
On that theme I read something the other day which, well annoyed me I suppose. In an article about the change in production methods for producing GB stamps it was mentioned in passing that the cylinders are identified by markings at each end, and that these bear no relationship to the sheet "cylinder numbers" which serve no purpose, but are retained because "collectors like them". To my mind this puts them in the same category as football stickers.

July 11, 2003 Richard Vanger <wengier@bigfoot.com>

Quo Vadis
ýRichard Vanger wengier@bigfoot.comý

What to collect? I have been collecting for many years (60) and after passing the whole world stage I went for ýýcountries with personal connections, I was born in POLAND lived in RUSSIA 7 years I moved to ENGLAND ýýfor 25 years and now I live in ISRAEL. Those are my 4 basic countries and because of the unending issues I ýýstopped at the year 2000. But of course as a collector it is difficult to part with anything that comes your way ýýand a huge surplus builds up and different countries , themes come out of this. Once upon a time stamps were ýýproduced to post letters, today it is the poor collector who is the target with larger sets and higher values until ýýit becomes impossible to keep up. I remember when in England it took 5 or more years for a new issue to come ýýout, in fact for the first 100 years only some 470 stamps were out ,including watermark and perf. Varieties.ý
ýIn the next 50 years 1000 plus were added, and England is one of the less offending countries. When I startedý
ýI collected only used and now I take both but I still believe that a stamp that has not gone through the post is ýýnothing but a colored label. I would like to hear as to where you think stamp collecting is going. Maybe I am ýýjust an old boy who sees something that gave him pleasure for so long changing?ý

July 11, 2003 gary

unethical selling
Nobody noticed that karlhhs' 1st sale was from 7/4-7/11 and the second one was 7/11-7/18?. Obviously he relisted it on the second site AFTER he had no bids at the first.
Just a lurker, figured I throw my 2c in.

July 11, 2003 Brian McInturff

Bargain
Duncan The scan is to blurry for me to be able to tell.

July 11, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark http://www.iomoon.com
 

Richard

I see Janet Klugman has an article about fakes, forgeries and illegals in the latest edition of Linns. She gave a link to a glassine surfer web page on the topic but I had to reboot and lost the link.

For some reason I have to reboot after every time I read Linns.

Reappearing countries are no problem, I just give up on Mayotte in the early 1900's.

July 11, 2003 Richard Warren

dead countries
But be careful. In the mid-eighties, I started accumulating Armenia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, & Georgia on the basis that they were long dead and gone, and definitely a finite field of collecting. Then came glasnost, the collapse of communism, the break-up of the Soviet Union, and they were all back again, banging out more stamps than ever. Another abandoned project. One needs to keep an eye on political trends and the long term picture!

July 11, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark http://www.iomoon.com
 

Of course, one of the problems with thematic collecting is that you are collecting from every country in the world (I'm excluding cinderellas and illegals) which means either you have a world-wide collection of catalogs or there is a catalog devoted to your particular topic.
Fortunately the American Topical Association and Stanley Gibbons, among others, have published volumes to fill the latter niche.
However, I think its more fun starting from scratch or chosing a theme as yet uncataloged (socks, cream buns, whisky).

July 11, 2003 Duncan Doenitz

A US bargain?

Did someone make a bad deal or a good one?

This looks like it has been incorrectly identified. This novice eye does not see a US 188. Perhaps it's 209b? That's my untrained guess. Or maybe they just bought a common 209.

Duncan

July 11, 2003 , a dedicated thematic collector: Maarten Willems

birthdays & thematics
'Christopher' Colin 'Robin' - I would say that country-collecting is and will be the core business of philately. Thematics/topic collecting gets some attention every now and then, when something 'new' or 'exotic' pops up (like palindromes, nudes, socks or cream buns on stamps).

Maarten

July 11, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark http://www.iomoon.com
 

colin

I don't really know the answer to your question but I would suspect that many collectors are getting peed off with the multiple releases from whichever country they collect.
As a consequence I think some are employing a cut-off date at which they will no longer collect stamps thereafter.
Others, like Bruce on "the other board" last night, have started collecting short-lived and dead countries.
Yet others may have turned to thematics.
Though looking through thematics last night I was distraught to find sellers such as this selling absolute crap without mentioning that the items are either cinderellas or illegals.

July 11, 2003 Colin Judd UK (xzephyr) <thejudds@saltsvillage.freeserve.co.uk> http://mysite.freeserve.com/xzephyr_Japan_stamps
 

Colin

July 11, 2003 Bob Hohertz

Unethical Selling
K-E, he was asked about this weeks ago on the Stamp Offers Board - just said it was "marketing." I think the idea is to take one down if the other one gets bids - no way of knowing of course if that maximizes the sale price, since on eBay at least, two people could be waiting to snipe it. Lots of work for pennies and criticism, in my book.

July 11, 2003 09.54 Knud-Erik (knuden)

July 11, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark http://www.iomoon.com
 

The Sierra Leone Mars set was the target of speculation.
Some sellers apparently haven't gotten the message yet.

July 11, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

Dave

Yep, on the home page.
There are also some stamps of Grenada and Sierra Leone illustrating Olympus Mons on Mars, but I don't have them (yet).

July 11, 2003 07:15 Jim Watson

Paolo's Veteran Stamp
Paolo,
That stamp has quite a provenance. It deserves all the TLC (tender, loving care) which you can give it! LMAO!

July 11, 2003 07.06 Knud-Erik (knuden)

July 11, 2003 Dave P

Did you see the news of that new massive planet they have discovered? A cold gas giant so no volcanoes for you, and rather a long way away! Out of interest do any non-terrestrial volcanoes feature in your collection?

July 11, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

Paolo
ROTFLMAO.
A story to be taken with 50 grana of rice!!

July 11, 2003 Paolo Bagaglia

Royal Rarity in Boor Quality
This is what I found attached by the hinge on reverse of what looked like a dried piece of leather and therefore passed unobserved until I dismaskered it.
The collector who originally possessed this stamp lived in a house close to Porta Pia in Rome, which was destroyed on 20 September 1870 by Italian troops. The stamp got some shrapnel in that occasion. Then he participated to the first world war. He always kept the stamp stuck behind his ear, whether as though of a distinctive eye wash for his nightly escapades in Austrain philatelic brothels or as a strong talisman to friendly artillery fire. Alas he was hit by a 280mm shell fired by the sea. His son, a cultor of marathon on 100 km, inherited his father's the ear. He unsportsmenlike stuck it at the bottom of his shoe. He thought it'd bring good luck at competions. He sadly was to be crucified by Russian sailors whilst attending WWII. His wife got the shoe and the stamp attached and she used it in tiny bits as an aromatic mix for spaghetti alla matriciana. Mr. O. Wells ejected the stamp as he exploded in the course of an eating endurance competition at Isolabella. It stayed stuck to the ceiling of the restaurant for over thirty years. Was only to be removed during a locusts plague by one large grasshopper (lost among locusts) who was eaten by a small bird, taking advantage of his confusion, who was eaten by a bull, who was deported to Maluku Selatan. It stayed there since the bull was immolated to Saint Baal and a high priest decided to stick it in the back of his ear.
Catalogue value for on cover: Euro 190000!
D2 I know you will particularly appreciate this one as to the way it is introduced with CV ;-) ...the funny thing is that the cancel IS genuine and that there is a symbolic prize for who can quantify all the defects and reparations this historical postage stamp bears.

I have to be in Amsterdam in an hour. See you tomorrow.
Paolo

July 11, 2003 04:42 Jim Watson

Jim and Knud-Erik,
Thanks for your help. I've fixed those problems - there may still be others.

Paolo,
Thanks. I always appreciate your interest.

July 11, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

Jimbo

AJA & BR?? is not listed as a fowarding agent for Mayaguez.
By default, therefore the sender.

July 11, 2003 Paolo Bagaglia

Various
Lavar and Jimbo -- very nice looking and interesting covers, as usual. Thanks for sharing & commenting.

Hi Knud-Erik -- Thanks again for your kind gift. I love that 1872 20c. folded cover.
On my part I still did not receive a reply regarding that question of yours. Sorry.

RE: Circuit booklets = rondzendboekjes
I used to receive it from my stamp club Filitalia. I did not renew the request to be in the circuit though (I bought too much stuff out of it, I could not help): missus' dispositions on financial cuts cannot be discussed! ;-)

 

July 11, 2003 03.59 Knud-Erik (knuden)

July 11, 2003 03:52 Jim Watson

Good Morning, Everyone!
Today's dated postal history item is a folded letter from the Danish West Indies to the United States in 1874. It passed through the British Post Office in Mayaguez, Porto Rico. Worth a look!

July 11, 2003 Brian McInturff

Sale Circuits
Thanks Jim
John I was referring to APS sales circuits.

July 11, 2003 00:00 Lavar Taylor

The reverse shows a New York City transit (3-27-39) and San Francisco transit (3-28-39), along with a Cheung Chau receiving mark (4-6-39). Cheung Chau was a small branch PO. Incoming mail to Cheung Chau from anywhere outside of HK is difficult to find. On the front is what I believe to be a truly rare marking, that of the PO carrier on Cheung Chau. This is a circular marking at the lower right of the 15c prexie stamp. That style of marking is recognizable as used by carriers in the HKPO. I have never seen such a carrier marking from Cheung Chau before.

July 10, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

Bill
All you need is the zip code and a desire to know the weather

July 10, 2003 Bill Weiss

JOHN - What City, what State?

July 10, 2003 John

Bill........Ok I re-read it,I see what you saying,addy is Magnolia Stamps,P.O.Box 3371,City. 38803 and if any one else has anything to send go ahead,Provided its not (alcoholic or explosive)

July 10, 2003 Fly-by-Night <somewhere-n-america@verizon.net>

F-b-N

July 10, 2003 Bill Weiss

#1
JOHN; Did you read carefully?? I said for a copy with a cleaned pen cancel (which only catalogs $290.00) AND a fake cancel. I will have at least 10 copies of #1 in my next auction - it's not that scarce of a stamp, and the poorerst one will have a "start" bid of $100.00! If you don't believe me, send me your mailing address and I'll send you tearsheets of the sale when ready.

July 10, 2003 Magnolia stamps

john

July 10, 2003 17:31 Jim Watson

APS Circuit Notes
Brian M.,
There is a space on the routing sheet that goes along with the circuit to make such notations. It will warn the next people and be picked up by the APS when it gets back to State College.

July 10, 2003 Brian McInturff

Has anyone else noticed the junk in sale circuits? The #1 is one of what I'd call better stamps I've seen in a circuit in probably 5-6 years. Only thing I see any more is what I'd call junk. I don't know about the foreign circuits but the US material is just usually filler material. I guess the internet cause that. Sometimes I wonder why I still get them, I've only bought a couple of items(revenues) in the past 3-4 years. Acircuit arrived today and has a bunch of the newspaper PR1-PR8. I think I'll check them just to see if all of them are fakes. If they are fakes do I make annotations in the books?

July 10, 2003 Bill Weiss

#1
BRIAN; I think the price is pretty much right on the retail value, which is more than I think it would bring in public auction. A #1 like this (close on one side) is not the kind that folks will fight over in auction. It's pretty much a "commercial-grade" #1 so it won't get pushed too far. While the scissors cuts may be small, they do affect the value, although not greatly.

July 10, 2003 Brian McInturff

Thanks Bill I wasn't planning on purchasing but did wonder. I checked with a black light and no signs of erased pen marks. There is a cut on each bottom corner but neither come close to the outer line of the stamp. They are more in the margin of the stamp that was below it. I would've thought value more in the 500 range with a blue numeral but I'll take your word. You have a better feel for pricing than I would. His price in the circuit was 425 so he's right on par with your estimate, actually I guess he's a little high.

July 10, 2003 6:20PM Bill Weiss

#1
BRIAN; It's a pretty poor scan, but it looks to me like it might have a small scissors cut at lower right. I also can't tell if the "5" is the right color blue, but the best tool to examine a stamp like this is a black light. Do you have one? If so, it will show if the stamp has a cleaned pen cancel under the "5" in which case it would then be a fake cancel. Assuming it is a sound stamp with a genuine blue "5" and it's NOT a scissors cut at LR, it would bring $300-400. in a public auction (it's too close at left to bring any more). If with any flaws (depending on what they are) it would only bring $150-200. and with a fake cancel over a cleaned pen cancel, maybe $100-150.

July 10, 2003 Brian McInturff

Spelling
Guess I should start proof reading before hitting the submit button. That should have said odd not old

July 10, 2003 Brian McInturff

John Just trying to get some activity here. It's a little slow. That #1 is in a circuit that was just sent. I thought it looked pretty nice and is in great shape. Just think it's old to be in a circuit so I'm wondering about the blue numeral 5. Is it real.

July 10, 2003 john

brian........what do you want to know.it's a u.s.#1 with a blue paid 5 cancel,about $700.00 c.v.in a real auction it will bring $750. too $900. that is in a real live auction with real collectors,not those wanting something for nothing!

July 10, 2003 Paolo Bagaglia

Io sheesh, that 1d black auction you linked to, seems to bear two portions of scotch tape on reverse (to hold it together). It is the worst image (of recto and verso) of a GB "number 1" I saw in a while (maybe only equalled, in its mediocrity, by some bad stuff an APS, ASDA etc., etc. member dealer in Utrecht proposed me lately).
I am off to sleep. Bye, bye

Paolo

July 10, 2003 Brian McInturff

US 1
So any thoughts on this one?
US1

July 10, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

Happy belated birthday Colin

Roberto

You'll have to improve spelling, it should be zxzywywxyzzy!!

NOIP
Just received spam that I'm paying too much auto insurance.
I guess so!!

July 10, 2003 Jim Lawler

Bookmark

July 10, 2003 Roberto Ryyztzwxy

zxzyywwxzy?

July 10, 2003 Stamps-obsession

Hurra!

July 10, 2003 Mauro Mowszowicz

Richard V.
Ein Al Ma Richard (hope you can understand this!), you will like this guys service, their checkbooks are cheap enough and as i told you, the online acc. service works marvelously

Regards

Mauro

July 10, 2003 Maarten Willems

Hurray!
Colin - A belated happy birthday!

July 10, 2003 01.23 Colin Judd UK (xzephyr) <thejudds@saltsvillage.freeserve.co.uk> http://mysite.freeserve.com/xzephyr_Japan_stamps
 

Colin

July 10, 2003 Richard Vanger

Paypal
Thank you Mauro... As you said and I did not go further than Tel Aviv (30 min. drive.) to set it up. Thaks for the good advice,
Richard V. (I like it!!)

July 10, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

Dvaid

It seems to have also affected your spelling :-Þ

July 10, 2003 David Benson

Jim, worked after about 20 tries,

Dvaid Benson

July 10, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

David

No idea!!
But I could use it as an advertizing tool if you can figure it out!

July 10, 2003 12:50PM Bill Weiss

AEF Booklet Pane Singles
The definitive article on this subject was written by Ken Lawrence in the October/1996 United States Specialist. I always use his advice when trying to identify 498-99 AEF singles OR panes to determine if genuine. Basically, all you do is keep handy a #498 or #499 sheet stamp single and a #498 or #499 regular booklet pane. If genuine, the AEF pane or singles from the pane will be the SAME SIZE (the design) as the #498-99 regular booklet panes. If FAKE, the 498-99 AEF will be TALLER & NARROWER than the 498-99 regular booklet pane stamp designs. Remember that it's the DESIGN size that we are measuring and all you have to do is lay the suspected AEF single next to the regular booklet pane (any single within the pane) and you will easily note whether the single is the SAME size (genuine) or taller & narrower (fake or non-AEF stamp).
Anyone caring enough to know the technical reasons for this, let me know and I'll be happy to quote Mr. Lawrence's article for you.

July 10, 2003 David Benson

IO, what have you done, I have been trying to log onto Ebay Chit Chat and every time I try then out of the Blue comes a Mauritius Post Office 2d. Blue and no log on.

David Benson

July 10, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

Colin

I use BBQ tongs on the large machins.

Dave

Of the nine volumes that have been issued by the Japan Philatelic Society Foundation, only 2 are not sold out. Appears to be a popular collecting field!!

July 10, 2003 1208 Clark (reperf)

AEF booklet pane singles
Oops, forgot that top singles and bottom from AEF booklet panes are also identifiable as such. If you see a "fat" top or bottom straight edge 498 or 499, take another look! According to Johl, the straight edge copies can be identified because the margin is wider than normal (and in most cases there will be no guideline).

As I understand it, only a few covers with AEF booklet singles survive. The US Army had a post office in Paris, France in 1917 and 1918. The AEF panes arrived in France in September, 1917.

Perhaps one of the postal history experts can elaborate. Fakes are known to exist.

July 10, 2003 11:58 Dave ("philatarium")

Jim W-S:Interesting. The irony is, I was only speaking hypothetically, that there probably was some such book. Frightening that it turned out to be actually true (including being sold out immediately, etc.) Ah, well, some day I will make my publishing mark on Japanese philately...

July 10, 2003 Dave P

A silly question from a non techie, when Norton isolates and then quarantines a virus, what happen then, does it stay in that form on your disk for ever?

July 10, 2003 Jim Griffith <griffith@dweeb.org> http://album.dweeb.org
 

Jim

July 10, 2003 Duncan Doenitz

This board

Man this board is great!

Jim W-S Jeez now every sniper on this board knows about that penny black.

Clark Great information on US varieties! The information is way over my head, I just started dabbling in stamps again in 1982 in a small way, I always regretted selling a small stamp collection many years prior to that time. All I really set out to do was to replace what I sold, but this hobby is too fascinating to resist, and the subtle varieties fascinate me.

I'm guessing that the best AEF interior booklet stamp find would be on a cover that suggests AEF use, can they be identified on cover by perfs and size?

Typos Aaargh!

I repeat, what a great group! [to self: "keep smiling and back slowly towards the donuts"]

Dunc

July 10, 2003 11.05 am Colin Judd UK (xzephyr) <thejudds@saltsvillage.freeserve.co.uk> http://mysite.freeserve.com/xzephyr_GB_Machins/
 

Colin

July 10, 2003 10:50 Burton Smith <bridge2@erols.com>

Greetings to all!!

Survived yesterday's T-storms (DC). One set had a tremendous wall cloud, you probably saw it on The Weather Channel (US)

I was looking at a few copies of the American Holly US Christmas stamp from a few years ago and noticed a few that were taller in size than the others. Is this true or are my old eyes
deceiving me?

July 10, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark http://www.iomoon.com
 

Dave F

I think this is probably the book to which you alluded:

"Eurasian Aviation Corporation and Airmails in China" by Abe Tatsuya (sold out).

"This is introdusing the history of airline services by mainly Eurasia Aviation Corporation, and the early airmails in China.
The book consisits of three chapters and appendix:
1.Shanghai-Manchouli Line,
2.Shanghai-Tihwa (Urumtsi) Line, and
3.An Illusion on theSilk Road, Unrealised Germany Japan Airline,
Bibliography,
Table of the Airmail Postal Rates(1923-1943),
Chronological Table of Eurasia Aviation Corporation
and two maps of the related areas.
Text in Japanese
Published on 3 August 1999, 96 pages, 3,000 yen"

Plus

First Flights of the Eurasia Aviation Corporation, 1931-1938 Merrill
L. Bartlett.
Which received a vermeil at ameristamp2002

July 10, 2003 9:40 Dave ('philatarium')

Dave P: Good point. Since every other board has this, I should probably do the same. Will do. Thanks for reminding me about this.

July 10, 2003 0933 Clark (reperf)

Wet and Dry Printings and Santa Varieties
Duncan and others:

Years ago it used to trouble me that wet and dry printings were not listed in the Scott Catalogue. The rotary press varieties are easily identifiable and resulted because different presses and printing techniques were used. The appearance of the paper, the gum and the printing the stamps is quite distinctive. Failing to recognize collectable varieties at the time the stamps are issued can lead to scarcity later on. Early US flat plate coils are the prime example. Until the perf 8 1/2 coils were issued, collectors thought that they could make their own by trimming the perforations.

The change over from the Stickney rotary press to the Huck-Cottrell press resulted in significant production differences. The change over to "dry" printing resulted in less paper shrinkage and more accurate perforating. The old perforating equipment (large hole variety) used for coil stamps was remained in use for a short period of time after the change over. When the new perforating equipment went on line (the small hole variety), the change over was complete.

The conjectural reason for the existence of the wet printed “small hole” variety was that there was a need to test the new perforating equipment before the new press was ready for production. A few weeks ago at the APS coils seminar, I was fortunate to be able to examine discovery strip of the wet printing “small hole” variety. To my eye it is noticeably different in appearance from normal “large hole” variety. For those interested in such things, happy hunting!

As a footnote, the change over from wet to dry printing on the flat bed presses reduced the complexity of stamp production even though the same presses and, in some cases, the same plates were used. The dry printings were on pregummed paper resulting in practically no shrinkage, the size of the stamp designs are measurably different even for stamps produced from the same plates.

As a second footnote, another variety lacking sufficient recognition are flat plate stamps produced on booklet pane paper. Some of the flat plate 1922 regular issue, the 5 cent airmail and the 15 cent special delivery stamps were printed on paper left over after the conversion of booklet pane production from flat plate to rotary press. These stamps can be distinguished by their size. In due course, Scott will probably recognize the variety and some may be quite uncommon. Even more uncommon, quite rare in fact, is single from the one and two cent perf 11 498f and 499f AEF booklet pane of 30. Interior copies perforated on all four sides can be distinguished from the normal 498e and 499e which always have a straight edge. I was recently shown a used single which I believe originated as an interior stamp in a 499f booklet pane.

Finally, the height of a vertical rotary coil is slightly greater than the corresponding sheet stamp. Scott had a note for many years incorrectly calling the perf 11 596 1 cent rotary "coil" waste instead of "sheet" waste (or possibly experimental). Sometimes the Scott catalogue may interfere with collecting rather than helping it.
 

July 10, 2003 Dave P

Without sounding paranoid, have you given any thought to including a disclamer at the top of the board, to the effect that comments opinions etc are the poster's not yours? Basically you cannot control who posts here, and one wrong accusation of fraud might rebound. But then again as I said, I may be paranoid.

July 10, 2003 9:21 Dave ("philatarium")

vacation tip
If you need to find this board while at an "away" computer, you can now type "stampchat" into Google and it will give you this site. (We're now "Googleable"!)

July 10, 2003 Dave P

If your Mauritious goes for three figures let me know, I have one just like it, in fact mine is on glossy paper so should be worth more :)

July 10, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark http://www.iomoon.com
 

Dave

I've been thinking about putting this puppy on eBay. This would be the description.

Very early Mauritian stamp.
Catalogued #2 in Scott, possibly same in GB.
For such an old stamp, amazingly fresh looking.
In fact, it looks like it was printed yesterday.
Even has initials JB on bust.
Catalogued at $1.1 million 10 years ago.
This has NO RESERVE.
Opening bid $1.00. Yes, $1.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!
sold "as is".

July 10, 2003 Dave P

Ooops, I do know how to spell truly!

July 10, 2003 Dave P

1d Black
Jim WS

I was pleased to get £10 for a slightly better copy than that the other week. I like the fact that he proudly states that there is no reserve though!

I have been contemplating putting up for sale a truely dreadful 1d black, no margins at all, even the check letters are gone - thought it might go for 50 pence to one of those people who use old stamps to cover things.

July 10, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark http://www.iomoon.com
 

Good grief!!!

Optimistic is an understatement.

July 10, 2003 Duncan Doenitz

Santa varieties

Jim G that's very helpful information you've posted about the Santa varieties!

How did you learn about the existence of these ,and where did you find the stamps?

Its interesting to see which US varieties get catalogued and which ones get ignored. The precedent seems to have been set by stamps like #2529 and #2529C (the 19c Fishing Boat) and the Tulips issues from that same time period, where each printing gives us noticeable differences, and yet it seems we've had a couple more recent issues where complete date changes are virtually ignored.

Of course when we go further back in the hobby we see the quest for every little plate variety... now we have a comparable modern position variety with the Suotheastern Lighthouses issue, where one of the Cape Lookout lighthouse stamps has the "37/USA" obviously shifted down and to the right, different than the other three Cape Lookout stamps on each pane.

Incidentally, the wet plate / dry plate varieties have always bugged me. Its OK when the differences are obvious, but it sure seems like many stamps are in a gray area where they are not identifiable. Now I see on the front page of a recent Linns a new discovery, a 3c Liberty coil from 1954 that looks like a dry printing but has been identified as a new wet plate variety, revealed by traces of a plate number. Aaaargh!

Thanks again Jim for putting your albums online, its quite interesting to see your approach to collecting and displaying the varieties.

Duncan

July 10, 2003 nomad55

Brian....the 1980's postal forgeries were used out of the Los Angeles area, primarily to mail x-rated books and mags. It was the current flag definitive of that period - the perfs were wrong, as was the stamp size (larger white borders between the design and perfs). Considering the contents and intended recipients, I doubt many exist today.

July 10, 2003 Victor Horadam <horadam1@airmail.net>

All, from sunny Dallas.

July 10, 2003 Paolo Bagaglia

NOIP -- Here are those four forgeries I mentioned. Note the similarity in the printing (local over-inking, printing flaws) along with some other characteristics in the first two copies.
All are lithographed (viewing obliquely with light there's not the faintest trace of foulage visible on reverse and the ink is not more dense towards the edges of the various printed parts).
The first two on first row (one of which is unused with gum) have portions of large crown whilst the other two (on second row) have portions of horiz. lines watermark. Below in the page there's the verso of the four stamps.


Best to All, Paolo (gotta run)

July 10, 2003 Richard Frajola

Brian Postal forgeries are a different kettle of fish completely. There is an excellent book "Spurious Stamps" by H.K. Petschel (softbound) that deals with the many United States postal forgeries. Highly recommended reading. I have sold many postal forgery covers over the years - frequently over $1,000 each.

July 10, 2003 Brian R (briguy)

forgeries
As I've often mentioned, I have no desire to collect forgeries, only garner the knowlege to avoid them. However, this isn't true when considering the forgeries that were designed to defraud the postal service, not me. I remember that there was a major US forgery ring broken up by the postal inspectors sometime in the 1980's. I think their stamp of choice was one of the flag definatives. Does anyone remember the specifics of this group? What is the official government position on owning a reference copy of one of the fakes? Would it make a diference if it was one that was actually used (canceled)?

July 10, 2003 Richard Frajola

Paolo My last on the Tuscany stamp. I agree that it is important to know how the forgers worked. The one that removed genuine designs (Sperati) did it to preserve genuine cancels. Almost all of the Tuscany forgeries on extra sheet paper have single line watermarks and not the crown portion. Also, IF a forger had an extra sheet of watermarked paper, he isn't going to waste it on the cheapest value of the set. He is going to do the 60cr every time.

July 10, 2003 Paolo Bagaglia

I do not care much of the name forgers. Though I am interested to know how they worked.
Besides, (apart from the paper discrepancies, albeit showing reasonable watermark) from the picture that looks like a lithographed NOT a typographed stamp.

Anyhow, several weeks ago on this board I cited an article from "La pagina del perito" (the page of the expert, edited by L. Raybaudi) in which there are documented several forging techniques, modern and less modern.
In the book of Emilio Diena "The postage stamps of the kgd. of Naples" (edition of the 1932, pp. 264-266) it is documented a "washing design off of a low stamp and replacing with his own design keeping genuine cancellation...and the genuine w/m paper" technique, in order to transform a genuine 1858 ½ grano into a faked 1861 ½ tornese Trinacria or Savoy Cross, fraudolently LINE ENGRAVED (recess printed -- note, NOT surface printed as most forgeries) in Florence in the late years '20's.
Paolo

July 10, 2003 Paolo Bagaglia

Richard F.
The paper looks wrong in translucency (different grane and it appears to be too thick -- guess that it gauges above 0.10 mm, from how it looks like). I have got an unused with gum 1 crazia just like that (extremely similar fuzzy print) with a counterfeited signature of Enzo Diena and a known expertizing mark. I got it as a gift. It is certainly a forgery this one too, though.
I bought one copy of the same forgery with a fake -- rather well imitated as for ink and shape -- CDS of "S. Miniato" (double circle date stamp -- will leave alone the date to avoid forger or who for him/her makes corrections) from a French seller (lebaronrouge -- or something) years ago. Of course advertized as genuine, and it tricked me from the scan and even at first glance in the flesh. But I got away with the modic amount of $9.99 or so. I also have a boxed 'PD' and a wrong CDS 'Empoli' (original postmark used with fake date slug) on the same type of forgery.
Amongst the thousands of Tuscany stamps I recently examined, I only found 1 copy of this type of forgery.
There is an interesting article (of Mario Diena) containing a debate and clarifications (regarding the writings of Moens, Kohl, E.D. Bacon and Locard) on the possible usage of original paper to print stamps of Tuscany.
Paolo
 

July 10, 2003 06:04 AM Jim Lawler <jlawler@comteck.com>

Jim L.
 

July 10, 2003 05:39 Jim Watson

Fourniers vs. Speratis
Richard,
Better to keep one's mouth closed and be thought a fool than to open it and prove the case! Ho, ho, ho. Thanks for the correction. I knew it was one of those old dudes.

Jim W-S,
I did have a choice of a Japanese 1921 ppc to Argentina, a 1915 Tel Aviv to Italy, and an 1857 Belgian folded letter. I took the easy one today.

July 10, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark http://www.iomoon.com
 

Jimbo
Kungsholm link works.

I thought todays cover would be more tricky, like a khyak from the Seeward Peninsula to Petropavlosk, transferred to Russian trawler for trip to Vladivostok, transferred to seaplane for Oahu, then delivered to Roger on the Big Island by Kau kahi wa'a.

July 10, 2003 Richard Frajola

Jimbo Fournier never used the technique of washing design off of a low stamp and replacing with his own design. He was pretty low tech. That was Sperati who did that (and only Sperati to my knowledge). Sperati did it primarily with used stamps and retained the genuine cancel. That Tuscany 2cr is not a Sperati job.

July 10, 2003 Paolo Bagaglia

PS: on this page can be seen a good forgery of the 1q. black (on seemingly good paper type, not so thick as in the previosly linked auction) on second row, 3rd stamp from left, besides a good range of shades (one or two are scarcer) and some very scarce cancellations on 2nd - 3rd choice Tuscany postage stamps.
Paolo

July 10, 2003 Paolo Bagaglia

Jimbo thanks for the detail about Fournier's technique.

Bewteen brackets, the paper looks wrong in translucency (different grane and it appears to be too thick -- guess that that is gauges above 0.10 mm, from how it looks like). I have got an unused with gum 1 crazia just like that (extremely similar fuzzy print) with a counterfeited signature of Enzo Diena and a known expertizing mark. I got it as a gift. It is certainly a forgery this one too, though.
I bought one copy of the same forgery with a fake -- rather well imitated as for ink and shape -- CDS of "S. Miniato" (double circle date stamp -- will leave alone the date to avoid forger or who for him/her makes corrections) from a French seller (lebaronrouge -- or something) years ago. Of course advertized as genuine, and it tricked me from the scan and even at first glance in the flesh. But I got away with the modic amount of $9.99 or so. I also have a boxed 'PD' and a wrong CDS 'Empoli' (original postmark used with fake date slug) on the same type of forgery.
Amongst the thousands of Tuscany stamps I recently examined, I only found 1 copy of this type of forgery.
There is an interesting article (of Mario Diena) containing a debate and clarifications (regarding the writings of Moens, Kohl, E.D. Bacon and Locard) on the possible usage of original paper to print stamps of Tuscany.

sveiki! -- Paul, I hope you will have a great vacation! Many thanks in advance for the postcard.

Paolo

 

July 10, 2003 sveiki!

Bookmark tip
BTW... when going on vacation or just travels in general... it's possible to save the "bookmarks" folder from your PC to a floppy disk or CD-Rom and take it with you on travels. That way you wont forget the URL to for instance this fine chat board. Most internet cafés has a floppy drive (well, most PC's have). {:o)

Take care!

July 10, 2003 sveiki!

Vacation time
A&S Leaving for vacation today. {:o) Going to send some postcards to my good friends from this and previous stamp chat boards. Paolo, Knud-Erik, I've got your adresses written down on a piece of paper this time. {;o) Will mail you a postcard.
If anyone else is interested in receiving a postcard from an exotic European destination - do not hesitate to mail me your address by clicking here. {:o)
If I get the chance I'm going to upload some photos for you to see.

July 10, 2003 03:24 Jim Watson

Paolo's Watermark
Paolo,
It could be a genuine watermark as, I believe, Fourier's technique involved removing the design from real stamps to provide proper paper. I don't really know however.

July 10, 2003 03:20 Jim Watson

Good Morning, Everyone!
Today's dated postal history item is a souvenir postcard from Sweden to the United States in 1936. It was posted aboard a ship during a cruise above the Arctic Circle.

Question for all: Does the M.S.Kungsholm link work for you? It's a direct link from Geocities and may not. I'll repair it if it doesn't.

Thanks all for correcting my misdating on the 1910 item.

I've updated the Japan to France cover with a footnote concerning the passage across Siberia.

Dave F.,
It's not the scarce inverted Gangez; it's the dyslectic Ganges! Thanks for catching it! ;-)

July 10, 2003 sveiki!

Philatelic trivia question
Brian R, David Benson It's a postal money transfer. {:o) 35 roubles were transfered from Jelgava to Bauska, Latvia, the 12 kopeks postage stamp was used to pay the transfer fee. A really good way of getting them odd face values Soviet postage stamps postally used as single stamp.

July 10, 2003 Paolo Bagaglia

Original way of tellin' watermarks with digital camera
Look here; that's what you get using a digital camera with light contrast.

The postage stamp is a forgery, though.
Question: Is it a Fournier?
Paolo

July 09, 2003 21:13 Dave ("philatarium")

first J cover today
Jim: This is definitely picking a nit, but in the write-up for that cover, the French phrase is spelled "gagnez", r/t "gangez". Since we've put that whole document under the microscope, might as well catch the typo, too. Or is that the rare "gangez" invert? : )

July 09, 2003 9:09 Dave ("philatarium")

another Japanese cover?
Paul & David: It is also substantiated by the original cancel, in Japanese, over the stamps themselves. Date there is "43.2.4", if I can make it out correctly. "43" stands for Meiji 43, which was 1910. So it looks like the card started out somewhere, maybe Kyoto (can't read the city on the cancel, but the postcard's from there) on February 4th, mailed between 4:00 - 5:00 pm. (That's the info in the lower part of the outer circle.) Then on to Tsuruga (which is on the Sea of Japan).

As for Japanese dates, it seems generally true (although I've seen exceptions), that when the cancel is in Japanese characters, then the date is usually: "yy-mm-dd", and the year is the year of the Imperial Reign (so Meiji 43 was the 43rd year of the Meiji Emperor).

(Each emperor has his own "reign name". The current emperor is the Heisei emperor, and the 2003 is expressed as Heisei 15. I don't think you see this on mail, but you will see it used in business, personal correspondence, etc. Anything perceived as being for foreign consumption uses the Western year designation.)

Back to the old stuff:

When the cancel is in Roman characters (like the "Tsuruga" one), then the date is, I think, always, in the European style of dd-mm-yy, using the Western year instead.

(I'm way late for dinner ...)

July 09, 2003 David Benson

Paul, definitely 1910, the arrival cancel proves it.

Lunch break,

David Benson

July 09, 2003 8.32pm PT Paul Barsdell <paul.b@webone.com.au>

Paul

July 09, 2003 David Benson

According to this,

http://cyberguide.topcities.com/discover/history/history.htm

The building of an airport at Vladivostok was started in 1932.

David Benson
 

July 09, 2003 8.08pm PT Paul Barsdell <paul.b@webone.com.au>

Paul

July 09, 2003 20:06 Jim Watson

Airmail Japan to France
The cover I posted this morning started a surprising amount of discussion. Good!

I've been looking around off and on but haven't found anything conclusive but here is another theory: the airmail was Russian!

I found the following quote on this page:
"Use of the TSR for this accelerated mail routing became less of a factor with the introduction of air mail service through Siberia in 1929. "Via Siberia" directed international mail routing can be seen into the summer of 1940. However, WWII events would suspend this mail route once again."

I also found lot 2433 on this page which includes a cover described as, ". . . 1934 flown cover to Tokyo bearing 6d (2) via Berlin & Irkutsk with sundry Russian markings & Postal Clerk's m/s "To Moscow" . . ."

Here's a cover from Tsuruga, Japan, mailed on February 5, 1932, which made it to London on February 21 Via Siberia. Bad weather?
 

July 09, 2003 David Benson

Sveiki, is it a parcel receipt card that accompanied the item. They printed 1,000,000 of them, seems a lot.

David Benson

July 09, 2003 Brian R

my guess
seviki My vote (purely a guess) is some kind of soviet import/export tag for customs. The only thing I'm sure about is its in Russian.

July 09, 2003 sveiki!

Philatelic trivia question
What is this? {:o)
Shown are both sides of whatever it may be...

July 09, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

Dave and David

I should have thought along those lines.
Its gotten so that the last thing I look at on a cover are the stamps!!

July 09, 2003 18:27 Dave ('philatarium')

today's Japan cover
I'm afraid I know next to nothing about early routes and the like. However, I was already trying to get a feeling for the rates at that time, and was pleased that this was David Benson's line of reasoning as well.

The Japan Specialized catalog publishes comprehensive historic rate tables (in Japanese, bien sur!), and it looks like that the first international airmail rates begin with 1947, while there are separate domestic airmail rate tables for 1929 - 1946, consistent with the issuance of the first real (not overprinted) airmail stamps issued in 1929.

Bottom line, that letter cost a pretty good chunk of change to send: stamps on the letter total 1 yen, 56 sen (1 yen = 100 sen, so 1.56 yen). Given that those 1929 airmail stamps ranged from 8.5 to 33 sen, that letter cost about 5 times the most expensive airmail stamp available.

It also looks like the domestic airmail rate at that time was 10 sen for 10 grams, and the international surface rate was 10 sen for for 20 grams, so compared to other options, it was pricey!

I'm assuming that the reason that there is not a rate table for pre-1947 international airmail is that it was handled privately, like the Lufthansa service that Jim W-S has written about. So, basically, I think our sender was doing the mid-30's equivalent of FedEx!

One additional argument that it started out as airmail, rather than going by boat or train, is that the airmail sticker on the cover has Japanese writing on it, so I think it's safe to say that sticker was applied in Japan. (This is beyond the points made about the red seal at the upper right.)

Once I feel like I can spend more time and $ on stamps again, it might be interesting to try to learn more, and collect, these private international airmail runs. (I'm sure some wealthy collector has already done so, and no doubt it's already been published in Japanese. {sigh...})

Paolo: Thanks for your note and reply!

July 09, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

Paul

It would be a close thing but possible.
Vladivostok to Moscow is approximately 6 days (today).
Add in Yokohama to Vlad. and Moscow to Berlin makes it tighter.
However, with the Japanese airmail notation, I would lean towards "via Siberia" meaning take the northern route instead of "via India"

July 09, 2003 Jim Lawler <jlawler@comteck.com>

Jim L.

July 09, 2003 David Benson

Paul, the easiest test would be the rate. It seems fairly high but I have no idea what the various rates would have been.

David Benson

July 09, 2003 5.34pm PT Paul Barsdell <paul.b@webone.com.au>

Paul

July 09, 2003 Prometheus

USA to China 1907
Wish the Marks were readable on this post card PC1907

July 09, 2003 David Benson

Jim, if it was meant for a direct flight it would not have been marked " Via Siberia ", which the PO would have recognised to send to Yokohama to catch the next ferry.

David Benson

July 09, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

More:

"One of Lufthansa's most well publicized achievements was a service to remote China. In February 1930, Lufthansa and the Chinese Transport Ministry signed a ten-year agreement for the operation of an airline called Eurasia, which would be operated by Lufthansa. Establishing service to China proved to be a big challenge for the Germans. There were no aerial maps of China, no radio stations, no repair shops, and no airports, only rudimentary landing strips. Although there were problems with the route—such as pilots getting lost because of navigational errors or pilots getting stranded for weeks without spare parts—the service proved to be commercially lucrative. By 1939, the Europe-China service extended over nearly 5,000 miles; Junkers aircraft had carried 52,000 passengers and over 2,000 tons of cargo. When the new Nazi government allied itself with the Japanese imperial government, the Chinese cut ties with Germany in 1941. It would be nearly 40 years before a German plane, a Lufthansa, would land again in a Chinese city."

 

July 09, 2003 David Benson

Jims, by ferry from Japan to Vladivostok or later to Nakhodka. There was a regular ferry service, I think twice a week from Japan. The port at Nakhodka is right next to the station and it is only a short walk to board the train, about 2 or 3 minutes from memory and the train leaves for the overnight trip to Khaborovsk. There is nothing at Nakhodka but it is almost ice free in winter.

David Benson

July 09, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

Aha!!
Just found an alternative.
Mail did not go by train at all.
But rather entire trip in the air.

Lufthansa acquired its name from the former Deutshe Luft Hansa in 1934.

"Lufthansa developed a partner airline in China called Eurasia. Now, airmail could be flown from Berlin, across northern Asia through Siberia and the Gobi Desert, and on to Shanghai in China or Tokyo. German pilots also developed a southern airmail route for Eurasia, across the Middle East, northern India, and Thailand. Many Chinese airfields were bumpy and unpaved, so Eurasia flew planes with balloon tires to absorb the shock, such as the Junkers W-33."

This would also explain Berlin Zentralflughafen as the first European cancel.

 

July 09, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark http://www.iomoon.com
 

So David, how did the mail get from Japan to the TSRR?
Airmail markings suggest airmail rather than boat.
Harbin to Chita?

July 09, 2003 13:31 Jim Watson

David B.,
Finally found Chabarovsk and Nachodka in my atlas (Khaborovsk and Nakhodka). Thanks for that information on the TSRR.

My question still is whether Japan had regular airmail service to the mainland of Asia in 1934. I haven't found anything to confirm it.

Vladivostok would seem to have been a likely location from the standpoint of nearby geography but Jim W-S suggests that there was no airport there. If there was no airport in Vladivostok, I would not expect to find one capable of supporting regular airmail service on the Korean peninsula.

It would have been too early for air service to Manchukuo (Harbin, etc.) - they didn't even issue airmail stamps until 1936. Finally, China and Japan did not get along.

Conclusion, not likely to be regular airmail service from Japan to the mainland of Asia in 1934. So I doubt whether the cover saw airmail service before it got to either Moscow or to Berlin.

But, I'll await better data.

July 09, 2003 13:43 Dave ("philatarium")

Jim W.: Boy, do I feel stupid. I'm sorry that I had not completely read through your description, which included the correct French translation. Many apologies.

July 09, 2003 David Benson

Jimbo, the branch line from Nakhodka to Khaborovsk wasn't open until 1936 and all mail was shipped to Vladivostok and to Moscow by train. After it arrived in Moscow it was transhipped either by rail or by airmail if required and extra fees paid. I presume they were sorted onroute. After 1936 mail was sent to Nakhodka to bypass Vladivostok.

David Benson

July 09, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark http://www.iomoon.com
 

David P

I was just being overly cautious in my estimate.
I believe FAA rules require 25 seconds (or something close) between departures. Newark was probably not far off.

Jimbo

I'm going to have to read history of of Trans-Sib when I get the time.
I don't think Vladivostok had an airport in 1934.
Alternatives would have been the trans-Manchurian railroad or the trans-mongolian railroad, both of which eventually routing trains through Siberia. Trans-Manchurian through Beijing or Harbin seems most likely.

With the exception of Nixon, Vladivostok was closed to foreigners from about 1934 to 1990.

July 09, 2003 David P

Jim W-S Only one plane a minute? Was at my mothers last weekend, Isleworth just down the road from Heathrow. Planes come over about one every 40 seconds, and well over half are jumbos, I will leave you to do the maths :)
To give the locals a break they change runways every two hours.

July 09, 2003 Jim Griffith <griffith@dweeb.org> http://album.dweeb.org
 

Jim

July 09, 2003 David D'

Hi Jim,
looks like you make out part of the "o" also. I was going to stop in the post office to request a hand cancel - but I had trouble finding the post office and was running late for the boat back to Lipari.

July 09, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark http://www.iomoon.com
 

David D

Here is the cancel from Vulcano. Unfortunately it only got the "Vu".
However, the post code is interesting in that 98050 also includes "Caldera", Panarea, and Stromboli.

July 09, 2003 12:00 Jim Watson

Dave F.,
Thanks for the confirmation on the Airmail mark. Good to know I got the French slogan right.

July 09, 2003 11:51 Dave ("philatarium")

today's cover again
I'm sure this is widely known, but, for what it's worth, the Paris slogan cancel on the reverse reads as, "Save time -- Reply by airmail". (So a little postal advertising campaign, even in 1934!)

July 09, 2003 11:47 Dave ("philatarium")

today's cover
Just a very quick drive-by post:

As Jim W-S indicated, the red two-character stamp just to the right of the German cancel, and left of the Japanese stamps, means "airmail", and, in case you're interested, reads as "kuukoo".

Unfortunately, I can't read imprinted return address at the upper left due to image compression, nor the cancel on the Japanese stamps.

I can read just a little bit of the Japanese handwriting towards the middle lower left of the front. Going from left to right, I cannot read the leftmost column clearly. The 4 topmost characters in the second column read "Furansu", or "France", and the 4 topmost characters in the 3rd column read "Shiberia", or "Siberia". So no new information there.

Sorry I can't be more helpful on this, but, as always, I enjoyed looking at it.

July 09, 2003 11:25 Jim Watson

Jim W-S,
That's an interesting thought. It would probably have had to gone through Vladivostok, the eastern terminus of the TSRR. Was there airmail service at this time to the mainland? I doubt if there was any service to other stops on the Chinese portion of the TSRR Peking branch. The Japanese and Chinese weren't the best of friends at the time. For instance, in March, 1932, Japan had take over the Post Office in the puppet state Manchukuo.

July 09, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark http://www.iomoon.com
 

I found a great use for stamp tongs was picking slugs off my flowers.
Then I tried old remedy of saucer of beer.
Had to replace stamp tongs with grill charcoal tongs!!

July 09, 2003 Richard Vanger

Paypal
Thank you Bjorn M. for a good sugestion. If the others fail I will give it a try.
By the way Bjorn, Thre was Richard lll but I do not recal a Richard V....

July 09, 2003 10:15AM Bill Weiss

My Stupidity
I can't believe I said that the 1cent stamp shown a few days ago was cut from a booklet pane! Suddenly a light went off in my head that told me I was totally wrong, so I feel foolish. Of course it is a coil single likely cut on the left by an affixing machine, just as Jim(?) said. I am suprised that no-one scolded me about the booklet pane opinion as the only way that would have been possible is if the darn tab was at the bottom! Duh!

July 09, 2003 10:08 Bjorn Munch (bjornmu)

PayPal, Richard V
Another suggestion: maybe you know someone in Isreal who is active buying things with PayPal, you can simply arrange to make a payment to his/her PayPal account and receive money in return. Of course, this will cost the PayPal fees but you might be able to negotiate a better exchange rate based on what your friend will *save* by being able to pay USD directly from his/her PayPal account instead of a credit card.
 

July 09, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

I never was any good at math.

Cover had to fly to mainland before boarding Trans-Siberian railroad.

July 09, 2003 09:53 Jim Watson

Maybe 12,000 in two hours? Still a lot. Load will probably average 150, too.

July 09, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark http://www.iomoon.com
 

Jimbo

Last Sunday I was on the porch of my b-i-l's house on Staten Island watching planes take off from Newark Intl. From 6:30 to 8:30 am, it averaged one per minute (at a guess). Given an average payload of say 100 people, that's 120,000 people in 2 hours!!

July 09, 2003 09:16 Jim Watson

Paul, Mauro, and Jim W-S,
Thanks for correcting my early morning stupidity on the Via Siberia. Clearly it went via the Trans-Siberian to at least Moscow. I don't know when it became airmail. It may not have been airmail until Berlin. Jim's note about Tempelhof is interesting. In light of today's air terminal traffic it seems to be tiny. The past 100 years have seen a lot of change. We've gone from horse and buggy to space flight; 'fast' mail to e-mail; and work to leisure. The mind boggles!

July 09, 2003 Richard Vanger <wengier@bigfoot.com>

Paypal
David Benson
Dave P.
Mauro sveiki...
Thanks for your interes, I think the bank account idea is the simplest, although I do have a English address. I will let you know how it comes out in the end. In the mean time you have given an old great grandfather some hope of being able reap the benefits of his labour.
Richard

July 09, 2003 Paolo Bagaglia

Dreamer of the week
Jim W-S Thanks for making me notice the withdrawal! Horrido!

Prometheus No problem.
That Old Guy who bought the Dutch lot, picked out the Dutch cover and "rushed away" doesn't sound very sympathetic to me. I don't like solely business people in my hobby.
Among else there can be distinguished at least two large classes of philatelists: the stamp vampires (which can be detectble by their bad, grouncy manners, mostly short, self ceneterd memory and sharply selective, oneway understanding -- financial perspective is the only reason for any interest in collecting for these and they won't teach you anything useful) and the stamp guys/gals (who can fall victim of the first, then can be called stamp suckers, but fortunately have long memory and can learn to recognize the others; sometimes they take the chance of venturing in the others' shoes...) lol

Paolo (later I will also define some other sets, the one of stamp gods and goddesses included ;-)

 

July 09, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark http://www.iomoon.com
 

Jim

An interesting extra piece of information.

"By 1938, Berlin Zentralflughafen Tempelhof at Tempelhof Airport was one of the world's largest buildings. The Tempelhof waiting room was 330 feet by 160 feet (101 meters by 49 meters) in size, and its hangars were a mile (1.6 kilometers) long under a single cantilevered roof that served as a rain shield. As many as 300 planes could be boarded at once. Tempelhof could handle 300,000 passengers per year, and its roof could hold 100,000 visitors to watch airplanes arriving and departing. Many early airports, including some in the United States, copied Tempelhof's practice of charging admission fees to profit from the public's fascination with flight."

 

July 09, 2003 Victor Horadam <horadam1@airmail.net>

All, from sunny Dallas.

July 09, 2003 Mauro Mowszowicz

Today Cover
Jim W: It is a Siberian transit, Liberia doesnt make sense at all as Paul B. said
Regards

Mauro

July 09, 2003 6.34am PT Paul Barsdell <paul.b@webone.com.au>

Paul

July 09, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark http://www.iomoon.com
 

BTW, This is a fantastic web site when you get the hang of it.
Babelfish could take some lessons from it.

July 09, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark http://www.iomoon.com
 

Jim
Thats the Chinese not Japanese version, Dave can probably correct translation.

July 09, 2003 05:58 Jim Watson

Jim W-S.
Thanks. I've updated it.

July 09, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark http://www.iomoon.com
 

Jim

Your vertical box with chinese characters = hangkong = airmail.

July 09, 2003 sveiki!

US bank account for non-citizens/residents
Most major US banks offer to register bank accounts for non-citizens/residents. It can be done on-line by downloading the appropriate forms (pdf file format). When registering with a US bank directly, the one time fee that some on-line service providers of bank accounts for non-citizens/residents can be avoided. {:o)

July 09, 2003 05:15 Jim Watson

Good Morning, Everyone!
Today's dated postal history item is a forwarded airmail cover from Japan to France in 1934.

July 09, 2003 sveiki!

Good Morning/Day/Afternoon/Evening!
{:o)

July 09, 2003 Jim Lawler

Jim L.

July 09, 2003 Mauro Mowszowicz

US Bank account for non residents
Richard Vanger: You can open a US bank account for non residents with the Israel Discount bank, NY Branch (www.idbny.com) i have done it and works marvelously, you can even check your account status online.
Regards

Mauro

July 09, 2003 Dave P

Richard, any payments you make from your bank account in Israel will be monitored by the authorities. By allowing Paypal to transfer money to a bank account the authorities would lose the power to monitor, and I imagine they have simply given a blanket refusal to Paypal to allow this. Although your transactions are open and above board Paypal simply don't have the authority to make exceptions. You are the innocent bystander caught in the war against illegal fund transfers - and remember Israel are particularly wary of this due to possible terrorist connections. Changing you residence on Ebay & Paypal will work, but they will require "proof" of residence.

July 09, 2003 David Benson

Richard, sorry, try,

and make that change your place of residence on Ebay and Paypal.

http://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=p/gen/approved_countries-outside

David Benson

July 09, 2003 David Benson

Richard, if you have a look at

Paypal country list

you will see that Israel is on the lowest rung of countries that can have Paypal accounts. There are no facilities to withdraw to any account.

I suggest that you change you place of residence on Ebay to GB and most probably that will suffice.

David Benson

July 09, 2003 Richard Vanger <wengier@bigfoot.com>

PayPals
David Benson....... I live in Israel and I have a dollar accout at my bank. I can freely send and receive any major currencies, $ Euro Pound,
wirh no restrictions. Paypal and eBay draw if needed from my credit card.
So what is the problem? I am allowed to have a US account but I have to be there to open it.

Dave P....I can understand it if they did not know the source of where this money came from, but this is not the case here.

July 09, 2003 Dave P

Paypal
Richard V

I realise it is annoying for you, but it is your country of residence that matters to Paypal, your nationality and banking arrangements are irrelevent. Paypal simply cannot afford to upset the world's monetary authorities, they have to abide with the local guidelines, and these are set up in each country to combat fraud, limit "black" money movement, and (whisper it) to support the local banking system. As David B said, Paypal would love freedom to operate as they wish worldwide, but they have to live in the real world.

July 09, 2003 David Benson

Richard, it is not a theeory, it is fact.

Theybgo by your countyr of registration. If it says one of the countries that is not on their list, that's it.

If you have a look at Paypal, it will say which type of account is available for different countries. Let me know where you are from and I will check what it says.

If you change your residence to England, it most probably will be OK.

David Benson

 

July 09, 2003 2330 Clark (reperf)

Washington Franklin Visual Identification
Mauro, Jim, BIll

The imperf stamp looks most like a 384 Two Cent Washington with a single line watermark but it could be a 344, the double line watermarked version.

The second stamp reads to my eye as a 443 flat plate perf 10 coil. The clipped perforations are quite common, possibly indicating affixing machine usage. It should have a horizontal single line watermark (the letter will be oriented with the stamp design. If the stamp were a watermarked rotary coil, the watermark would be vertical (sideways to the design).

The stamp does not look to me like a a booklet pane single. Because of the different plate layout and special paper, booklet pane stamp watermarks are vertical and the stamp design will be very slightly wider and usually but not always slightly shorter than the sheet stamp. A horizontal rotary coil stamp will be quite a bit wider than the sheet or booklet pane stamp and will be as tall as the sheet stamp. Using the Kiusalas gauge, the flat plate coil is perf 10-79 whereas the rotary coil would be perf 11-80.

For comparison, here is a 444 2 cent flat plate coil with a heavily recut toga line. I didn't find it listed in the Loran French Plate Variety book.

July 09, 2003 Richard Ballhagen (spain_1850)

Can anyone tell what THIS SELLER is trying to sell? No picture, no description.....no brains?!?

July 08, 2003 Richard Ballhagen (spain_1850)

Not stamp related, but relates to ongoing topics here
Just thought I'd show you guys that the same shenanigans go on in other avenues of collectibles as stamps.

Here we have a bidder buying a known, and quite correctly identified, reprint, for a small price.
HERE we see the afore mentioned bidder now selling the same item misrepresenting it as genuine, and making a hefty profit on it, and he doesn't even have the brains to use seperate buying and selling id's. Does this type of activity look familiar?

July 08, 2003 Richard Vanger

PayPal
David Benson.. I wpuld go along with your theory but I have an account in England, as I have a British passport, and because I do not live there all the time they refuse to transfer my funds there.

July 08, 2003 08:43 PM Jim Lawler <jlawler@comteck.com>

29¢ Toledo Brown
Greetings,

At the Kokomo (Indiana) Stamp club meeting tonight I picked up some 29¢ Toledo Browns on cover. They are from mailings to the Credit Union which lead to the discover of plate #1.

Anyone out there willing to express any idea of one of these covers value? There were less than 30 in the original group. I was allowed to get the earliest usage and latest usage from the group.

Thanks for your imput.

I'll check back in the morning.

Jim L.

July 08, 2003 20:28 Bill Claghorn (claghorn1p) http://www.geocities.com/claghorn1p/
 

Cool Perf Gauge
Brian McInturff The Cool Perf Gauge uses Java. You need to copy the Java and the images to your site. Then you need to make a web page with your image. The java is not compiled and the source code is all there on my page source. Your images need to be 300 DPI unscaled as that is what the gauges are.

July 08, 2003 Prometheus

Thanks = Nomad and Paolo
Nomad thanks for the explanation on that post card .
I wondered why it was processed twice .

Paolo = Cant show you a scan of that Nederland It stamp must have been a good item some Old Guy Paid Hundreds for the lot it was in took it out of lot and left the rest of Trade cards for re auction next week. He was not a regular at this auction house and didn't want to discuss the Item with a young, long hair like me.
He said if I knew what I was doing I would have kept bidding.

July 08, 2003 Brian McInturff

all It's past my snooze time here on the East Coast. Later.

July 08, 2003 20:02 Bill Claghorn (claghorn1p) http://www.geocities.com/claghorn1p/
 

The transparent Perf Gauge works in Netscape so I will have to use the same code in the other one.
 

July 08, 2003 Brian McInturff

Perf Gauge
Jim It worked fine for me. On his second link he posted the perf gauge doesn't move, but click on one of the tabs at top any you either get the horizontal scale or a vertical scale.

July 08, 2003 19:53 Jim Watson http://`
 

Cool Perf Gauge
Bill C.,
If your perf guage is supposed to be movable, it doesn't work for me. It may be my browser. Or it may be that the jscript readers are just not working.

July 08, 2003 Brian McInturff

Cool Gauge
Bill, those are pretty cool. Now how can I manipulate it and use it. Would I have to incorporate it into my own little program or can your images be removed and new ones put into their place.

July 08, 2003 Brian McInturff

Watermarks
Now see Jim, you just had to mention watermarks. Those I have a tough time with. It's because of some non correctable eye problems. And the yellows are the worst for detecting the watermarks. Mint OG isn't too bad but used stamps I'd soon just not even bother with because of trying to detect a partial mark or, is that a part of the cancel syndrome.

July 08, 2003 19:35 Jim Watson http://Grids
 

Grids
Bill B.,
I thought that was a 'neat' tool when you first showed it. Now, if we could generalize it (make it in 2½ perf segments over 2 perf differences from 8 to 18 it would be great. I'd like it but I don't know how to calibrate it. And, Yes, I don't see any reason why a 2 or 3mm grid couldn't be made for it. That would be useful for overprints/surcharges and cancels.

Everyone: Sorry about the missing / on the bold.

July 08, 2003 19:31 Bill Claghorn (claghorn1p) http://www.geocities.com/claghorn1p/
 

Another Cool Perf Gauge
Brian McInturff & Ken Srail There is another Cool Perf Gauge HERE On these click on the H or V Button to turnon the gauge. You are welcome to "borrow" the code and images.

July 08, 2003 19:25 Jim Watson

Washington Franklins
Bill W.,
I thought about commercializing the page at one time but I just never got a round tuit!

Brian M.,
I've used that little 'slide rule'. It's pretty good, too. It has built-in black marks for testing flat vs. rotary.

I do have the Schmidt book and it is good but a bit bulky. (Then dragging a computer around is pretty bulky too!) It's really good when you're looking at the 'toughies.' In my experience, the 'toughies' are the yellow/orange stamps with SL USPS watermarks and the coils. The coils are tough mostly because they are so often faked. I must admit, I don't have too much experience with the split perforations: 11 on top and 10 on the bottom! Those don't come along every day. . .
 

July 08, 2003 19:25 Bill Claghorn (claghorn1p) http://www.geocities.com/claghorn1p/
 

Forgery Identification Site

July 08, 2003 19:24 Ken Srail

Washington Franklins
Brian, without going through the book again, I couldn't tell you. However, as an example, many (most?) of the genuine 355's will measure "short" (far less than 25.0 mm.) If you took Schmid's info verbatim, you'd probably never think you had a genuine 355... Looking at the "cut" of the edge is more important than measuring the distance, in my opinion.

July 08, 2003 19:20 Ken Srail

Someone else is undoubtedly more familiar with the literature than me and could provide more helpful comments (as an example, I'm sure Johl also does an adequate job, and would be another reference to consider.)

July 08, 2003 Brian McInturff

Schmid
Ken, Which ones were wrong in his book.

July 08, 2003 Brian McInturff

Schmidt Book
One good thing about the Schmidty book is the oversized pictures which show exactly what to look for. After looking at 100s of W/F you might not have to use the book but it's good to have to pull out when you need to double check. He also list some other variations that I wasn't looking for to determine the difference between on Type and another.

July 08, 2003 Brian McInturff

Washington/Franklins
There was a slide ruler called "The Stamp Collector's Companion" that is sorta broke down like the spreadsheet. The one I have is from 1946. It's a nifty little gadget and would fit in your vest or shirt pocket. Ideal for taking to shows if you're looking for the elusive find. But for home use Ken's advice on Paul Schmidt's book is the best. I got my copy actually from Ken.
I'm not sure if Ken's mentioned it here or not but his recommendation is to spend 10% of what you spend on your collection on reference material. I couldn't agree more. My reference material has increased considerably since then and my knowledge has increased tremendously. I have faith in making my own decisions and feel pretty good giving out advice on stamps at the local stamp club. Get the books and actually sit down and read them, then test what you read with your own stamps. You'll wish you did it years ago.

July 08, 2003 Greg Ioannou <gregioannou@rogers.com>

Washington Franklins
Ken How reliable is the Micarelli guide? I've always found it easier to use for basic identification -- particularly reminders of what to look for -- than the Schmidt book. I turn to Schmidt when I think I've found one of the scarce ones.

July 08, 2003 18:59 Ken Srail

The Schmid book might be helpful if you think you have some high value stamps and are looking for information on detecting fakes. While Schimd is not complete (and in some cases, wrong), it's a pretty good start.

July 08, 2003 Brian McInturff

Re: Grids
Chip, I can't veiw it now but will when I get to work, I've got PowerPoint there. Your description sounds exactly like what I want to be able to do. Thanks.

July 08, 2003 Brian McInturff

Re: Perfs and Grids
Ken, the overlay wouldn't be for checking my own stamps but for the exact reason you stated. For those that I can only see a scan of(internet). Grids also help point out other faults that you might not normally see. tiny scuffs and such. It would also help isolate the perfs for better veiwing. I know this is easy to do with drawing a straight line but a grid can help you detrmine if the perf holes are the same size. I like the idea also of scanning the Specialist Gauge and using it. I will have to experiment with that since that would accomplish that task. Thanks for the tips.

July 08, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark http://www.iomoon.com
 

paolo

I guess the seller finally took your advice!

July 08, 2003 2:00 CET Paolo Bagaglia

Dave (-philatarium-) -- Thank you for your kind e-mail.
All my pleasure!
Gotta crash -- Good night! Paolo
 

July 08, 2003 Bill Weiss

JIM G>; You are absolutely right, and I admit that I have been guilty of this myself in the past, especially when I'm pressed for time - just take the word of the cert. without examining it myself. You are to be admired for trying to learn as much as you can to avoid buying a misdescribed stamp.
JIM W.; That's a great W-F Guide. I don't think I've seen anything like it before. Did you ever try to sell it in any way or offer it to a distributor for resale?

July 08, 2003 16:43 Ken Srail

If you're an APS member, utilize the excellent library and borrow a copy. If you'd like a copy of your own, check with the literature dealers (or for a better price, watch eBay -- they show up there from time to time.)

July 08, 2003 16:32 Jim Watson

WAshington-Franklins
Mauro,
A friend and I put this Franklin Washington Classifier together about 30 years ago. The idea is that there are several external characteristics which are visually distinguishable which isolate the choices pretty quickly - many can be uniquely identified with just the external characteristics. External characteristics are design, denomination, color, perforation, type of paper, printing method and type of press. That leaves watermark and type. The stamps which require watermark and type hardly ever have more than three possibilities - more often only two. From there it's easy.

July 08, 2003 Mauro Mowszowicz

Washington/Franklins
Brian R (briguy): The W-Fs are driving me nuts! have several 1000s to sort out and do not know where to start from! Thankyou very much for the link you provided me, it is really helpful but im afraid once in a while (daily? weekly?) i will be bothering you guys with my W-F newbie questions!

Jim Watson: I really appreciate your prompt reply to my problem, now how long took you to start do understand this series? (do i still have some hope?)

Regards!

Mauro

July 08, 2003 Paolo Bagaglia

No comment,

Paolo

 

July 08, 2003 Jim Griffith <griffith@dweeb.org> http://album.dweeb.org
 

Jim

July 08, 2003 3:35PM Bill Weiss

Various
JIM G.; in my opinion, you had the best tipoff of all that something is likely amiss with that stamp - that it's being offered on ebay without a certificate! As I said before, if the seller truly believes it's such a great stamp it would NOT be on ebay without a cert. so your first instinct was the best one.
Mauro, the 1cent stamp is, in my opinion, cut from a booklet pane, which would make it (if perf 12 single-line watermark) a #405b single and of no value out of the pane. The left stamp has been correctly identified as either 344 (double-line wmk) or 384 (single line).

July 08, 2003 nomad55

Turkish card
Prometheus......the machine cancel applied by the regular Miami post office, and then card forwarded to the airport to catch a plane. In the airport post office, it was noticed that the two lower stamps were not cancelled - no way the machine could have done so, unless passed through twice - so a clerk hand cancelled them. Its a nice combination, airport and AMF cancels are collectible in their own right.

Note the one hour difference in times, 5 PM and 6 PM.

July 08, 2003 Jim Griffith <griffith@dweeb.org> http://album.dweeb.org
 

Jim

July 08, 2003 Jane

Paypal
Richard Vanger - you probably would not want to have any account associated with PP except for your own. Problems can occur with buyers and it would be unfair to involve a friend with this.

Perhaps your friend can sign up for PP and then you can send him money?

I always thought that this is a great business opportunity for someone. There are thousands and thousands of people who cannot access their PP funds throughout the world. Perhaps someday someone will set up a service to address this issue. Jane.


 

July 08, 2003 Paolo Bagaglia

PS: as a totally un-related between brackets, I recently had to resolve to sell some rare cancels (straight line town name on first Issue 1852, three on 5c. scott#1 and one on 10c.) for less than the catalog value for used of the postage stamps on which it were applied, even if these were perfect and F-VF. The market on this stuff appears to be stalling at the moment (it used to be good 10-15 years ago, so one auction director told me -- at that time I didn't give a hoot of the Neths or much else philatelic, alas).
 

July 08, 2003 Brian R (briguy)

Wash/Frank identification
mauro Welcome to the Washington/Frankin series, the US version of the machins. A signifiant number of US collectors have gone insane trying to understand the various perf/watermarks/print types. If your just starting out, I've found this site to be particularly helpful. The Wash/Frank section will walk you through each step in identifying your stamps. You just click down the right path until it tells you what you've got. Good luck!

July 08, 2003 Prometheus

Thanks Bob H =Postcard to turkey
Thanks for the comment I picked it out of a Quarter Box because the Double Cancel looked interesting.

July 08, 2003 Bob Hohertz

Airmail Postcard to Turkey
Interesting in that the airmail postcard rate had just gone into effect, and that card could have been mailed for ten cents. Looks like they were trying to pay the fifteen cent regular airmail rate, and overpaid that by a penny.

July 08, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark http://www.iomoon.com
 

Hehe.

I was wondering why it was taking this board so long to load.

The culprit is the "report" button in Bill C's address.

July 08, 2003 Prometheus

Today's Post card Jul 8 1954
Nice use of Prexie Booklet stamps for post card from Miami to Turkey 8 July 1954 AIRMAIL
I don't Understand How it got Cancelled Twice miami and Miami International Airport was it common for the Airport post Office to Cancel again after the regular /local postoffice had already done so.

July 08, 2003 Prometheus

HELP = Nederland Cancels
Sorry can not show scan don't have item yet.
Looking at an auction lot of Trade/Advertizing Cards noticed one has a nederland 20c Green Perf 10 1/2 x 10 (scott 10c) stamp on the front of a card , it is not a post card ,a card of the Netherland Flag
The stamp has a Double Bar X with writing in between the bars
anyone out there famaliar with this type of precanel? or overprint. ???

July 08, 2003 David Benson

Richard, it has nothing to do with Paypal, it has to do with the banking or taxation regulations in your country. I am sure Paypal would like to be able to have free regulations throughout the world but there are some countries in which it is not possible.

David Benson

July 08, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark http://www.iomoon.com
 

Has eBay chatboard gone down the toilet yet again today or is it just my server?
Not even getting the "scheduled maintenance" message this time.

July 08, 2003 Laurel (laura598)

Back from a trip. Hotter than jalepenos here. Good to see all you gentlemen and ladies. One the trip no one would let me putt around in any shop that might have anything postal. I found that to be cruel and unusual punishment. So I pouted and settled for milk shakes. It is actually nice to get older, makes me more comfortable with my immaturity.

July 08, 2003 Richard Vanger

Paypal
Thank you Jane. Can I use a friends bank account? Or must he be registered with PP. It seems so unfair, they draw money from you but will not transfer to you. Thanks for your input.

July 08, 2003 Chip

Last on Grids
Better yet - just take it if you want it (right click and "save target":
Grid page
Chip

July 08, 2003 Paolo Bagaglia

PS: If I feel like I will send an e-mail to that guy of the previous Roman States Secon Issue auction I linked; a charitable action, my friends, since the guy risks to pay the eBay fee for unsold item on US$4,000 and i don't know of any collector who would pay that money for those reprints....on a second thought maybe someone in the Other World!;-) (How much is the fee, for curiosity?) BBL
 

July 08, 2003 11:48 Jim Watson

Wash-Frank Identification
Mauro,
The Two Cent carmine Washington imperf appears to me to be engraved. If so, and there is a USPS double line watermark, the stamp is Scott 344. If there is a USPS single line watermark, then the stamp is Scott 384. If, on the other hand, the stamp is an offset printing, it is Scott 531. That being said, there is always the risk that the stamp has been
made from a jumbo perforated stamp but that doesn't seem likely to me.

The 1 Cent green Washington coil appears to me to be perf 10 vertical. If watermark is USPS single line, then the flat plate version is Scott 443 and the rotary press version is Scott 452. If there is no watermark and it is rotary press, then it is Scott 490.

The simplest way to tell whether the stamp is rotary or flat plate is to find an unambigous, cheap stamp like the 1¢ green Franklin Scott 331 and use it make a comparison. Glue the stamp down to an index card and cut a quarter inch square out of each corner. Then you can hold the gauge you've made from the stamp up to the stamp in question and compare the width or length. If the width is wider than the 331, then the stamp is rotary press (this is the case with the 452 above). If the stamp is taller than the example, then the stamp is a rotary press.

Good luck!

July 08, 2003 Chip G <cgliedman@usa.net>

Grids (redux)
Send me an email (if you have Powerpoint) and I will send you the quickie example I just put together - it actually does work
Chip

July 08, 2003 Chip G

Grids
Here's one way (but I'm sure not the only way:
Start with Powerpoint (I know Powerpoint really well, so I often use this for layout and image stuff)
- Open a new presentation
- Using the line tool, draw 1 vertical line (hold the shift key as you draw the line to make sure it is vertical)
- Copy and paste that (or hold the "Ctrl" key and click and drag on the line) 10 times.
- Move one of those lines about 2 inches to the right
- Select all of the lines and go to the "align and distribute" tool
- Align the bottoms of all of them, then space them horizontaly
- Group the lines.
- Copy the group
- rotate the copy
- Align the middles of the two groups
- Group the new grid.
You now have a grid that you can size, move, etc.
When you have an image, you can open the presentation with the grid tool, insert the image from a file, and bring the grid to the front.
By sizing height and width, you should be able to compare lines, perf, edges, etc.

Also, you can rotate an image in powerpoint to make it line up with that grid, if the scan was a bit off.

Hope that helps.
Chip

July 08, 2003 11:14 Jim Watson

Grids and Straight Lines
Brian M.,
Here's a simple way to attack the problem of getting a straight line on a stamp. Use a program like Irfanview and use its crop function. This will put a box with square corners on the stamp. You may have to orient the stamp with PhotoDeluxe or something like that so that the sides are straight but that would be required however you looked at the stamp.

The latest version of Irfanview makes this easy and the location of the line can be adjusted by dragging it with the double arrow. Irfanview is a free download here.
 

July 08, 2003 Paolo Bagaglia

Dreamer of the week
Dreamer of the month (all are reprints IMO).
Read the description and suprise yourself with the case of somebody who was told: "you can keep it or throw it in the garbage" and then that somebody proposes this recollection amongst the reasons for a US$ 4,000.00 start (but you can BIN it for 6,000! -- ONLY 96% of catalogue value!!!). ROTFLMAO!
Paolo

July 08, 2003 Jane

PayPal
Richard Vanger, I also live in a country where Paypal does not allow me to transfer funds to a local bank account. My problem will soon be solved as I am going to visit the US and will open a bank account.


Prior to this, I transferred my Paypal funds to a friend in the US who also accepts Paypal. He then sent me a check for whatever amount I "paid" to him. I could not figure any other way to get my money out of Paypal other than spending it.

By the way, there are services on the internet that will open a US bank account for you, but they charge around $300 for doing so. Jane.
 

July 08, 2003 Paolo

errors
"I suspect it involves the usage of advanced programs (at the moment I just have adobe photo-deluxe , in which the option 'transparant layers' is not available)."

"....perforations, albeit they might show aligned on parellel lines on opposite sides , obviously depending on perforation method, are not often at the same distance one from the other..."


 

July 08, 2003 10:49 Ken Srail

Although many reference the "Srail perf test" (LOL), I rarely use that technique myself. I only manipulate a scan when something looks a little odd and I can't examine the stamp in person (or I need to prove to someone else why the stamp can't have genuine perfs...) I would "never" use it for a stamp I had in my possession... It's far too much work to determine something which can generally be seen with the naked eye. The tough reperfs are the ones which gauge correctly, and that test won't help you at all.

July 08, 2003 Paolo Bagaglia

Perfing and grids
Brian McInturff
I'd be interested to know how to do that too, as long as one can choose the gauge at will (that would also be an immediate tool to check perfs gauge, in alternative to comparison of image with another copy with known perfs gauge or to measure and calculation). I suspect it invloves the usage of advanced programs (at the moment I just have adobe photo-deluxe , in which the option 'transparant layers' seems not to be available).
Though, as you know, perforations, albeit they might show aligned on parellel lines on opposite sides , obviously depending on perfs method, are not often at the same distance one from each other, especially not for classic stamps of my interest.
Paolo
 

July 08, 2003 Brian McInturff

Perfing and grids
For all those computer gurus. Can someone tell me how to make a grid that I can lay over a scan. This would definitley help in the tougher reperf questions. I drw the lines but that gets old. If I could just overlay a grid then it would be so much easier, and can we make it where we can move the overlay around to get everything centered and to look at all perfs at one time? It's just a thought.

Ken, I was thinking that all the perfs looked blunt but didn't even think about regummed. I've still got a lot to learn, but I'm getting there.

July 08, 2003 Richard Frajola

Dave thanks - that "new bridge" does make sense. I was having a hard time figuring out why it was on two covers from different correspondences.

July 08, 2003 Paolo Bagaglia <bagaglia@wanadoo.nl>

FSCD -- My favoured SF tv serie, after 'Doctor who', is 'UFO' from UK 1969. I recently bought a small collection of video's in four tapes (syncronised in Italian) and it brought back great memories...who's a cooler commader than Straker!? ;-)
Paolo (gotta run)

 

July 08, 2003 Richard Vanger <wengier@bigfoot.com>

Paypal a help ...or?
I am a registered foreign member of the Paypal group.I buy and sell on eBay and use the services of PP. As long as I was buying and selling in the same amounts I had no problems but when I sold more and wanted to transfer the balance to my account I was told it cannot be done, if I have a US bank account on US soil then they can transfer. They tell me that the only way that I can have my money I have to buy at places that use their facilities and run down my account to zero, should I spend more than the amount I have they will take the balance from my credit card.
I wonder if any body has had similar problems with PP and how they dealt with them. lets hear from you.
Richard

July 08, 2003 Prometheus

MY BAD it is the Eight
OOOPS

July 08, 2003 0924 Prometheus

Checking Date post
Noticed the board was reading July 8th and wanted to see if it was board

July 08, 2003 8:50AM Bill Weiss

Auctions in Allentown
OK, so now you guys lit up my memory lights! Indeed, the motel was a George Washington Motor Lodge where Weiss Auctions held it's first few sales, although back then (1983) the business name was "William R. Weiss, Jr" and the first sale was held in conjunction with "ALPEX". You are also correct that the place was just off Route 22/I-78 at Seventh Street. Im delighted to hear that a board member attended one of those sales! Of course, as time went on we came to realize that you could die of starvation running auctions in Allentown and moved to New York City, at the CCNY for many years until last year when they suddenly decided not to hold auctions there anymore.
Last, indeed, a famous Billy Joel song was about what a retched place Allentown was, which brought him a hit record and he has appeared or visited this area on several ocassions over the years and has apologized for the tone of the song because Allentown went on to become an "All American City"! I myself have actually lived in Bethlehem most of my life.

July 08, 2003 8:18 Dave ("philatarium")

Just a very quick post before meetings today:

Richard: According to my Japanese friend, she thinks it is highly likely that the characters read "Shinbashi", which is a district of Tokyo (literally means "new bridge"). That's great news for me, because that was my first guess, and then, for some reason, I dismissed it in my own mind.

I'm afraid I don't know why these chops would be on said covers, but this is an area where I haven't specialized because the material is so pricey.

Paolo:Many thanks. Those settings would be excellent. Grazie!

July 08, 2003 1610 Ed.B

Ed

July 08, 2003 Richard Frajola

Speaking of old time Pennsylvania dealers (other than Bill Weiss) did anyone here ever deal with Alex Juliard in Bryn Mawr? I bought classic imperfs from him regularly in the early 1960's. He had a good system - printed a catalog and anything that was still left after 60 days, prices were reduced 20% (sent a list of lots still available), and then again after another 30 or 60 days till gone.

July 08, 2003 sveiki!

Good Morning/Day/Afternoon/Evening!
{:o)

July 08, 2003 7:32am Jim Gaul (hungaryjim)

Hello to a near-by neighbor! I read your earlier post to John regarding a store in Allentown and it brought back fond memories to me! I think John was referring to the place where now there's a Home Depot, but back in the late 60's to early 70's it was a motel. I believe it was the Quality Inn, and you had held stamp auctions there in one of the back rooms! The reason I remember all of this is because that was where I won my first, and I hasten to add only, used Penny Black stamp. I was really thrilled that day to be the proud owner of Great Britians NO. 1 stamp! I even still have it in one of my Scott International Albums. And,for the record, the initials on the stamp are FF. It's a nice stamp, with three good margins and part of the fourth, with a red maltese cancel! So thanks for bringing back some early memories guys! By the way John, it was off of 7th St., not Lehigh St.! Have a good day, Jimbo2.

July 08, 2003 Mauro Mowszowicz

US Stamps
Hi folks, as usual i need help to ID This US stamps ....
Thanks in advance!
Mauro

July 08, 2003 06:57 AM Jim Lawler <jlawler@comteck.com>

< Brian R They are known precanceled from Chicago (and other "Mail Order" cities) where they'd been sent in as the "change" on a mail order purchase. The stamps so received were grouped up and precanceled and then used by the company (Sears, et al) on outgoing shipments.

 

July 08, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark http://www.iomoon.com
 

Richard

On the plus side, they are not the Chinese characters for "fake" or "forgery". :-Þ

July 08, 2003 6:15AM Bill Weiss

#243 Reperf
I agree with Ken S., I don't like the perfs in general, plus I know who that seller is, and while he's an honest guy overall, if he really thought that stamp was a world class gem copy, it would not be for sale on ebay, but rather in a real public auction where it would realize substantially more than on ebay. On the other hand, being honest, I am sure he would allow extension for expertization, which kind of tells me that he's not totally sure himself about the item.

July 08, 2003 Richard Frajola

Thanks all for help on the chop.

July 08, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark http://www.iomoon.com
 

Richard

Closest I can come to your "chop" is "xin qiao" which, literally translated would mean something like "new wood".

Obviously it's not phonetic for "deGron".

July 08, 2003 06:06 Jim Watson

Bill C.,
Thanks for that suggestion. I'm off to do it. We'll see what happens.

July 08, 2003 05:38 Bill Claghorn (claghorn1p) http://www.geocities.com/claghorn1p/
 

Forgery Identification Site

July 08, 2003 05:13 Ken Srail

243
BTW, I'd also agree with Clark, more likely reperfed at bottom than top.

July 08, 2003 05:09 Ken Srail

Jim Griffith, Scott 243
Jim, I don't know about that $3 Columbian being reperfed, but I did want to make a comment about the perfs in general. All of them look "blunt", and that's a real bad sign for a high-CV stamp being offered as NH. My guess is regum (without even seeing the back) with perfs filed down to hide evidence...

July 08, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark http://www.iomoon.com
 

Marius



The board was scrolling so fast eBay had to perform some maintenance in order to be able to keep up.

July 08, 2003 Marius

Just tried to access the ebay board. Ebay seems to be down for "regular maitainence" but it's not Friday yet.

July 08, 2003 03:51 Jim Watson

Brian R.,
Kans./Nebr. overprints followed this rule: "1. The stamps will be placed on sale only at post offices within the respective states but they will be valid for postage purposes at all post offices now selling ordinary United States stamps." The stamps were not distributed to Kansas City, Topeka, Wichita, Omaha, and Lincoln as these post offices were deemed immune from the type of robberies they were intended to prevent.

July 08, 2003 Brian McInturff

64s and reperfs
Brian R: The scan was dull not the stamps. If the stamps had changed color on me I'd be drowning in tears.
On the reperf quiz: I'd agree about some of the perfs being enhanced but I'm not sure about an actual reperf. Paolo, I use the same method but hadn't thought about changing the stamp to a more negative style. It really enhances and makes the lines show up easier. Much more pleasing to the eyes and easier to see differences.

July 08, 2003 Paolo Bagaglia

Dave (philatarium) -- Thanks again for your kind e-mail. I am just through it.
I found that (had to look for a while for a couple of presentable copies). As I activate my turbogas groups and scan at 1000% with 600dpi, will send you a reply to your e-mail with alleged link ASAP
Paolo

 

July 08, 2003 2353 Clark (reperf)

Re: reperf quiz
Jim, John and Brian

To my eye, the bottom margin is narrower on the left than the right but the top margin appears evenn -- not possible using the production perforation equipment. The blunted top center perforations are a concern but my vote would be reperfed on the bottom because of the noticable irregularity of perfs 4, 5, 6 and 7 from the left and the skewed margin.

It is getting late. Goodnight!

July 07, 2003 Brian R

Brian MPlease, oh please, for the sake of philately, tell me its the scans of your 64's that came out duller, not the stamps. I have heard several people claim that the ink on the 64's (and high value purple or pink banknotes) is incredablely light sensitive. PLEASE could someone confirm this before folks start scanning their 64's en masse.

July 07, 2003 11;30 cdt John,down south

the place that I was thinking about was about 1 mile north of I-78 on the right...Anyway maybe we can get togather sometime when I get up that way.

July 07, 2003 20:53 Dave ("philatarium")

Richard: I don't think those characters represent a phonetic foreign name. In current Japanese, it's represented by a phonetic alphabet (katakana), which those characters clearly are not. As for mid- to late-19th century Japanese, I cannot be certain that katakana was used then, but I do know that some words were attempted to be brought into Japanese using regular characters ("kanji").

If so, then what ??? said is correct, and the first syllable would be "shin". If they were trying for "De", they would be using a different character. What I'm thinking is that the characters actually mean something like "new address" or "new place", but it is also possible that it is a Japanese name beginning with "Shin-" (like "Shinseki" or something like that).

I imagine I'll hear back from my Japanese friend tomorrow and should have an answer.

July 07, 2003 Richard Frajola

Thanks to ???? If a name, what would it be phoenetically? Close to "de Gron"?

July 07, 2003 Richard & Dave

Top character in both is definately new - most common reading SHIN. The lower character is a bit of a mystery. I tend to believe they are the same although it is a bit obscure. The lower character appears to be a variant form of the character KO (long O I can't do diacritical marks). Its base meaning is to die (vegetation). Can't find the two character combination in my dictionary. I would guess a proper name of some kind as there is not an obvious meaning of the two combined.

July 07, 2003 Brian McInturff

Re: reperf quiz
Jim, a quick ckeck(I didn't spend long) but the perfs seem to be ok. I'll check a little closer later.

July 07, 2003 Bob Hohertz

Photoshop
Think t'was I who messed up and put your name in where mine should have been - and I know the tool isn't in my version of Photoshop(4.0). Paint Shop Pro is working fine for straightening - saves me a LOT of time and effort.

July 07, 2003 Jim Griffith <griffith@dweeb.org> http://album.dweeb.org
 

Jim

July 07, 2003 Jim Griffith <griffith@dweeb.org> http://album.dweeb.org
 

Jim

July 07, 2003 6:15PM Bill Weiss

No Store
JOHN; You are very welcome. No, that wasn't me. I'm not sure who that was and which mall you mean. I don't really even remember one on Lehigh St. Despite what Sir Richard said about these 20th C. cancels, they can be a great fun area to collect as there are several thousand different ones and I would say 85% of them can be bought for under $100. While collectors were responsible for many of them, it was the postal regulations that caused them to happen and collectors just took advantage of the rules! Let's face it, there are LOTS of philatelicly-inspired collecting areas which are popular, and that's what makes this hobby so great - one man's passion is another man's poison!

July 07, 2003 18:10 Dave ("philatarium")

Richard: Hmmm. Chop is definitely a challenge because of image quality. Time to call in a native speaker. Let me send it off to a translator friend of mine and see what I learn. (There seem to be more strokes on the lower character on the left than the one on the right, but, especially at that time, there are sometimes variants.) The upper character in each chop does look like "new".

I'll get back to you as soon as I hear back from my friend.

July 07, 2003 Brian McInturff

64s Pink and scanning
Well I was going to post a scan of a bunch of 64s but I guess I better upgrade to a new scanner first. After scanning, all the 64s look different(dull). And yes, they are 64s not 65s. I remember reading on Gary Griffiths(sp) website about trying to scan 64s and how the color wouldn't show right.

July 07, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark http://www.iomoon.com
 

Ed
I guess I checked out ok.

It was an interesting item.
Last week it finished 10 minutes before South America catalog.
I didn't bid because I did not know how high SA would go.
Seller relisted it $3 cheaper, so adding in S&H, I got it for last weeks start price.
Sometimes you win by not bidding!!

July 07, 2003 John

john

July 07, 2003 Richard Frajola

Dave The chop on cover is the one on left here. The one on the right - which seems similar - is an ex Ishikawa cover. Strike isn't the clearest on cover I have.

July 07, 2003 17:27 Dave ("philatarium")

Japan item
Richard: Is is possible to get a better scan of the "chop" area in question? I just can't make anything out from the full scan at all, to know whether or not it might be something I recognize. (I am also out of town and away from my reference materials until tomorrow evening, but sometimes I can figure things out without that.)

July 07, 2003 0010 BST Ed.B

Ed

July 07, 2003 Victor Horadam

Bill W.: No, that was exactly the amount of informzation I was hunting for. Interesting covers. Thanks.

July 07, 2003 Richard Frajola <covers@rfrajola.com> http://www.rfrajola.com
 

japan / France Combo
Collector of Japan? I just got this in. I think the red "chop" may relate to forwarding service, possibly by "M. De Gron" - any help as to what it says?

July 07, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark http://www.iomoon.com
 

Dang,
never had a payment pending before.

July 07, 2003 David Benson

Bill, thanks, the items I noted were the German States cover and the Leichenstein cover, very little interest in the US and much more in Europe.

David Benson

July 07, 2003 stamp killer

?

July 07, 2003 2:45PM Bill Weiss

Foreign Bidders
DAVID; on all of the material I posted on ebay Saturday and today, here is pretty much how our terms read;
FOREIGN BIDDERS; must pay using either Paypal or with check drawn on United States Bank in American dollars and lots are shipped via Global Priority mail at the risk of the buyer. If these terms are not agreeable, please DO NOT BID (foreign buyers).
Like I've said, there is no simple answer to this, but I absolutely have no problem selling to foreign clients.

July 07, 2003 stamp killer

ehy whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaata up?
hola Benson!

July 07, 2003 David Benson

Bill, why don't you state that on your sales page like everyone else does, just say,
No responsibility unless insured and post with an 80c. stamp.

You can also add a proviso and state that all sales over a certain figure must be insured. By stating " sales only to the US " and then allowing people to bid if they ask you seems to me to be illogical as it deters any others who may have bid. You have 2 scarce European covers up at the moment which most probably will sell to Europe.

David Benson

July 07, 2003 Richard Warren

Phew! Is it safe to come out now?

July 07, 2003 sveiki!

Good Morning/Day/Afternoon/Evening!
{:o)

July 07, 2003 0923 Bill Burch

It must have been the Whiskey Bottle cancel. But, how did THEY know?

July 07, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark http://www.iomoon.com
 

Bill B

It's eBay's new way to get you to identify with the auction.
If it starts "Hello Jackstay", they think you will be more likely to bid!!

Alternatively, it's eBay programmers with too much time on their hands thinking of things to do next!

July 07, 2003 0921 Bill Burch (jakstay)

1933 fancy cancel cover
Beg Pardon, "Ashku"M", Ill.

July 07, 2003 0911 Bill Burch (jakstay) <jackstay@ecsis.net>

1933 Fancy cancel cover Ashkun, Ill
What a shock! Why is the top line saying, "Hello, jakstay"? I never saw that auction before, and I'm not acquainted with Mr. Weiss. ?????

July 07, 2003 Richard Frajola

Bill W And some people still consider them to be junque even if they bring good prices at auction and on ebay :)

July 07, 2003 8:20AM Bill Weiss

20th C. Fancy Cancels
John & Victor; see, making a fuss over nothing. You are correct that the last "3" looks like an "8" but in fact it's a "3", so I guess I am innocent of the charge!
A Post Office Dept. directive instructed postmasters to NOT put the town name on the FRONT of registered mail soas to make registered mail easy to identify from ordinary mail, thus until that directive was cancelled (I think in about 1933 or so), the name of the PO was on the back of registered covers. There are lots of exceptions where the local PM didn't understand or follow the directive.
To complicate matters, but to create an exciting and coloful era in collecting, the original directive did not specify how the stamps on the front of an envelope were to be cancelled, thus both collectors with ingenuity as well as some postmasters began to create these fancy killers, usually having some connection to the town name, but also just as many that did not have anything to do with it. Many are very rare, with some only having a few examples known.
As recently as twenty years ago, these 20th C. fancies were considered "junk" because they were created pretty much by and for collectors, but as the years have passed they have become more popular, particularly in foreign countries who do not have any comparable items from that period to collect. Also, many of them have interesting TOPICS so they appeal greatly to topical collectors, so much so that some very rare topical 20th C. fancies have sold for over $2,000. each - an unheard of price 20 years ago, and in my opinion, will go even higher in the future because of the rarity of many of them.
These being sold on ebay are mostly fairly common but beautiful strikes. All are going much cheaper than they would in a public auction - if you had a good group of buyers after them. For example, one of them being sold is a Cow's Head from Genessee Depot, Wis, which is easily a $100-150. retail item, yet it's only at less than $70. last I looked, so the ebay buyers, while they don't know it yet, are getting bargains on these items only because I am willing to let them go below retail because we long ago got our money out of the lot.
Surely this is more than you wanted to know, but it is an interesting collecting field which would be a good one for someone to consider as a new area to collect.

July 07, 2003 john

......It does look like 1938 ashkum Ill.there was another 1933 cover from the same place with a real clear date stamp..But they all look like postal favors.....anyway the stamps are correct,my mistake SORRY!

July 07, 2003 Victor Horadam <horadam1@airmail.net>

General
John and Bill W.: Looks like an oversight. The "1938" looks like "1933" at first glance. I did look at your other auctions, Bill, and notice the lots of fancy cancels on cover from the 1930's with registry covers. Was it common practice for them to not have a town cancel, but just the fancy cancel itself and the registry stamp? Interesting lots.

July 07, 2003 John

1933 cover
Bill W this is the coverthat I was refering to.is it a fantasy or a typographical error.list as 1933 cover....

July 07, 2003 Victor Horadam <horadam1@airmail.net>

All, from sunny, wet Dallas.

July 07, 2003 7:05AM Bill Weiss

Fancy Cancels
To John (Magnolia Stamps); I do not know what you are talking about with your reference to "1935 stamps on a cover from 1933". If you care to explkain your accusation, perhaps I can help you. Your reference to us accepting bids from Muller stamps was exactly what I referred to originally - even though our sale said "US Only", we were still getting bids from foreign countries, so then we reconsidered and DID allow foreign bidding, so what's your complaint?
Also, someone yesterday suggested that for us to aquire insurance protection that we ship via EXPRESS to foreign countries. First of all, the $500. coverage given to express mail is, I believe, only on domestic mailings, not foreign, but even if it was on foreign, I am told the cost is $25!! Can you imagine us charging $25. to someone making a $25. purchase? Let's get serious here, there is no easy way around this problem. I have no objection to selling to foreign countries so long as I am protected from negative resaults caused by something I can not control - the mail system. It's just that simple. For now, as I've said once already, we WILL sell to foreign bidders so long as they will accept responsibility for mail losses. Hopefully, this discussion can end now?

July 07, 2003 Richard Ballhagen (spain_1850)

stealing text
For anyone interested, the item I reported last for stealing my text description, has been pulled by ebay. Pretty quick too since it only had about a day and a half left. I thought for sure it (my report) would get lost in the shuffle.

July 07, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark http://www.iomoon.com
 

It seems credit card scammers were out in force over the weekend.
You'd think they would at least improve their spelling and grammar.
Even eBay must use spell checkers.

July 07, 2003 0553 Henry Pritchard <3C Covers@firstva.com>

I've always believed that, "people that don't trust others, can't themselves be trusted", but never thought to include my dealings on e Bay in that belief. I've changed that!! I have made over 500 sales of philatelic material on e Bay and have not been disappointed in the cover collecting community that I have dealt with. A fine group of folks!! I expect that will continue with the expansion of my customer base to worldwide.

July 07, 2003 jim_lawler

Jim L.

July 07, 2003 03:24 Jim Watson

Good Morning, Everyone!
Today's dated postal history item is a cover from Switzerland to France in 1893. Say, "Hi!" to His Excellency, the French Ambassador to Switzerland!
 

July 07, 2003 Paolo Bagaglia

Dave ('philatarium') -- Thanks for your welcome back. I received your e-mail.
Paolo

July 06, 2003 22:49 Lavar Taylor

Good evening/day to all. Today's featured item of postal history focuses on how even those who are at war are able to communicate in a civilized manner. This cover was sent by the German Government in German E Africa to the Supreme Commander of the British troops in GEA. We know it was sent by the German government because of the Dienstseigel (official seal) on the reverse , which reads: Kaiserliches Gouvernement fur Deutsch-Ostafrika. There are no stamps on the front and no postmarks either, so it appears that the cover was brought by messenger to a British field post. Although the exact date of despatch is unknown, the cancels on the reverse show it was delivered to the British in August of 1917. The British thought the cover important enough to treat this as registered mail, so they added a registration label on the front. There is an FPO No. 350 cancel (used in Lindi) dated Aug. 22, 1917. There is a base office (Dar Es Salaam) cancel dated Aug. 30, 1917. No doubt this cover could tell a very interesting story if it could talk. The last German PO in GEA closed in October of 1917.

July 06, 2003 Richard Ballhagen (spain_1850)

stealing text
I posted about this a few days ago, but thought I'd bring it up again really quick. Recap:I sold a certain item on ebay and a few days later a nother seller pops up with a similar item, different picture but EXACT same text (at least most of it), title and all. Well, snooping around ebay's policy pages I find out that not only is stealing images a policy infraction, but so is stealing text, even partial text. So I made a filed a cmoplaint, as the auction is still running. Let's see if they do the right thing now.

July 06, 2003 John

David B..........never say your sorry for speaking the truth!

July 06, 2003 John@Magnolia Stamps

I also have a tendency to agree with the underdogs,Brian!I have no problems with fake stamps being marked as such and being kept for reference copys..Another thing that bugs the hell out of me are these guys that contact via the ebay system,telling you what they want,and then the comment,Ill take all you have,then you make up a list and send it off only to get a note in return saying something real stupid like yeah I'll buy, but for 2% of C.V.

July 06, 2003 David Benson

Bill, I am sorry if I offended you BUT I was shocked when I noticed that the auctions I looked at stated SALE TO US ONLY. I wouldn't have made the comment if I had seen that you do on some. I have made the same comment to scores of US sellers and your's was the 1st. one from a professional and I could partly understand an amateurs point of view but not from a professional.

David Benson

July 06, 2003 8:45PM Bill Weiss

VARIOUS
I have been away all day and upon reading today's postings, many of which centered on the controversy about selling abroad, please let me reflect on what has been said, since it was me thatr the original charges were lodged against.
First of all, I have LOTS of foreign clients, in Germany, Japan, Spain, Italy, France, Scandinavia, etc. I have absolutely NO qualms about selling abroad.
Second, what made me so "touchy" to quote one of you, was frankly the way that David Benson basically just came out and told me I should be "ashamed of myself" for my policy - without knowing a damn thing about my logic for having it - instead of merely saying "Bill, why do you have this policy"? There IS a difference in the approach taken and his annoyed me to hell, and STILL does. I do not feel that he approached this like a gentleman. We are fellow board members, fellow auctioneers, dealers, human beings. Don't simpply CRITICIZE me without giving me the benefit of an explaination. After you hear the explaination - than it is time to criticize if you must, not before. Then along comes the second guy to challange the sale of a fake cancel, right on top of David's ill-constructed pre-judgemental opinion!
While I shouldn't need to explain anything to someone who asks in a wise-ass way, let me just say that the West Meriden, CT Devil & Pitchfork is a very rare fancy cancel, and this fake will SATISFY lots of folks who could not afford the $2,000++ cost of the real thing. Matter of fact, you will note that a board member was interested - but it is sold - with a full and accurate description by me of what it was, and yes, it was marked as a fake on the back. I do understand and appreciate all sides of the selling of fakes controversy. In a perfect world there would be no fakes allowed, but in our world, there are lots of folks who KNOWINGLY buy/collect them and I therefore am willing to handle them and describe them correctly, and value them fairly. I KNOW this explaination will not satisfy purists and I accept that.
I too do not wish to see this board get out of hand with personal attacks, but anyone who knows me for any length of time knows several things about me. I am honest and fair, but I also am quite willing to speak my mind about anything. If you attack me, get ready, because here I come. If you (David) would, in the future, ASK me how I feel about something before JUDGING me, we can probably get along fine, but the next time you pre-judge me will be the last time I will engage in any dialogue with you. Good Night.

July 06, 2003 Chris Ceremuga

Chuck, forget about that stamp! I can't comment about the ovpt from the scan and it may probably be right. However, such a partial cancel without date is definitely not expertizable. Where a used stamp is more expensive than mint it must have an identifiable dated cancel - otherwise in my opinion it is ONLY worth the mint price.

That a dealer is reputable simply means that he wouldn't sell items that he knows are fake, and refund if any items are returned for being misdescribed or bad. It does not mean that he/she is an expert.

July 06, 2003 David Benson

Chuck, it was Chris who warned about those as there are many forgeries around. I am not 100% sure and Chris may be be the best one to ask. There are a few things I don't like especially the dot. The other problem is that it is a much cheaper stamp mint and the cancel is not dated or even identifiable. I would leave it alone and wait til one with a clearer, crispier overprint turned up with an identifiable cancel.

David Benson

July 06, 2003 Chuck H

Dave,

It was Goerge V/VI stuff - not that pricey and the winner was from the UK. Since you have been so helpful I will ask your opinion of #2938021398 - a Trenganu used exhibition overprint from Simon Andrews. That was among the stamps you indicated caution on but I think they are a pretty reputable dealer.

July 06, 2003 David Benson

Chuck, was the top bidder from Singapore or Malaysia. They know the prices more than anyone else as the material is regularly traded and very well collected there. It would be absolutely useless if a person who is using a value based on percentage of catalogue to bid against them as they would know the prices.

David Benson

July 06, 2003 David Benson

Chuck, speaking from experience, just use the catalog for info not for valuing. If you have prices relised use that. Gibbons tends to be high on 19th. Century but more realistic on KEVII and KGV as hinging does not matter as there is not much of a premium for muh. even though a lot of it is virtually impossible to find.

David Benson

July 06, 2003 Chuck Harm

David,

Four of the losses were to a single bidder and I am still chasing a lot of material so I am not to the stage of bidding to win yet for Malayan States. I think it was just a statistical variation and was curious about where others target in general. As time goes on on individual items I get more desperate and my willingness to pay does go up. I have learned especially from Scott pricing of British Asia sometimes catalogs are just wrong.

July 06, 2003 David Benson

Bob, no idea what happened, but I presumed at the time that all relevant questions would have been asked by Postal Inspectors, police and the heavy man himself (Laurie Franks). There was a lot of material missing and everyone presumed it would have turned up but it may have been destroyed.

David Benson

July 06, 2003 David Benson

Chuck, if you lost 7 out 8 then your bidding is out. Catalogues are a guide and not a promise to supply an item at that price. The last price realised is a better guide than any catalogue.

David Benson

July 06, 2003 6:18 pm Bob in WA

Tonga block
David -- I take it you were too far from the action in New Zealand to have an opportunity to ask the right person, but the burning question remains, "What did the thief say when he was asked what he did with the block?" If this had happened to me, I would be like a broken record until I received a satisfactory answer. It's one thing when thieves steal stereos or even automobiles that are basically generic and can be replaced by insurance companies. Unique items such as some stamps, art, heirlooms, etc are a different matter altogether and much more energy might rightly go into effecting their retrieval from whatever chain of ownership the thief put them on. If he wants to serve an extra decade not to give up his fence, that's his choice, I guess, but I would at least like the satisfaction of hearing, "he refused to tell us where he disposed of it, and his punishment will be exceedingly harsher for his lack of cooperation." But I guess that's just too much common sense to actually happen in most justice systems.

July 06, 2003 Chuck

Bob in WA

Right now for Malaya States SG is running about 2x Scott and I am paying about full Scott or 1/2 Gibbons as I buy on ebay or from non-US dealers so it looks like I am in line with Dave's estimate. Kind of worried because I lost 7 out of 8 auctions over the long weekend and I thought maybe I was being too cheap.

July 06, 2003 Brian McInturff

I'd like to add that by saying "the other 25%" I meant this in regards to buying NH at that point.

July 06, 2003 Brian McInturff

Prices
Chuck, It really depends. The average is probably 20-30% of catalog. But, is it an item you've been looking for, are there 10 at auction on any given day, does the item rarely show up on ebay, is it a heavy hinge or very lightly hinged, no faults by whose standards? All these determine, at least for me what I buy. Very lightly hinged, just slightly off center with ample margins, absolutely no faults, I need it for my collection, and exceptional color could mean I pay 75% of catalog. I'm sure others may disagree and say just spend the other 25%, but the appearance may out weigh the lightly hinged, especially on an item that typically has poor centering, dull color, nibbed perfs, etc.

July 06, 2003 David Benson

Brian R, it may have to do with the fact that virtually all payments in Europe are electronic transfers but I agree that someone in Germany selling US to Germany only needs think about the possibility that if they sold to the US they might realise higher prices. Coincidenatlly it is amusing when you see so much 3rd. rate German material being offered by German sellers selling worldwide as in that condition would be WORTHLESS in Germany,

David Benson

July 06, 2003 6:08 pm Bob in WA

pricing
Chuck -- It would seem that the obvious first question is, how do the SG and Scott values compare for the same stamp?

July 06, 2003 David Benson

Chuck, regarding British Asia, I would presume about 50% for a $20 cat stamp but higher percentages for $100 stamp. It all depends on the period and condition.

Bob, no idea what happened with the block, presumably still sitting somewhere today. It is a scarce stamp even as a single as most copies were destroyed by water and have lost their color. That one had perfect color and was most probably from a sheet that went to one of the European dealers at the time. Gibbons and Senf bought a sheet of every stamp issued and virtually all multiples came from their holdings. I bought most of the remainding blocks from Gibbons stock in the late 1970's but there weren't any left of that issue.

David Benson

July 06, 2003 Chuck Harm

Good prices?
In an attempt to start a less controversial topic I would like to ask the question of what price do people feel is a fair price and a good price to pay for stamps on Ebay. I'll offer two hypothetical cases per my collecting interests:

1) A mint previously hinged genuine US stamp with nearly VF centering and no faults and a Scott cat of $30-$150. What percent of Scott do you feel is a good price? a fair price?

2) A postally used genuine British Asian stamp with nearly VF centering and no faults and a SG cat of $20-100 pounds. What percent of SG for a good price? a fair price? Reluctantly I am accepting SG prices for British Asia. Although I am willing to buy based on Scott pricing sellers seem to be few and far between;-)

July 06, 2003 5:38 pm Bob in WA

Bob in WA

July 06, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

Peace chicks
 

July 06, 2003 19:27 Dave ("philatarium")

Japanese peace chickens
On a different note, most of the discussion about Jim Watson's post of the day occured on the eBay site today, but here is a detailed scan (137) of the Japanese peace "chickens" referred to in Jim's write-up and display.

http://www.pacificanalytics.com/philatarium/Japan_Peace_1919.jpg

Mauro:As you can tell by my link above, the "link-o-matic" is offline right now. Help! : )

July 06, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark http://www.iomoon.com
 

Last four sales, UK, US, Italy, Netherlands.
Home turf is one in four.
Degree in math not necessary.

I hear Bill Gates is designing an intranet.
It only works in the home country of the user!

July 06, 2003 Brian R (Batman)

David BI can answer your senerio, because it happens all the time. It sucks. Go to ebay Germany, and auctions abound for US classics, where TOS state to Europe only. I just shake my head and move on, Its not personal, and I don't think the sellers are trying to make some nationalistic statement, by not accepting overseas bidders.