StampChat Archives

Archive:  December 1 - 15, 2003

• Last updated:  20 March 2004

December 15, 2003 Bill Weiss

Colors
JIM; That's interesting. I suppose he could just be satisfied that PSE did call it 72b. No? Or does he prefer, for some reason, to really want the PFC more than the PSEC? If it were me, I would just be happy with the PSEC and toss the PFC as was suggested below!

December 15, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

No Eric,
have ridden a bike all my life (well at least since age 7).
Never got, nor needed a driving license.
Was not me handing out diploma, he has 4 stripes, I still only have three.
Only the really important administration people get to sit on the stage. :-Þ

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

Jim

December 15, 2003 19:06 Eric Dyck

Perf Gauges
Ken Lawrence

What a surprise! Ken knows everything there is to know about perf gauges, too. Seriously, I was expecting/hoping for a definitive answer like that from you. Thanks very much, very informative. Thus, the difference between the “Old” Instanta gauges and the “New” are that the “Old” are old and the “New” just haven’t shrunk yet? Is there a continuum between the first and last made, or maybe there is just so much they can shrink. Are the materials they are made from different at all? I now have a scanned reference image of my Multi-Gauge - I’ll scan it again in 10 years, God willing, and see how stable it is. Do you have an extra one of those German gauges to sell me? I’d love to have one to do some comparisons.

Dave F

After playing around a little, I choose a resolution of 600 dpi. That gives me some room to enlarge the image on the screen, as an aid to my aging eyes, and still have an acceptably sharp image without pixilation. I reduce it to 72 dpi for Web publication after I have it the way I want it.

Jim W-S

You cycle also? Another passion I came to later in life, just like philately. Mostly because my knees gave out, and I couldn't play racquetball/softball/run any more. Cycling literally saved my life, by building up some extra coronary artery connections that got me through a cardiac crisis. I considered at one time collecting bicycles on stamps, and still may, at some point. Was that you handing out diplomas?

Eric
 

December 15, 2003 Bill Weiss

PSE
ROGER H; PSE is "Professional Stamp Experts" a committee based in California. The three basic U.S. expert committees are;
1. American Philatelic Expert Committee (APEX);

2. Professional Stamp Experts (PSE);

3. The Philatelic Foundation (PF);

It has always been an interesting subject to me that expert committees regularly disagree on the same item, and I am accumulating examples of this in the hopes of someday publishing an article. The example below by JIM G. is a good example, assuming the submitter asked the PF to specify whether it was a "dark blue" stamp #72b versus a "blue" stamp (#72). Those kinds of differences are minor though, compared to when the SAME committee issues differing opinions on the SAME stamp! Those are the ones I really like to fume about, because those kinds generally cost the owners a goodly amount of money.

How you ask? Thanks for asking! Example. A collector buys a nice stamp from a reputable dealer and it comes with a current certificate stating "genuine in all respects". Happy with his purchase, the collector mounts the stamp in his album and basically forgets about it. Years later, it's time to sell, so he consigns the material to his favorite auction firm (hopefully me!) and we sell the stamp described as sound and with the certificate. Since years have passed however, the new buyer wants to get a current certificate, and most auction firms allow this after a specific number of years have passed.
The buyer submits it to the same expert committee but...presto..now the committee finds, for example, that the stamp is now REPERFED. Yet a close look at the photographs reveal without question that the stamp has not been altered!

So what's the problem, you ask? Well, when our collector friend bought the stamp years before, on the basis of the good cerytificate, he paid, let's say, $1,500. for that stamp. Now, however, because the SAME expert committee finds it to be reperfed, it's only worth, let's say, $300.00! A cool net loss to the innocent owner of $1,200. THAT'S the problem!

The answer lays in the possibility of the exper committee offering insurance against changed opinions of obviously unaltered patients. One committee (APS) once tried that but found it to be unsuccessful and the others have never tried it. Woe to the poor collector who suffers from a changed opinion on an expensive stamp.

December 15, 2003 Roger Heath

Cert - 72b
I would toss the PF cert. );>)

You get what you pays for, what's PSE?

December 15, 2003 Bill Weiss

72b
JIM G; So what's the problem? He now has what he believed he had from the start! Therew could be more to this than meets the eye. First, perhaps when he submitted to PF he didn't ask if it specifically was a 72b? If he didn't ask, they may not have looked carefully. In my experience, PSE is tougher on that stamp than PF, by that I mean that I've seen #72's in dark shades which I was certain were 72b, yet PSE called them plain old #72! No-one would really care one way or the other, except that, if I recall corectly, the dark shade catalogs more, thus, in theory, is worth more (really brilliant conclusion, huh?).

December 15, 2003 Prometheus

Hey Jim
Have him send it to the other guys and make it best Two out of three.

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

Jim

December 15, 2003 04:06 Jim Watson

A lucky discovery
Knud-Erik,
That is an interesting piece of paper memorabilia. It would be interesting to know its source and dating.

December 15, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

Bjorn
Thanks.
I was going to ask you to attempt to decipher senders address since his writing isn't clear, but fortunately address of Løbergsallé is printed on back of envelope.

December 15, 2003 13:00 Bjorn Munch

Jim, this stamp was issued for the World Refugee Day (this year). The picture was taken in 1999 at the Kosovo/Macedonia border.
 

December 15, 2003 sveiki! <philaweb at (remove) yahoo dot dk>

Lithuanian Stationery - Cover.
Anyone with a taste for modern Lithuanian stationeries - this cover, even though contrived, is a loot at the price. What's remarkable about the cover is the "Lietuvos Respublikos Paštas" two-lined handstamp at the top, an early indicator of the de facto Lithuanian independence. It was the first thing they did, stamps this mark to all mail.

December 15, 2003 12:01 Bill Claghorn (claghorn1p) http://www.geocities.com/claghorn1p/
 

Web Perf Gauge
Dave F. The stamp and the perf gauge must be scanned at the same resolution. I imagine that scaling either or both would lose accuracy. Unfortunately the Java script and the images must be on the same web page. It is easy to make a template once and then just substitute images. I did have to work hard to get the Jave script to work on Mac and PC and in different browsers.

December 15, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

Bjorn
Got letter in todays mail from Norway which has a stamp depicting a line of people carrying their worldly belongings. What does it represent?

December 15, 2003 Rob Faux

Jim W-S Got a nice little storm system heading our way right now. The wind comes with it.... not that I bike up here in the winter anyway....

I may actually get to spend my first Christmas in many years without dragging the laptop around! :) Think I'll bring a bucket of stamp stuff with me during the holidays!

December 15, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

Rob
Yep, finito.
Just sitting here writing "secret emails".
Have to go to PO in a short while, but don't fancy cycling against the wind, which is rough today.

December 15, 2003 Rob Faux

Jim W-S You must be done with grading..... finals week here.

December 15, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

Dang, I gotta get a new computer.
My sniping ability is being constrained by not being able to bid within two minutes of auction end.

December 15, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

Knud-Erik
That is funny!!!

Dave P
As the owner of an edu account, I have to agree with you.
I can't access my own university web site from an off campus location.
More like a fire bunker than a firewall surrounds the system.
University computers are prime targets for hackers and spammers.
Getting email out is usually no problem, getting email in, often is.

December 15, 2003 08.56 Knud-Erik Andersen

December 15, 2003 Dave P

My problem is not with Spam, but anti-spam software which causes an increasing number of my emails (particularly those relating to Ebay transaction) to bounce. Latest is one to a .edu address that came back "access denied". What the hell, the buyer can just sit and worry whether or not I have posted the lot. More of a problem is when the Ebay invoices don't arrive, especially when buyers don't realise that they can go through the check-out (even if paying by mail) which would give them all the info they need and allow them to tell me how they are paying at the click of a button. Wish Ebay would publicise it a bit more, many seem to think it is only for Paypal payments.

December 15, 2003 8:47 Dave F. (moderator)

perforation gauges
Ken L: That was an excellent article! Thanks very much for sharing all that information.

Eric D: Thanks also for explaining how you created that image. I know Photoshop just well enough to have understood your explanation completely. Just curious, what dpi do you scan at?

Bill C: Like many others, I was so impressed with what you did on the perf gauges on your site when you first set that up. Unfortunately, my mind has not been able to grasp the implications of it beyond how you've used it on your site. One other question: are you also faced with the same problem Eric described, where all the images have to be scanned at the same dpi, or do you think it's sufficiently accurate to resize an image acquired elsewhere so that it has the same dimensions of a reference image of the stamp scanned in at the same dpi as the perf gauge?

December 15, 2003 8:38 Dave F. (moderator)

Kevin L: I saw your post when you first posted it (got up early this morning) and have been thinking about it ever since. I have decided to remove it. I think it fell somewhere between gossipy at best to taunting at the other end, even if you had the best of intentions.

Roger said it best yesterday, that some people would use this board to bring posts here that mocked others. We've got to get beyond this.

I'm not saying that was your intent, but I decided to err on the side of caution.

Feel free to post your email address here and ask John to contact you offline.

December 15, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

Knud-Erik
Neat card, perhaps an opportunity for a "what are they thinking" competition.

December 15, 2003 08.10 Knud-Erik Andersen

December 15, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

Most of my recent spam seems to be for Canadian "medical" companies.

Jimbo
sadly it is true.

December 15, 2003 07:26 Jim Watson

Today's Factoid
Jim W-S,
Yeah, but where are the Volcanoes in Luxembourg? ;-)

Bill,
In the recent furor over spam, I have seen quotes that almost all of the spam originates from the United States.

December 15, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

Jimbo
Interesting numbers.
So far my web set has only been hit by one resident of Luxemburg, but 59 hits from South Africa which probably has to be separated from the rest of Africa.

December 15, 2003 Bill Longley

Jim Luxembourg could send all of their SPAM to Africa and solve two global problems.

December 15, 2003 06:58 Jim Watson

Today's Factoid
According to the International Telecommunications Union, the United Nations agency that organized the conference [on the Internet], only 1 percent of people in the world's poorest countries are connected to the Internet. To illustrate the gap between rich and poor countries, the agency noted that the 450,000 residents of Luxembourg have more Internet capacity than Africa's 760 million people.
 

December 15, 2003 Ken Lawrence <apsken@aol.com>

Eric Dyck

Regarding the Instanta gauge, perhaps your information is newer than mine, or perhaps what you were told has been garbled.

About fifteen years ago the Bureau Issues Association (today called the United States Stamp Society) had a committee consisting of Robert Kitson, George Brett, and myself to develop a gauge of extreme accuracy that could update and replace the United States Specialist Gauge, printed on stiff aluminum, invented by Richard Kiusalas in 1965. We began by evaluating existing gauges, and ended with the decision that a new product was not needed, because a perfect gauge already existed (it is now out of print).

For reference we used panes of stamps with differing perf spacings, counted the holes/teeth along a 20-centimeter distance, and divided by ten. These became our standards for measurement. Each instrument was used to measure different segments of each standard by three of us working independently to evaluate its accuracy.

Our study discovered that the Instanta gauge is not reliable because it is printed on plastic that is not dimensionally stable. Cold flow of the plastic, as it is called by engineers and technicians, causes the image to shrink over long periods of time. Thus an older Instanta will show a different gauge measurement than a newer one, sometimes as much as 0.1 gauge from true. New Instanta gauges seemed to read accurately, but we had no reason to believe they were any more stable than the older ones we tested.

The original Linn's Multi-Gauge (blue envelope, stiff plastic)was even farther from true than the Instanta. The late Stuart Morrissey sold the entire batch in China to recover his costs while keeping them off the U.S. market. The corrected Linn's Multi-Gauge (red-brown envelope, flexible film) is accurate for your purpose.

The most accurate gauge was manufactured by the Buildings Study Group of the Germany Philatelic Society. It is printed on dimensionally stable flexible film recomended by Eastman Kodak Company for this purpose, with its scale from gauge 8.75 to 16.25 running the eight and a half inches of the instrument, reading to an accuracy of 0.2 percent error at gauge 10, roughly double the accuracy of the Linn's product.

Our committee selected the BSG gauge as our standard, and purchased a quantity for BIA members. When the original printing sold out, Tony Torres who created it could not find an affordable way to reprint it, nor could I. At first I hoped the APS could do it, and then tried all the various manufacturers of stamp supplies and big dealers, but struck out. (These need to be contact printed, developed, cut, and packaged manually, on equipment that is technologically obsolete in the photographic industry, or reinvented from scratch. Costs are prohibitive when compared to existing products that are adequate.)

Last year Sonic Imagery Labs introduced the Precision U.S. Specialty Multi-Gauge, which has become a standard product. Its theoretical accuracy is about equal to the Linn's Multi-Gauge, but unlike the Linn's and BSG gauges, the image is not printed on the bottom, and its film is thicker than both of those, so it can introduce a parallax problem in reading the measurement. Also, its long-term dimensional stability is unknown.

December 15, 2003 04:29 Jim Watson

There is also a update of an airmail cover from Italy which was aboard an airline which crashed on December 15, 1954, en route to the United States.
 

December 14, 2003 22:50 Bill Claghorn (claghorn1p) http://www.geocities.com/claghorn1p/
 

Perf Gauges
Eric Dyck A few years ago someone over on the HTML board at eBay had a Santa and Reindeer following the cursor. I thought, if santa, why not a Perf Gauge? The Java script was public domain freeware, so I replaced Santa with a Millimeter Gauge. Then I figured out how to scan a varible Perf Gauge and make the background transparent. Feel free to use the code yourself. A Better One is HERE.

December 14, 2003 Brian R

one more
Since I'm having so much fun, playing around with my new ability to "sever" the images,....perhaps someone can add just what the heck is this supposed to be?

December 14, 2003 Brian R

Given that the date is just before the July 1862 increase (for the under 500 miles), and I think these stamps are actually #6's, could this be a triple weight rate? It seems too small a cover for that. Maybe, the sender just overpaid to ensure enough?. I need that CDS, but the condition is a little ratty. Just looking to see if others think I'm calling it right.

December 14, 2003 David K.

I am fasinated by the wave of intelligencia over a hard paper printing that politically manuvers over a chess board without any personal attachments resulting in a draw. I hold no grudges and weight all counter measures. Since the printing ink to this stamp transfers into this 'card', others, no doubt, will have the same opinion to soak it off. (can't anyone smile yet)? 10 shopping Days till Christmas!

December 14, 2003 21:13 Eric Dyck

Perf Gauges

Dave F.

The album I have has spaces for several perf varieties of that issue, and I was lacking one for the 5c denomination. So, I checked the stamp from the new collection that I had just purchased to see if it was the one I needed, and, behold, it was a perf not listed in my album or reference books.

I scanned in the stamp and perf gauge separately and combined the images using Photoshop after trimming away the background of the stamp. The two images have to have the same resolution and format to combine them, and you have to take care not to resize either image before putting the stamp image onto the gauge image. Any rotation of the images from placement during scanning can be corrected digitally. The images are then in different layers in Photoshop, and the stamp can be moved around in minute increments horizontally and vertically over the gauge to determine the perf measurement. Once I have the stamp where I want it, I “flatten” the image in Photoshop, making it into a single layer in .jpg format, and then resize the image and resolution as appropriate for publishing on the Web. Now that I have the gauge scanned in, I only have to scan in and prepare the stamp.

There is also a way to accurately make measurements(to within 0.1 mm) using Photoshop. Many of the early Guatemalan overprint forgeries are differentiated from genuine overprints and from each other by careful measurements of the overprint: length/height of each line, and overall height of the overprint. I am interested in determining if a high-resolution scan can be useful in this regard. It will be interesting to see how my measurements compare with the measurements listed in my references once I can obtain some reference copies of the stamps.

Bill Claghorn

Cool! I’ve been to your site before, but hadn't noticed those tools. Did you develop them? Impressive.

Eric
 

December 14, 2003 David Benson

Brian, before you take the easy way out,

worthless Definition " Having no value "

seems to be a problem in the US when someone is told that an item they are enquiring about has no value. It wouldn't offend me.

D2

December 14, 2003 Brian R

Well, the UN is retiring to bed. Current blips in US/Australian relations, are just going to have to work themselves out, all on their own.

December 14, 2003 David Benson

Brian, I used the term " worthless " on that particular item as that is what it is. In perfect condition it is worth very little and with the perfs clipped it is of no use monetarily, philatelically, commercially etc. I am sorry he did not accept my opinion and kept on stating that is of great rarity but I am sure he can get as many opinions as he likes and they will all be the same as mine.


David B.

December 14, 2003 Brian R

I personally, have trouble IDing French stamps from any others. Definately no expert here. I'm just still amazed, that two people who both make their living in philately, can end up at each others throats so fast.

December 14, 2003 David Benson

Terence, difficult question, no idea but I found this site,

http://home.zonnet.nl/pa3dbj/radiorev.html

the block on the right looks earlier, possibly late 1950's. I don't know anyone who could help but if you sent a note to Richard S on Love Indonesia Philately, he will put a note on their chat site.

Richards site is on

http://indonesianewsonline.com/prangko/stamps/fila.htm

He speaks and writes English fluently and currently lives in Japan.

D2

December 14, 2003 Terence Hines

Terence Hines

December 14, 2003 David Benson

Brian, there is a link, it shows a France 1871 Ceres 25c. perf. with the perfs trimmed and stuck down on card.

David Benson

December 14, 2003 David Benson

David K, I am 1000% sure what it is but if you wish to believe it is a valuable and rare item, that is up to you. I am sure that if you showed it to anyone who has any knowledge of French material they would agree with me.

David B.

December 14, 2003 Brian R

oh well...
So much for civil discourse in the absence of links..... Gentlemen, it is a stamp. It's not a photo of someone's wife naked. What we have here is a failure to communicate (thank you, cool hand luke). I think both parties, are reading too much, into the typewriten word again. It is OK to disagree, and not have to sharpen the knifes.

December 14, 2003 David K.

David B.
Your attitude leaves a lot to be desired or is it your overbearing knowledge that others seek to impart from you now and then creating an impasse? I would teach my grandchildren how to soak. Good manners start at home. This little treasure will remain safe under my 30x verification of a hard paper out of toddlers hands.

December 14, 2003 19:26 Bill Claghorn (claghorn1p) http://www.geocities.com/claghorn1p/
 

Transparent Perf Gauge on the Web
Eric Dyck & Dave F. OK. I found it LOOK HERE for WOW

December 14, 2003 19:18 Bill Claghorn (claghorn1p) http://www.geocities.com/claghorn1p/
 

Perf Gauge on line
Eric Dyck & Dave F. You may want to look at my Nifty Difty Perf and MM gauge HERE . Just click on the 300 MM button and move the cursor. It also works transparent perf gauge but I have to look for the web page.

December 14, 2003 David Benson

D2
 

December 14, 2003 19:04 Dave F. (moderator)

Eric: Great questions! No doubt someone out there will have an answer for you soon.

I have no idea of the answers to your questions, but they prompted a couple of my own:

(1) How did you create that photo or scan? It seems like if you had just put the stamp down on the scanner glass, then the perf gauge, then closed the lid, you ran a good chance of disturbing the careful positioning of the stamp to the perf gauge. (although perhaps the perf gauge offers enough protection for it not to be a problem?) Really excellent image!

(2) I've heard several other people over time talk about discovering a perf variety. Do you quite literally measure every stamp that you have? or did you have a heads-up that this particular issue might have some variations? (I may be answering this myself, now that I remember your saying that perf varieties were known for other issues in the set.)

Speaking of excellent images ...

Roger: The photos you posted yesterday were outstanding. You truly have an eye for it.

December 14, 2003 David K.

France #6
Note after #59 in Scott's: #58(A-13;25c blue, bluish); sic... was reprinted in 1887 as an imperf. This does not mention what type of paper was used. Since this is not a blue on bluish it cannot be a 1871 issue. Hence, there is no listing for the 1887 issue in Scotts and my question remains as to what this is in its hard paper form. A proof? A known issue? Or, a freak? PS. It may very well be only worth 10c but the answer is worth much more.

December 14, 2003 Bill Weiss

Various
Good evening everyone. I am now back from my day of (losing!) poker. I am pleased to see that BRIAN now considers me a "certified" expert. Thanks guy!

I wish to report, in case no-one else has noticed, that the 30c US "reissue" (Scott #110) sale that was discussed a few days ago has been cancelled. DAVE F; If you do not want this report on here, feel free to pull it, it's just that it's kind of "old business" in the same way as Brian's report about the CSA stamp with red cancel.

 

December 14, 2003 18:23 Eric Dyck

Perforation Gauge Questions

A group of Guatemalan philatelists, myself included, have recently been discussing perforation variations of modern issues, as I found a perf variety of a 1971 issue, in a recent collection acquisition, that wasn’t listed anywhere. This brought up a discussion of measuring perfs, as my stamp (Sc 414, 1971 5c red-brown Olympic Games Reissue) looks to be perf 12.5 by my Linn’s Multi-Gauge. There is no even closely similar perf listed for this denomination in our specialty catalogue, but there is a perf 12.4 listed for the 1c. The 1c that I have that most closely matches that perf matches my 12.5 5c, and, to my eye, is 12.5 also, using my gauge. It turns out that, up to a certain date, the stamps were measured for the catalogue using the old Gibbons Instanta Gauge, which apparently is about perf 0.1 smaller than the new Instanta Gauge, which is equal to the Linn’s Multi-Gauge that I have. Thus my stamp would be 12.4 using the old Gauge. Also, I understand that there can be some variation in perf measurements even within the same sheep of stamps due to various physical changes, so that measuring to within perf 0.1 may not be significant anyway? However, the Guatemala Waterlow issues of 1902-22 have numerous perf varieties, known to be made on different machines, which are listed with a difference of as little as perf 0.2.

My questions are these:

1) When did the new Instanta Gauge replace the old one? One source I read stated that it was changed because the old one couldn’t measure the perfs on the Malay States 1950’s issues, which were perf 17, and the old gauge only went from 10-16. Thus, . . .

2) Was there a period of overlap when both gauges were used?

3) Is this a source of confusion for specialists of other countries? How do other specialty catalogues resolve this issue for recent (post 1950) issues? Or maybe that amount of accuracy isn’t important?

4) Does anyone have an Old gauge they would be willing to sell me, or loan to me for a week or so, so that I could make a high res scan of it to use to compare measurements?

Thanks.

Eric
 

December 14, 2003 David Benson

D2

December 14, 2003 David K.

I wouldn't post a worthless trimmed stamp; the paper is akin to a US #107 on hard paper.
Since the postmark does relate to a specific time period; The 1arge chiffres type cancel were used when? And, as it may appear obvious, that there has yet to have been an acknowledgement to this type of a printing of this issue; the search must continue. It would please anyone to hold such a rarity, I move to arbitration. Negating the compromise of a fake or fraudulent issue.
 

December 14, 2003 David Benson

D2

December 14, 2003 Roger Heath

As is
*For mature adults only.*
"As is" in traditional Chinese. Once you've mastered reading this Chinese dialect, you will always turn the other cheek, so to speak.

Roger

December 14, 2003 David K <Eaglearts@aol.com>

France
Need a sharp shooter on this France #6; it's on hard paper or thin paper board not unlike a US proof and, of course, Scott's doesn't get into this type of material. Too early for a postcard and it has a nice centered postal cancel. Thanks...this stamp?

December 14, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

Bjorn
Was this originator or aarpnet, the forerunner of internet?

Roger
Every one here (except me) can speak Spanish.
Though I have no idea what Chinese for "as is" is.

December 14, 2003 15:50 Bjorn Munch

Today's find
OK, it's a rather ratty domestic (Norway) cover with a common stamp, but $24 is a good price anyway. It was sent from Borkenes (someplace in Finnmark in the far north of Norway) on April 23 1940, two weeks after the German invasion. It is addressed to someone onboard the B/F Børtind (a patrol boat) via "3rd Naval Defense District", Tromsø. Instead of going to Tromsø, it first went further south to Harstad where it was "Opened by the postal control office", then to Tromsø where it was redirected to Kirkenes (far east near the Russian border), and from there agin to Honningsvåg (about half way back), where it arrived on May 6.

The spelling "Aapnet" instead of "Åpnet" indicates that the censor strip was at least a few decades old at the time, kept ready (maybe since WWI) in case of a sudden need.
 

December 14, 2003 Roger Heath

Really
You can misdescribe if you don't know. Just say, "I'm in West Texas and the dialect here is sufficiently different that I couldn't find a Spanish speaking person to verify. AS IS."

Roger

December 14, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

Thanks RB,
I thought so, but wanted to make sure.
Can't go misdescribing items on eBay!!

December 14, 2003 Richard Ballhagen (spain_1850)

Oops, correction.
Jim - That's 11 Reales, rate to Cadíz from England.

December 14, 2003 Richard Ballhagen (spain_1850)

Jim - That's 11 (R)eales, rate to Cadíz from England.

December 14, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

I need some help.
What is the symbol before "R" in this Spanish letter?

December 14, 2003 Frank

Spell it right
Sorry for the spelling mistakes: hold should be hole and ramsom should have been ransom. Someday I'll get it right.

December 14, 2003 Frank

Iraq postal service
Has there been any word of an underground postal system for the remnants of the former Iraqi regime? Is it true that Saddam Hussein was being held in the 'spider hole' by the Iraqi Postmaster-in-exile until Saddam agreed to stamp designs for the new service without his face on them? Looks like he didn't bathe, shampoo his hair or trim his beard for some time. The cover over the hold was weighted down. Could be he was held captive while his captors negotiated for the ramsom of $25 million. Yes there was money and guns with him but no way out. My money is on a Kurdish group.

December 14, 2003 10:48 Dave F. (moderator)

Thanks, everyone, for your comments, both pro and con, and the suggestions.

December 14, 2003 Roger Heath

David F
I support you and understand that someone whose auctions were referenced has an attitude, and must have made a threat. This Board will continue, people will be able to discuss Ebay auctions, and everyone who frequents this Board will learn and enjoy each other's comments. I feel the links posted in a mocking manner are over. I think that all commentators should have contacted a seller before posting here. I've discovered that there is about 50% response rate from sellers who have listed something incorrectly. The ones who are selling and are not responding invariably must be overwhelmed as they are Power Sellers, and have so much junk they probably don't care to respond. Those are the ones where the APS-Ebay alliance needs to have information on which to act. So if everyone does their community service email a few times per week, maybe, the dark side will get messages from other than members of this Board.

Roger

December 14, 2003 Roger Heath

Jim's Folded Letter
Trust an Englishman to discover "bleeding" cellophane. Sure is better than "scotch" tape, which always comes on rolls just a little to small, but useful for the frugal collector.

Thanks to Jim G, Paul, Mauro, Jim W, and Bjorn for your comments about image and screen sizes. I have a 17" screen but I size my browser window to 10 x 8 so I can see frequently used icons and folders around the outside of the window. I open all auctions in a new window so space for overlap is necessary otherwise the corners go off the screen. My reason for the size I chose was that I hate scrolling one direction to view a photo, and two directions is totally unacceptable. These images are up to 4.5 Meg in original form and I wanted to make them viewable without significant time lag in downloading. I tried to make them a similar size to the postcards I sell on occasion. Again, thanks for the input. It seems I can go up in size like this (620x512).

Roger
 

December 14, 2003 Rich Degillio <rich at icontech.com>

head censor
While I totally disagree with posting anonimously,I have to agree with the statement made.
Dave F...You have done a fine job with this board and of course you have to do what you think is right,but as I recall the reason for this board was e-bay's censorship.By not linking to auctions from this board it now is the same as e-bay's. I'm sorry to say it,but the BAD GUYS now have won.
Rich
 

December 14, 2003 09:09 Jim Watson

Today in Postal History
Knud-Erik,
Thanks for catching that umlaut! It's fixed.

December 14, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

Speaking of changing descriptions, I took a detailed look at my Oporto cover and have determined the cellotape was applied on the reverse of the the front and "bled" through to the front.

December 14, 2003 Brian R

I think that this now officially makes them both certified experts. :o)

December 14, 2003 Brian R

Chris
here's how I see the problem.
Most of us, know who the bad apples are.
The newbies, more recent surfers, and future philatelists have no idea.
Telling each other who the rotten ones are,
doesn't do much for the future of the hobby,
and won't impede the bad guys at all.
 

December 14, 2003 Chris

Dave, an alternative proposal
I have an alternative suggestion for the board.
How about password protecting it, and making users register
before they can access it at all? This would still allow for unfettered conversation,
and deal with whoever that keeps putting bad links in.

Chris - kevlar vest (with trauma plates) over the asbestos underwear

December 14, 2003 Chris

Score!
Yesterday I made my yearly pilgramage to the stamp dealer an hour's drive away.
I went ot get some sets to beef up my czecho collection. He had some, but nothing spectacular.
But while browsing his literature for sale, I found a new copy of R. H. White's "Color In Philately"
for $20. This included all the errata sheets, the color supplement and the dust jacket.
I remembered someone (Richard F?) mentioning that philatelic literature is a better investment
that stamps and snapped it up forthwith. This is the book that includes the infamous pigeons's blood
pink color sample, so I can use it to judge any putative 64's that pass my way.

There is one weird thing. Everything in his shop smells faintly like grape bubble gum. The book does, and a stock book
I purchased there years ago still does too. I wonder what is up with that.

Chris - still slogging through Czecho

December 14, 2003 07.54 Knud-Erik Andersen

December 14, 2003 07:49 Jim Watson

Today in Postal History
Knud-Erik,
Thanks for finding Sternberg (Sternberk) for me. I've updated the page appropriately. I had to fake the breve over the S. Let me know if you see it properly.

December 14, 2003 Richard Frajola

Knud I have given stamps to retirement homes, schools, scouting groups, veteran groups, hospital groups - there is always someplace if you look.

December 14, 2003 07.33 Knud-Erik Andersen

December 14, 2003 Richard Frajola

Knud Isn't it better to give to a local group where you KNOW the stamps go to the intended recipient?

December 14, 2003 07.07 Knud-Erik Andersen

December 14, 2003 Richard Frajola

Knud I think I just received a flyer in the mail from a very similar address trying to sell me packets of stamps.

December 14, 2003 06.41 Knud-Erik Andersen

December 14, 2003 05:47 Bjorn Munch

Pictures and screens
Not everybody runs their browsers in full screen mode. My screen resolution is 1280x1008 but I run my Netscape in 625x915. That way I can fit *two* Netscape windows next to each other, very convenient for browsing through eBay search lists as I can keep the list in the window on the right while I open up interesting items in a stack of windows on the left.

December 14, 2003 05.43 Knud-Erik Andersen

December 14, 2003 05:06 Jim Watson

Roger,
Any image with a width in the range of 640 pixels will fit well on most amyone's monitor. I have mine set at 1024x768 pixels and the pictures, as expected, take up about 60% of the width of the screen.
 

December 14, 2003 Colin Judd UK http://mysite.freeserve.com/GB_Special_Issues/
 

Colin

December 14, 2003 Colin Judd UK

Colin

December 14, 2003 Richard Warren

being tactical
Yes, Dave's board, Dave's rules - fair enough. And I say that as someone who has certainly posted inflammatory and critical comments here. Meanwhile, I'm as confused as anyone else, but my reading is that some sort of tactical retreat is going on, and that's fine. We all need to box clever.

December 14, 2003 Mauro Mowszowicz

Roger H. & Hawaiian pictures
Roger, nice pics, they look a little bit "small" on a "21 @1600/1200
=)
Regards
Mauro

December 14, 2003 head censor

I'm sorry for the very frank words and anonymous post, but many of us are very disappointed and it's difficult to say this any other way. Have you thought of privately asking for pro bono legal assistance from some of your board participants, should it be required? Don't let the crooks win. Don't take the easy way out and buckle like eBay did.

December 14, 2003 12:19 Nick I (lotus194)

Censorship
David P -- I only welcome this censorship as a "better of the two evils". I would much rather have seen the board members use their knowledge and expertise to help misguided sellers, rather than the tack chosen by some members to ridicule, insult, put down, threaten, interfere in auctions etc.

Their rude and arrogant methods of "righting the wrongs in the philatelic world" were never going to last the course anyway, in this world we now live in, bullies and right wing pressure groups have no rightful place.

I too do not know what brought this sudden change to this board, but if I were to guess that one or two of you went over the top again, and left Dave F to face the music, I doubt if I would be too far away from the truth.

I also do not see this as a win for the bad guys, but rather common sense and good manners over arrogance and rudeness.

It will make this board less exciting though!

Nick I

December 14, 2003 sveiki! <philaweb at (remove) yahoo dot dk>

Off Topic Photos
Roger Yes, the photos are great and fits into my screen easily.
You can always know whether an image or HTML document fits into others screens. The most common monitor sizes are 15 and 17 inches for PC's. Laptop's have 14 and 15 inch screens. The most common screen resolutions are either 800x600 dpi or 1024x768 dpi (dots per inch). So, any picture or image that is 14 inches wide should fit any browser window without scrolling.

December 14, 2003 sveiki! <philaweb at (remove) yahoo dot dk>

I don't understand why someone puts this cover up for sale on eBay. To me it's total garbage. Reminds me of a time when I was at a local stamp fair and encountered heaps of similar stuff. I asked the seller why he was selling such stuff and not the real thing (postally used). He just answered: "You can always just write the address yourself". Yeah right - like that is any fun?

December 14, 2003 David P

Like Knid-Erik I am rather lost. I have every sympathy with David F. I can only guess at the reasons for the additional restrictions, this is a labour of love for him, and there is no reason he should lay himself open to recrimination.
Having said that, the reason behind setting up the board originally was to avoid Ebay censorship. The linking of scan only will I fear achieve little. It is the context within an auction which counts. I do agree, and said some time ago, that castigating a seller for one or two mistakes is wrong, criticise the auction, not the seller. On the other hand, if a seller continues to post dubious auctions, and is impervious to criticism, then conclusions can rightly be drawn. Without auction-linking the board is impotent, in fact as far as I can see linking of anonymous scans could equally well be done on the Ebay board, and reach a wider audience. As so often in life, the bad guys win, or course these people do not want their auctions open to public criticism. Interesting that one of the first to welcome the experiment was one whose auctions had attracted so much adverse criticsm, says it all really.

December 14, 2003 01.54 Knud-Erik Andersen

December 14, 2003 Jim Griffith <griffith@dweeb.org> http://album.dweeb.org
 

Jim

December 14, 2003 Roger Heath

Off Topic Photos - Saturday Night
I've been playing with my computer and testing photo possibilities this afternoon. These are a few I'll be enlarging to 11 x 14, but they should be the correct scale for you to open and see correct proportions without scrolling. Please let me know if these are the wrong size for your browser windows.
Photo 1
Photo 2
Photo 3
Photo 4
Photo 5
Photo 6

Roger

December 13, 2003 Bill Weiss

Moratorium
PROMO; Do not misunderstand me - whatever Dave says goes. No argument from me. I support whatever he wants to do. I only made the suggestion below in the hopes of inspiring discussion along those lines; as to whether board members feel that discussing a listing without discussing the seller is a plausible idea. I personally do not believe there is anything inherently wrong with offering opinions on authenticity of an eBay listing, or speculating on alterations, etc. After all, that's one of the main reasons this board was formed - to discuss such listings. These types of discussions, IMO, are nothing more than opinions, and there is nothing illegal about offering opinions.

It is only when the discussions turn toward the seller that the honorable intentions of those here can be construed to be attacks on that seller, thus, IMO, that must be avoided at all costs.

Speaking of Poker, this is my last post of the night, must rest, must play poker tomorrow!

December 13, 2003 Prometheus

Sveki!!
Your PostCard Collection and Display on the Web has grown and the ease of Use has Improved 1000% as compared to just a few months ago. Thanks for sharing
Hey NOIP if you have Not gone to see his fantastic postcards of RIGA site you should.
Even if it's just to see how lazy the rest of us are in our collecting habits.
(not all i know )

December 13, 2003 David Benson

Bill, you just stated,

Crooked/fraudulent sellers will be caught through the reporting process in place

Still waiting for the first non US item that was reported to be pulled.

I have reported about 80 in the last 2 weeks and not even a note from Ebay apart from the original acknowledgement.

David B.

 

December 13, 2003 prometheus

Same basic Topic another slant
"Unscrupulous sellers are stealing photograhs of (insert type of item) for sale on the venue (insert any) by legetimate sellers and listing them as their own.

Some dealers who spotted Their own relisted items tried to protect buyers by placing winning bids and then refusing to pay.
"Officials " from the Venue came down hard on the legitimate dealers because it is against their policy ,
The fact that the photos were stolen and that the items did not exist(they had already been sold) could not be used as a reason for Non payment!!
Will mail a copy of the Article from the Digest if anyone wants one, Names and items withheld to protect the Unscrupulous

December 13, 2003 prometheus

Bill Weiss nope
Daves Board = Daves Rules ,

In the E-world that's how it always works
Obeys board = obeys rules
RF 's board = RF's Rules
etc etc and so forth

As far as your idea that the Frauds/fakes and the sellers
thereof will be caught/stopped or punished
Maybe a few
But most of the wonky stuff will still be sold to unsuspecting or illinformed or newbies or knowitall or gamblers or....
you get the idea

Your recent exchange with a Good, Honest Dealer you know
on the other board shows how much of this truly goes on, will continue to go on, and won't be ever stopped in it's entirety.

"Locks were made for the honest People, True crooks will find a way in ,around or through"

I don't believe in Sin so I can never be a sinner

I would not want Dave to expose himself to any kinda
retribution from the Emonsters of the world. So his rules .....




 

December 13, 2003 Brian R

And the good thing? Fear of being marginalized, has forced me to learn how to sever the images, from their auctions.....even if it didn't provide anonymity for my "victim". :o)

December 13, 2003 Jeff Lindstedt

Scotts #'s
Colin Judd..Are we dancing through the sea of air, lightly?

It is unfortunate Scotts #'s rule most descriptions.
Many sellers seem to think that # is all they need for a description.

That said, I have found a few nice US covers where only the Scott # was in the title. No description at all.

 

December 13, 2003 Bill Weiss

The Sin and The Sinner
In religion, one is supposed to separate the SIN from the SINNER. I do not see any good reason why fraudulent eBay listings can not be linked to this board, including the actual eBay page, just as we have always done, but with one new rule......UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES MAY COMMENTS BE MADE ABOUT THE SELLER. It's simple. No more comments of ANY kind about the seller. No conjecture about his motives. Nothing. Just talk about the product. Is it genuine? Is it reperfed? Whatever. Say all we want about the item. Report it to eBay/SWC. Just don't say a word about the seller.

Crooked/fraudulent sellers will be caught through the reporting process in place. No need to talk about the seller. We separate the sin from the sinner.

Comments?

December 13, 2003 Chris

postage rate table
sveiki! Nice table. Very easy to read and to
see how the rows line up. I give it two thumbs up.

Chris - design challenged

December 13, 2003 prometheus

thanks guys
Richard - it just looks like I could print it

Nomad - Thanks I'm trying to learn , just found a new to me Aux handstamp " Credit for delievery taken at office of First Address"
instead of the Fee

December 13, 2003 Richard Ballhagen (spain_1850)

Dave - Hadn't thought of that traceability issue.

December 13, 2003 nomad55

Prom....you got it right. It is a fancy. Negative L in duplex.
There are people who collect alphabetical fancies.

December 13, 2003 prometheus

Neat little cancel
while sorting some covers noticed this negL
Neat little cancel would this be called a fancy or ???

December 13, 2003 prometheus

richard B
Thanks I just wondered if that was how it was supposed to appear ,
Some of the Spainish stuff is hard to tell if real , because of the simplicity of printing methods.

December 13, 2003 17:40 Dave F. (moderator)

Sorry -- been off-line a little longer than I expected.

Brian: Your most recent link illustrates for me a nuance that I was going to add to Richard B's comment about just clicking on the image to get the url of the image itself. In your particular case, you could see from the url who it belongs to, and I would consider this still quite traceable and unadvisable.

It varies case by case as to the traceability. At the other extreme, and, for once, a desirable characteristic of eBay image-hosting, is that one cannot trace back to a particular seller, or to a particular auction, the source of the image.

Thus, in the first case, I would still recommend that the image be downloaded to another site and then linked. But in the case that Prometheus cited, you could do the simple thing of just linking to the image at its source, without first needing to relocate it, because it was an eBay image. For other sites, you'd have to make a determination as to whether or not the url "over-informs".

Sorry to get a bit technical, but it's an important wrinkle to iron out.

December 13, 2003 Brian R

YES!
first try :O)
 

December 13, 2003 Brian R

My apologies, if I somehow mangle the board (hey, i've been known to do it). If it works, you'll have to find another way, to exclude me. :o)

December 13, 2003 Scott Trepel

CSA 2c with New York CDS
I read the posts about this item.

I agree it is a genuine stamp with faked red New York credit datestamp.

I do NOT agree that everyone should be expected to know that.

In fact, there is a CSA #8 with a genuine "Elmira NY" cds, which got on the stamp because it was affixed to a POW cover sent by flag of truce. Someone with "a little knowledge" gleaned from these posts would ASSUME it was fake, because Elmira NY wasn't exactly in the heart of the Confederacy. However, they would be wrong and might do something stupid like indelibly mark it "fake".

I'd cut the Ebay seller a little slack on this one. He should certainly respond by withdrawing it, but this is hardly a case of offering the Brooklyn Bridge.

December 13, 2003 Bill Dempwolf

Bill

December 13, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

Bill L
When I send nothing it works.
When I try to send "secret messages" its no go.
I'm getting

Remote host said: 554 Service unavailable; Client host [**.***.**.**]
blocked using bl.spamcop.net; Blocked - see
 

December 13, 2003 Richard Ballhagen (spain_1850)

Dave - I will comply with your experiment without a problem.

December 13, 2003 Michael Walter

sveiki!
Looks good to me

December 13, 2003 sveiki! <philaweb at (remove) yahoo dot dk>

Here's a template I've been working on for the presentation of postage rates tables. Any critique? (How easy is navigation? readability?) It's by far finished yet, I've just created this specimen to see how it looks like.
Any critique, nitpicking, suggestions on these pages?
TIA {:o)

December 13, 2003 Brian R

I think even beginning collectors know that New York cancels don't belong on CSA issues. I simply wanted to know if that particular fake could be attributed to Sperati.

December 13, 2003 Michael Walter

I have web space. If someone emails me an auction # I will cut the pic and post it here.

December 13, 2003 John Forsyth

Dave F
Yes, I have the ability to save, upload to my web site, and link pictures. You are right, it would be a hassle over a simple link.
It doesn't bother me that Stu Katz missed a cancel. I am sure he scanned a hundred that day and just missed the obvious. I don't perceive him as defamed in anyway. Generally, his material is quite accurately described.
When I was first on eBay, I bought a stamp for $200 from a Schylerac (sp).Almost certainly it had been "improved". I caught on to him fairly quickly, and my suspicions were verified by comments on others on the eBay board (when we could discuss things freely there). Then, he flipped to pcheltenham and I got bitten again. Perhaps, shame on me, but had I read and observed problems with him sooner, I would have saved myself another few dollars. So, to a degree I am concerned about dollars and cents. I can spot a dodge usually now but then I have been on eBay on and off for three years now. So to me an important part of these discourses is to learn the shysters as well as learn the stamps and covers. Perhaps, I am naive in assuming people can observe the particular links and come to an educated opinion on rather someone let one get by or someone is trying to deceive.
On another note, I can wholeheartedly agree with your wishes on some of the comments made now and again. Comments concerning how high someone's prices are etc., seem to serve no useful purpose and detract. Simply, don't deal with them. Same with S&H charges, etc. Just don't deal with them.Defame someone? It serves no purpose.
Having said all this, I have no ironclad suggestion to enable the wheat to be separated from the chaff.

December 13, 2003 Brian R

Dave F
Lets say there was a certain seller applying his/her own fake cancels to items. Why would we NOT, want to associate those images, with the seller? I understand why Ebay does it (scam or not--more money). While protecting the cretins, might make this a more warm and fuzzy place, I'd say it would be a disservice, to the philatelic community at large.

December 13, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

Brian
Certain idiots sellers are sensitive to being called idiots to task in a public forum because they haven't the intelligence nor social graces to respond in a civil manner.
Depending on their degree of social ineptness and monetary well-being they will respond by:
1) threatening to sue
2) post defamatory comments
3) plead they knew not what they were doing.
What they usually will not do is admit their mistakes.
Unfortunately, eBay has removed the ability to warn uninformed bidders and the ability to advise a seller is often based on the manner of their response with respect to the previous three attributes.

December 13, 2003 15:26 Dave F. (moderator)

Brian R: I appreciate your remarks, and you may be right that it eliminates a lot of posts.

Perhaps several more people besides Prometheus will be able to offer some assistance. I also don't want to dismiss the learning curve issues of downloading and then uploading images, but, these days, almost anyone who has internet service through an ISP has a reasonable amount of web-hosting space available, and, in some cases, the ISPs make it pretty easy to do so. (In general, it's a lot easier than it used to be.)

Also, if the image is from the eBay hosting service, if you right-click on the image to open it to a new page, then do the code to link to that url instead of the original auction description, that will work too. (Sounds more complicated than it is in practice.) It's ok because there is not a way (at least, a straightforward way that I can find) to reassociate that link to the auction. The problem with some of the other image-hosting sites (at least Vendio, which I just tested) is that the user's directory information is still available. In the cases where their Vendio user id is the same as their eBay user id, it's too close an association, in my opinion.

I appreciate the sentiment of your remarks, nonetheless.

December 13, 2003 Brian R

If I can play devils advocate for a moment, it's not like you're publishing peoples private diaries. Live auctions are put out there on the net for the world to see. If sellers don't like the comments that result, they can either quit trying to scam people, or learn enough about their item so as they don't appear to be an idiot.

December 13, 2003 Roger Heath

Claghorn's Swiss Question
Bill -
I just spent 1/2 trying to view that auction. I was in Net 7.0 and it would only load down to the Swedish stamps then quit loading. Thought I'd try 4.8, that took ten minutes of loading (I could see it between 1k-3k/sec and I'm on cable) then Netscape ran out of mamory, I changed my settings to 30 Meg of memory from 10, and same thing happened, therefore, never saw anything Swiss. All I can think of when I read the description is the seller states he spent 9 hours confirming two stamps using Weeds, I wonder what catalogue was used to identify the stamps? I can't figure out why someone who has so many images doesn't use links. Mkaes me think Ebay should have a ten image limit!

Sorry couldn't help,
Roger

December 13, 2003 23.05 Nick I (lotus194)

Moratorium
Dave F (Moderator)

I for one support your moratorium experiment 100%. I think you might lose several posters here, but my opinion is that the board would be a better place without them anyway.

Keep up the good work, started to become a bit of a regular lurker now.

Nick I

December 13, 2003 14:47 Dave F. (moderator)

David B: I agree with you that a description of the item may well be important. I think we can feel our way along through this. For example, Bill D has it right, I think.

On the other hand, the auction linked to with all the pics would really not fit the guidelines, although I appreciate that this is a significant restriction.

December 13, 2003 14:38 Bill Claghorn (claghorn1p) http://www.geocities.com/claghorn1p/
 

The Congo is more difficult as those need a better scan that that provided. I am having difficulty getting a good large clear scan of good ones. Perhaps Vic H. can send me a clear scan of good ones.

December 13, 2003 David Benson

Bill it looks OK to me but I would ask for a scan of the reverse to verify there is no problem where that black mark is. It may be OK or it could be a sign of a thin spot.

There are a lot of forgeries of the high value early Belgian Congo inc. overpints on genuine stamps but that is not like any of the forgeries I have seen.

heading out for a few hours,

David B.

December 13, 2003 Bill Dempwolf

Bill

December 13, 2003 14:17 Dave F. (moderator)

John F: Your point is a good one, and I'm looking for a way to keep the learning in the process. One way, which Prometheus has already figured out and generously offered to help with, is to dissociate the item from the transaction.

For instance, the discussion this morning about the Confederate stamp, and whether or not the stamp or the cancel is counterfeit, and, if so, by whom, is a great learning example. The stamp image itself would allow that discussion to happen without revealing details about the seller, the bidders, etc. That would be a welcome discussion and great opportunity for learning.

But I appreciate that it's a complicated way to do things.

My concern in just having someone link to an auction and say "what do you think of this?" is that it naturally invites opinions by others. Some of those opinions may be extremely well-informed and indeed a statement of fact. But others may be less well-informed and perhaps indeed guesses. Thus it's best to dissociate the philatelic item from any parties associated with it.

If this becomes too complicated to do, I understand that that could have a deleterious effect on the board.

December 13, 2003 David Benson

Dave, I undersatnd your predicament but there should still be someway that questions should be asked about problem listings. Promo's idea is very good with just a linking to the item without mentioning the seller but it may also need a description of what the item purports to be in case there is a variance. It should also stop the sellers from coming here huffing and puffing as there is no way the seller can be contacted to call in for a visit.

BTW have you heard from Dan Neary about the verifiaction of the Ebay areas covered by the SWC. I sent him an email but still awaiting a response.

David Benson

December 13, 2003 14:05 Bill Claghorn (claghorn1p) http://www.geocities.com/claghorn1p/
 

Jim and Roger and D2 Just take a look at the Swiss and Volcanos at the end of this auction and see how many "special" items there are.

December 13, 2003 John@MagnoliaStamps

Pro
I don't know what I was thinking about,Heck I linked to the wrond one all togather.I'll blame this goof up on C.R.S. disorder!Ha.ha!
Sorry.

December 13, 2003 prometheus <Prometheus@1Internetdrive.com>

Offer of Help To Any and All
ANYONE that has a lot anywhere they would like to ask about and need some clerical support just email item # and location and I'll grab the image and post a link here. I have a few thousand megs of space available and surf many hours every day.
 

December 13, 2003 John Forsyth

Dave
Certainly, Dave, this is your board. I can see what you are trying to achieve. Much, however, of what I learn on here is from direct links to various items on eBay........what is wrong with something, etc. I grant you all too often this is done in an inflammatory manner, but for the most part it seems informative in nature. I can make a valid judgment if a seller has simply let one get by or rather they are making a practice of deceiving.

December 13, 2003 13:36 Dave F. (moderator)

Prometheus: Absolutely fine. Indeed, encouraged.

December 13, 2003 prometheus

Dave F - format of Board question
If the post has no link therefore no reference to any buyer/seller, auction site etc is that what you are looking for.

Like this item photo
is the seeking of opinion on just an Image acceptable ??

Hope the wesayso monster isn't after you.

December 13, 2003 prometheus

richard B (spain) ??
Since you seem to be around today.

What do you think of this FullGum


Dave F = Your board your choices I've said that from the beginning .


 

December 13, 2003 13:02 Dave F. (moderator) <dfrick@pacificanalytics.com>

The test is, would any party who is referenced in your post, either through a link or by your comments, be upset or offended by your comment if they read it on here. If so, then I believe you're going to have to find another venue for those comments.

I do not make this request lightly.

I appreciate that this is broad, drastic, and perhaps chilling.

I recognize that some of you will be so offended that you'll no longer participate or even not come back at all. I appreciate that some of you may have to make a significant change to your posting style. For others of you -- indeed, the majority, I believe -- no change will be needed at all.

I also believe that the majority of posts will not be affected, and, most importantly, I think that there can still be significant discourse on subjects of philatelic merit. Indeed, it may be possible that more people will make more posts about more philatelic subjects, which in turn could result in even more positive philatelic discussion.

This is why I called it an "experiment" at the beginning of this post. The question is: does this board have value aside from pointing out questionable auctions on eBay? Some people believe it does; others believe it doesn't.

I hope it does, but if it doesn't, then that gives me the data I need to make an informed choice about the future of this board. I would like to keep it up and running the way it is, in this format, without requiring a closed board, without significant registration requirements, without having to pre-approve all posts, etc. But I have to strike a balance between the ongoing value to the philatelic community and the resources required of me to keep it going.

I hope that it can still be an asset to the philatelic community, perhaps even a stronger one.

Thanks in advance for your support and cooperation.

My vote is that it can still be of value.
 

December 13, 2003 Bill Weiss

Fake Cancel
BRIAN; I have sent Stu Katz an email about this obviousl-fake cancel. Let's see if he pulls it in the next few days. If not, you may want to report it. Like RF, I have only ever heard of the fake cancels on Speratis on #5 and #9s.

December 13, 2003 Roger Heath

Cellophane
Interesting articel here

http://www.ideafinder.com/history/inventions/cellophane.htm

Roger

December 13, 2003 Richard Frajola

FAKE Cancel on CSA #8
Brian That is NOT a Sperati. Just a fake cancel on genuine stamp. Sperati did CSA #5 and #9 only.

December 13, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

OK, I'm still here, forgot it was a pot-luck party, so I'm cooking my favorite angel wings.
Hamburger and spinach wrapped in wanton and deep fried.

Cover appears to have repaired at some point with cellotape, note dark line down right side of front.
Stamp and cancel overlie cellotape.
As far as I am aware, cellotape did not exist in 1863

December 13, 2003 Brian R

fun with cancels
Here is a cancel that isSON and easily readable. Therein lies the problem. Somebody was asleep in history class! Seriously, I have read that one of Sperati's more laughable goofs, were NY cancels on these. Could this be one?

December 13, 2003 David Benson

Jim, it got there, but missed out on a few markings on the way, possible attached to some others and only the top item marked.

David B.

December 13, 2003 Richard Ballhagen (spain_1850)

Jim - Yes, I see that now. Only other thing I can think that's odd is that it says "via France", but there are no French markings that I can see.

December 13, 2003 11:06 Bjorn Munch

Sniper's revenge
Drats, that's what you get from outsniping someone, they hit back a minute later. OK I wouldn't have won the second one anyway because of a no-quite-sniper, but still...
 

December 13, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

Sorry the back.

December 13, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

RB
Thats an impression of the original seal.

December 13, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

David, here isthe back.
It obviously left London and got to Oporto.

December 13, 2003 Richard Ballhagen (spain_1850)

Jim - It looks to me like it has been re-used, possibly? I see what looks like a round CDS peaking through the paper from the other side.

December 13, 2003 David Benson

Jim, unusual there are no other marks on the face, no cds., no transits, no nothing,

David B.

December 13, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

Work for the day complted, now for the party.
Barbequed spare ribs and two kegs of beer.
Anyone see anything unusual about this item?

December 13, 2003 Bill Weiss

C3a Block, Etc
That oval machine cancel is indeed a Barry oval. That C3a fake/forgery block is correctly identified by the seller as a fake/forgery, but I have contacted him regarding the proper marking of same to comply with eBay's marking policy. So far, he hasn't answered me. It seems like a lot of money to me for a fake/forgery (modern), but what the heck do I know?

December 13, 2003 Prometheus

Thanks Richard
Loaned out my machine book and only have the Cyclopedia handy , still sorting ....
Thanks also to the luker who emailed the same info you know who you are.

December 13, 2003 Richard Ballhagen (spain_1850)

Prometheus - I believe it's a Barry, which I probably would never have known had I not been hanging around on these chatboards. I'm sure Matt will be able to tell exactly which type it is, but in my little reference book it is listed as #29.

December 13, 2003 prometheus

Cancel Question
Anyone know what type this is boston1898

December 13, 2003 prometheus

John mag stamps
I see no Doane there. I likes Doanes.

December 13, 2003 John@MagnoliaStamps

B.T.W.
Are there any thoughts or comments on this item it has been around for some time now.

December 13, 2003 John@MagnoliaStamps

Home Again home again
Well folks I made I home from the north country,I got stuck in the snow at a recievers loading dock,most all of our customers have paved driveways,Well it just happens that one did not there were pot hole deep enough to loose a small car in.I backed up with-in 3 ft. of the dock and thats as close as I could get so I shoved it into 1st gear and nothing happened so I locked in th rear axle and tried it again.I got unstuck but in the process tore out the stop brake in the clutch,Oooops! Todays trucks are easy to to shift and only need the clutch to start off with so I was able to make it home safely.And it is now being repaired. I will be leaving out for the much warmer climate of Miami Fla. this evening..
I can't rememeber who it was that was collecting the doan cancels but there is a neat 1st flight cover from Galviston with a block of 4 washingtons dated 1928 on ebay,and can be found here any way I've got to run to the city,run some erands..I'll check back before I leave.
john

December 13, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

I thought it was only the Swiss who produced a chocolate stamp.
Got to go don my robes, be back later today.

December 13, 2003 05.51 am Colin Judd UK http://mysite.freeserve.com/xzephyr_stamps
 

Takes swig from cup of tea by computer. I must be more careful with my chocolate over Christmas! Colin

December 13, 2003 Kevin LaFrance <sheetguy/sheetguy2>

GOOD MORNING CHUCKLE!
ALL....Go to eBay item 2972405671....read the description. Kevin

December 13, 2003 03:20 Jim Watson

There is also an update of an airmail cover Mexico to the United States in 1929.

December 13, 2003 David Benson

Lavar, can't help you, Gibbons doesn't mention Australian States with inverted watermarks as most are very common. It is not in RL and there is not much else on South Australia. Nice item for a specialist but I doubt it is worth much more than watermark upright.

David B.

December 13, 2003 01.09 Knud-Erik Andersen

December 13, 2003 Lavar Taylor

If you were fortunate to buy a complete set of those used stamps, that set currently catalogs for 5000 Euros. This is a great example of philately featured on postal history.

December 12, 2003 20:12 Bill Claghorn (claghorn1p) http://www.geocities.com/claghorn1p/
 

Vickie is Upset
IOmoon Vickie looks very upset on this one .

December 12, 2003 nomad55

Knud Erik.....quick question.

Can you read this cancel/

December 12, 2003 prometheus

NPS Scan
Here is what I am asking about Precancelled

December 12, 2003 prometheus

NPS
Guess I should have added of Painesville OHIO
or is this ohio address a branch of the British group?

December 12, 2003 prometheus

Jim w-s
Thanks

noip Any of you older folks ever a member of the National Philatelic Society

December 12, 2003 Jim whitford-Stark

anyone know what this is?
Pro
Literally translated, your label appears to be an official solicitors label for an item won at auction.
It may be Canadian rather than French.
Perhaps Bill L would know.

December 12, 2003 prometheus

Sveiki!!
you wondered where one might get the red express label on that cover that tickled your brian,
I have a huge bunch of different labels here are a few to look at

1. Expres

2. registered

3. insured

4. returnrecreq

I know a local junk dealer who has lots of this kinda stuff.

December 12, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

bjorn
He seems like a nice guy.
He'd emailed me within ten minutes of auction end.

Bill C
Your memory is correct.
Postcard before and then after exposure to sunlight.
 

December 12, 2003 prometheus

ANYONE KNOW WHAT THIS IS??
Postallabel?

December 12, 2003 Lavar Taylor

Knud-Erik and Jim W -- Thanks for your comments. The OKW censor tape is "b" for Berlin. But the letter apparently started out in Hamburg. Would someone flying to Lisbon for a connecting flight to the US have flown out of Berlin? If not, it is getting stranger.

December 12, 2003 12:49 Bjorn Munch

Karabakh
Jim, you will also receive this in a nice cover from Nagorno-Karabakh. At least I did when I bought an item from the same seller.
 

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

Sun bleaches out Red but not Blue
David K.

A short time ago I think it was Jim who posted before and after scans of a map of Texas on the wall left in the sun. The sun bleached out all the read and left only the blue. The red bleaches out much much faster than the blue.

December 12, 2003 David K.

Interesting! I knew bleach would lighten and burn out added impurities on paper but to seperate one color from another? Nope, not bleach. And Sun UV always fascinated me since it covers the entire light spectrum and burns out colors uniformly when displayed. But to seperate the red from the purple to gain a blue is tricky business. My hat is off to Mr. Sun; seems to be a changeling due to the European shade of a plastel blue or a day glow blue. Thanks guys!

December 12, 2003 David Benson

John Forsyth, not sure what we will be doing on the night of the NSW meeting. We most probably will be away but haven't made final plans yet. If you need details on address of Philas House let me know although easy to find,

David B.

December 12, 2003 11:41 Bill Claghorn (claghorn1p) http://www.geocities.com/claghorn1p/
 

Gee. Double sniped. At least we have a consensus.

December 12, 2003 John Forsyth

david K
I would think it has been in the sun in a display or something. The red in the blue/red mixture to get the violet has burned out. Most reds have poor light fastness.

December 12, 2003 11:38 Bill Claghorn (claghorn1p) http://www.geocities.com/claghorn1p/
 

US #555 violet 3c turned Blue
David K

Your stamp was probagbly exposed to the sun or bleach for a long time. The sun has a tendency to bleach out red and leave blue. We call is a chemical changeling even if the "chemical" is the sun.

December 12, 2003 Brian McInturff <philatelist@earthlink.net>

David K
Probably soaked in peroxide

December 12, 2003 Brian R

David K
My vote is that it is a chemically induced "changling".

December 12, 2003 David K

Dang, ith appened again! Stamp Pic:this stamp?

December 12, 2003 David K.

US #555 violet 3c
Blue is such a nice color, but how did this one turn out blue, Anyone?
this stamp?

December 12, 2003 Matt Liebson

Jim: I should think those Timor stamps are going to be scarce used anywhere.

December 12, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

In writing the last, I almost forgot about this cutey, couldn't resist it, even if it is philatelic I don't think that there will be many of these.

December 12, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

Yipee, just finished grading my last final.
Just commencement tomorrow morning followed by a graduation party tomorrow afternoon, then I'm finished for the year.

December 12, 2003 prometheus

Jim W-s
Thanks I knew someone here would tell me where to go ( for translations)

December 12, 2003 Prometheus

Cards are nice views
Here is the other side of the DDR riverscene

December 12, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

Pro
If you ever need a language dictionary go here

December 12, 2003 prometheus

Thanks Rob
I still have not figured out why But I tend to buy alot of Readable cancels even when I have no real interest in the items.

Here is an example of a DDR (I have 200 or so different)

DDR

Bought a boxlot cheap could not resist .....

December 12, 2003 prometheus

Czech transalations ?? Altavista does Not list Czech anyone know of a site to translate a document?
Here is the item in Question

???

Used to think I was of Czech Origins from my grandfthers side have since(last week ) found Out We are really Carpathain-Rusyn, Have actually been in email contact with a cousin who lives in the TransCaucas region and am slowly learning much I did not know about my grandfathers family History.

December 12, 2003 Rob Faux

Prometheus I've sold several of that sort of cancel for 50 cents or more at one point in time (not something I collect)... Likely not worth much more than that - but they attract people, scarce or no.

December 12, 2003 Rob Faux

DAvid K From the scan, the two stamps don't appear to be the same shade & the leftmost is likely one of the known shades with the typeface size difference. A Michel catalogue would help you with this one more than Scott. so, if someone out there has one readily available....

Rob

 

December 12, 2003 prometheus

Lars B
Are Cancels like this 1944
Worth my 50 cents I normally pay.
Or should I worry more about the other side of the card.

December 12, 2003 prometheus

Smallest Picture Postcard I have
here is a scan of the smallest tourist type Post card I have

little

While not the smallest Post Card I own it is the smallest non business type.
Nice picture of Fort Knox rockport maine

December 12, 2003 Bill Weiss

Catalog
KEVIN; Catalog just got picked up by my printer and I am ahead of schedule. Sale is Feb. 21. Thanks for asking.

December 12, 2003 Lars Boettger <alpha2 at pt dot lu>

Crown-Eagle
David K

Simply post your question on the German ebay stamp chat. There are two chaps out there who should be able to answer your question easily. Both iceland and 1odenwald are members of the Crown/Eagle society.

Best regards,

Lars

December 12, 2003 prometheus

David K
Can't get there is it me or the link.

December 12, 2003 David K

Germany
Having trouble with these links! Hope this one works, this stamp?
 

December 12, 2003 prometheus

NOIP - the bay as overall catalog
Read an article yesterday that the bay is becoming the Blue Book for all values of everything, true market place values.

Does anyone here think that Ebay will/has replaced the Catalogs normally used in the field of stamps or do you feel that like the kelley blue book people that they don't have a broad enuf market to set values yet.
I find it interesting that the article states that deductions for donations are now being set using bay prices and that they offer up this info (for a fee)
Any one here using this service??

December 12, 2003 David K <eaglearts@aol.com>

Germany
Germany #51 Chocolate Left stamp: REICHSPOST on left is larger by .25-50mm. Scott only refers to #57a to 61a as having early enlarged type. Any ideas out there? Thanks.

December 12, 2003 prometheus

Paolo B
Have a good holiday and thanks for the info on those 25 cent Italian stamps.

December 12, 2003 prometheus <Prometheus@1Internetdrive.com>

Flat Vs Rotary prints
Thanks all for comments and information
The Flat stamps are much nicer in apperance.

December 12, 2003 Paolo Bagaglia

Holidays fever, worries and missed replies
Yesterday evening I missed to reply, or gave a half reply, to some of your kind posts. I therefore make this special post here (which would be illegal at all effects, but I think Mr. another is temporarily knocked out by the sudden increase of attention and the burden of responsibilities thrown on his shoulders and so I will manage to subtract myself from the punishment of the launch of ripe cherries, at least).

Prometheus thanks for your supportive comments, my friend. I saw your question in your web-site regarding colour nuances or anomalies thereof on those 1926 Italy definitive bicolors of the "Floral Issue", 75c. carmine and rose printed in typography, if I recall correctly . Well, as many other things philatelic and not, I don't know much about those neither I have adequate literature on the Issue (there is a specialized book about the "Floral Issues" from 1901 to 1926, which I intend to purchase at the first occasion).
I only read that there are known two plate numbers of the floral ornaments (which were printed with a same plate for the 25c., 75c., 1,25 L. and ) which are 13059 and 13415 (progressive plate numbers) and one plate number of the effigy, value and frame which is 13062. This would let suppose there were at least two printings of these postage stamps. The original agents, irregular ink distribution, ink composition and plate wear and the aging agents which acted during the years, might represent a reason of the relatively large range of effective or apparent colour variations in this Issue, especially for the denominations of larger use which were the 25c. and the 1,25L both known with the print of the ornament faded and with the ornate in at least respectively two and three different shades (looking in my collection). The double print of the floral ornament is known on the 25c. and 1,25L. denominations, but I do not think that that is the case in this present discussion.
I have rather many copies of this Issue (loose and on cover) but I still have to study them carefully. I would like to give a warning regarding the faded colours of the floral ornament, rather common due to the agents mentioned above, that sometimes are offered as "missing print of the floral ornament", known variety, which, in mint condition, are scarce. Anybody that knows more about this Issue (mr. Another comes to mind) is warmly invited to supervision what I wrote and eventually correct and/or add.

Bill W. Thank you for your kind words & comprehension. I am interested in your posts, as well!

Rob F. All is fine here and the same I hope is with you! Just a little hectic as usual as I have things to arrange and the ususal problems with my car, to solve or fix prior to leaving (my check list is something like that of a Boeing 747 LOL).

Hi, Dave F.! Thank you for your very kind greetings! Hope to be back in one piece and more relaxed.

Good continuation to all (which also includes deceased car racers and mr. Another :-)
 

December 12, 2003 sveiki! <philaweb at (remove) yahoo dot dk>

The Internet is simply amazing ~ I'm learning something new each and every day! Yesterday I got this idea of writing the Latvian street names in the correct Latvian font types, but how does one do that with a standard western keyboard? It's actually quite simple because I found this page with fonts and miscellaneous stuff. A bit down the page is something called "keyboard drivers" - so I tried to install both. Keyman is a small program which enables you to program additional functions to your PC keyboard - ANY language font whatsoever. Simply fantastic! There is a small tutorial program included to Keyman.

December 12, 2003 04:45 Jim Watson

Lavar,
Knud-Erik's mention of Portugal leads me to this hypothesis on your letter. Air service between Europe and the US at the time was provided by PanAm through its Clipper flights from Lisbon, Portugal. To have traveled on the flight from Germany, one would have had to purchase a ticket - probably through a travel agency. This may have given notice to the German security forces that a traveler was on his way. The travelers may have been routinely questioned regarding their trip and any mail they might be carrying.

Hapag also would certainly have been careful to avoid criticism of any forbidden actiivities like hand-carrying mail abroad. They may also have been responsible for self-censorship. Therefore, the mail was censored and allowed to be carried aboard someone flying the clipper from Lisbon to the US.
 

December 12, 2003 01.58 Knud-Erik Andersen

December 12, 2003 John Forsyth

Hey , I hit a hundred! Only took me three years. Benson gets that many in a week :)
DBenson
David, I sent in my money for the NSW Philatelic Society. Now if I can just find the place.

December 12, 2003 Lavar Taylor

So how did this cover managed to get censored but escape getting any postmarks of any kind (including dues markings? The absence of any stamps or markings from postal officials in Germany or the US would indicate that the cover was hand carried by someone who traveled from Hamburg to NY. But how did the cover get censored? Did the person carrying the cover hand it to the censors and then take it back for personal delivery? I looked at this cover from different angles for traces of gum or other evidence that stamps were once affixed and could find no evidence indicating that stamps were ever affixed to this cover. So what happened?

December 12, 2003 Jim (jaywild)

December 12, 2003 Jim (jaywild)

Jim

December 11, 2003 22:17 Eric Dyck

Experts

The standard joke at medical conferences is that an expert is someone from out of town with slides. Or, these days, with a PowerPoint presentation.

Eric

December 11, 2003 21:10 Dave F. (moderator)

Paolo!: Sorry I haven't been able to say hi before now! Have a great holiday season, and come back relaxed and refreshed and ready to share more philatelic knowledge in the New Year! See you then.

December 11, 2003 Paolo B. etc.

Christmas holidays
I will be off for the next four weeks for my holidays.
Any non-answered e-mails will keep being non-answered, any questions about Italian stamps can be simply answered by anybody else; at this purpose, to act as a one-way filter in the intelligence office, I modestly nominate the esteemed Mr. "another" as leader of the "random opinions" grand committee. Any illegal discussions are and will be banned and severely cherrieshed including "son of flowers" and "wips" on Italian stamps (sorry for that -- ahh Dura lex, sed lex). The punishment will consist in the immediate incineration of the stamps in discussion through very rapidly repeated wipping process which will increase the temperature till a flame will originate and to stick full sheets of illegal stamps portraying Caneron Diaz on public square, as though of anti-fetish manifest, for personal humiliation and community recreation (by being forced to look at the bestucken stamps later).
In this time frame, any posts under my name or purporting to be the ones of Mr. another, or again, mine, will be illegal and punished as above (or worse).
Merry Christmas and happy new year.
Good continuation.
PS The cherrishment is an additional punishment and consists in the throwth of rape, fattish cherries.

December 11, 2003 20:20 Dana Krueger <dkrueger at kfl dot com>

Dana

December 11, 2003 7:50 PM Frank

USPS replacement cancel
If you get a cover or parcel where a stamp/stamps have been ruined by killer bars, over inking, pen scribble cancels etc. and you want a replacement stamp neatly cancelled in its place what is the postal regulation that requires a postmaster to furnish it to you? It is my understanding that you can get this service and it is not dependent on having written on the package: light cancel requested or philatelic/stamp collector cancel please. I got a turndown from my regional postal center.

December 11, 2003 19:28 Dave F. (moderator)

Posts Deleted
All posts pertaining to the seller "wipintl" have been deleted. Future posts about this seller will also be deleted. Posts commenting on the deletions will also be deleted.

Thank you for your cooperation.

December 11, 2003 Ken Lawrence

Brian R

Aside from the enormous increase in productivity of the printing itself, the specific reason why Benjamin Stickney invented the intaglio rotary press was to print coil stamps, because demand had begun to outstrip the Bureau of Engraving and Printing's capacity to manufacture them by manually pasting strips together at every 20th stamp.

December 11, 2003 Paolo G.G. B. - V.

Rob F.
Thanks for your kind words. That's indeed what I try to do, honestly. The important thing is that I think I know my limits and I am trying to learn more, so to improve and learn from my mistakes, by posting on an Italian Philatelic forum.
(I am sorry, but I stubbornly ain't citing anyone on this point, because what I condense passes misunderstood or neglected and what I extend is succesfully reduced).
It is not excluded that with the help of a dear friend of mine in Milan (I lately made some pretty good acquaintances there, like I already had the chance to write), I will finally take this "certification" (or authorization) maybe within some years.

However a part of my endearment feelings and all of my philatelic thoughts are and will remain bound, forever, with my friend Barry Th. (BT56), who advised and stimulated me to move on,
Paolo
 

December 11, 2003 Frank

Engraved vs rotary
Brian R.-Lament not me hearty rotary printed stamps have not taken over our universe completely. Sweden, the Czech Republic and to a lesser extent Austria continue to produce wonderful engraved stamps. USA match and die stamps are not too pricey and most are engraved,and I just love the 1874-1897 Peruvian engraved postage dues with a steam ship charging through the waves and a Llama below (Scoctt #s J1-33). I think you could really get into them since they come with overprints and with and without grills. Branch out and enjoy.

December 11, 2003 Rob Faux

Paolo It's good to 'read' you here. :) Hope all is well.

All Paolo has much more expertise in Italian postal history than nearly anyone I know (as far as I can tell). Therefore, he would be a person I would ask if I had questions about same. Does that make him an expert? It doesn't matter. But, I trust that he will give his best opinion, take responsibility to learn what he can, and will admit when he doesn't know. :)

Hence, I like very much Mauro's reminder about respect. I have great respect for the knowledge often displayed on this board (and other related boards). It's good to have this resource. I only hope to repay with the small bits I can offer.

And, on a postal history related note:
My lovely bride took the effort to locate a graduation gift for me. It's a wonderful thing when you and your partner can take an interest in each other's hobbies.

The above is a disinfected mail usage. If you wanted resources on same, here is a list.

A short summary is here.

More some other day.

December 11, 2003 sveiki! <philaweb at (remove) yahoo dot dk>

Knud-Erik Hej! Many thanks BTW for the postcard you mailed. The boxmark on the cover is "M.P.k" and I think it's a German mark. Don't know about the postage rate - was just curious, wouldn't buy something I don't collect.

December 11, 2003 14.13 Knud-Erik Andersen

December 11, 2003 Brian R

I dunno, maybe it's just me.

December 11, 2003 14.08 Knud-Erik Andersen

December 11, 2003 Mauro Mowszowicz

Tony R
Entry Word: expert
Function: adjective
Text: Synonyms PROFICIENT, adept, crack, crackerjack, master, masterful, masterly, skilled, skillful
Related Word schooled, trained; adroit, deft, dexterous; pro, professional
Contrasted Words unpracticed; unschooled
Antonyms amateur, inexpert

Tony R: Many of the board lurkers and posters fit this description, also there is another word that i tend to link to this one, and as a rule of thumb to anyone i come across, but of course it is just my H.O.

Entry Word: respect
Function: noun
Text: Synonyms REGARD 4, account, admiration, consideration, esteem, estimation, favor
Related Word awe, fear, reverence; adoration, veneration, worship
Antonyms scorn

Regards from the far south

Mauro

December 11, 2003 Dave P

Guess I will never be an expert, whenever I learn something new, I also learn that there at least two more things I don't know.
In seriousness though, isn't an expert on a subject the person who knows more than 99% (or choose your own figure) of his/her contemporaries? If someone knows more than me he has greater expertise in the subject than me, if he knows more than anyone else that I know of, then he is the expert in my eyes.

December 11, 2003 sveiki! <philaweb at (remove) yahoo dot dk>

This cover is tickling my brain(s). Where did they get that red express label?

December 11, 2003 Ken Lawrence

Pro

Scratch the last point if it's a card. I thought it looked like and envelope corner.

December 11, 2003 Ken Lawrence

Pro

(Flat) plates on Hoe presses were inked and wiped/polished by hand, with the dampened paper and blanket positioned by hand, before the hand- or steam-driven impression cylinder pulled the print. On Stickney rotary presses, all these functions were done mechanically at high running speed, and to an extent against the direction of web travel. So each part of the process was less exact and caused greater wear on the rotary press. For either system, worn plates yielded poorer quality prints than fresh plates, but the rotary press had inherent quality limitations also.

Are you sure it's an overpaid war tax letter, not a double printed matter rate?

December 11, 2003 prometheus

Brian M another
1908
more will follow

December 11, 2003 prometheus

Ken L
Yes I know why the Postcard had the additional stamp added (war rate 1918) my question was the appearance of the two stamps themselves The non coil is much sharper and much brighter than the coil stamp scan does not show as much as in person. Huge difference in quality(?) of printing.

December 11, 2003 Ken Lawrence

Prometheus

The coil stamp was affixed by a mailing machine along with lots of other letters. But the machines affixed stamps singly, and your cover was overweight, so the sheet stamp was added manually by the sender.

December 11, 2003 Bill Weiss

Experts
Actually, I am uncomfortable with the word "expert" as it implies that person knows everything there is to know when, in fact, as several of you have correctly pointed out, that "expert" knows there are lots of things he doesn't know, thus the term is very relative and misused. Perhaps "advanced student"?

PAOLO; My pleasure my good man. Yoyr posts always interest me, and I welcome them. Too often we "yanks" don't acknowledge ouyr non-American friends here, which is a shame, as many of you are full of knowledge.

December 11, 2003 Brian McInturff <philatelist@earthlink.net>

Christmas seals tied
Prometheus: I'm patient. That's a common one there but I'm always interested. Scan away, I'm sure you've got some I can use.

December 11, 2003 prometheus

Eastern European
and here is the beginning of my attempt to catch up on posts for those that wanted to see some Eastern European cancels.
RUSSIAN
When the czar was still the boss I think.



 

December 11, 2003 Paolo Bagaglia <eatountimourumenous>

Knud-Erik Thanks for your kind words.

Bill W. I take the chance to thank you for the first post ever in which you mention me (I had welcomed you to this board in the very first beginning and had made some posts related to the subjects discussed). Anyhow, I learn a huge lot from yours and many others post's. It is a luck to have people like you willing to share their expertise. Unfortunately often I can't just manage to keep lurking, or be indifferent, perhaps like the silent majority of the readers, and I make a post.

Tony R. One of the reasons that I do not like to participate in anglo-saxon forums so often anymore is that any of such offensive trash like a little bit of what you wrote gets a lot serious replies (I said the same thing, in other words -- I hate unrecognizing self-appraising echo's) whereas important subjects are snobbed or ignored (on this I must completely agree with one of Knud-Erik's posts of several weeks ago -- I managed not to post and just lurk on that occasion).

I am just saying this in defence of that "another" you unpolitely mentioned (typical, anyway) since I never declared myself an expert (and if I did it, I will have done it for a particular subject in which I think to be an expert and, I repeat -- sorry for this, eh! -- additions, confirmations and/or corrections are those which are needed -- I know what I don't know, my friends, but, at the same time, I have the talent to recognize generalized and radicated lack of education).

Greetings, Paolo Bagaglia

BTW a philatelic expert is normally a POLITE person. Beware of hillbilly, as dry as the desert, imitations :-)

December 11, 2003 Lavar Taylor

Which reminds me of the story of the albino fleas: "Mary had a little lamb, its fleas were white as snow."

December 11, 2003 prometheus

Thanks Guys
Can anyone give me a simple crash course in why these two stamps used together appear so different , the left stamp was added to make the war rate of two cents. Is it just that coils came out less than sharp when compared to Flat ? stamps.
thesetwo

an added question the coil stamp while listed as a perf ten the 10 on my gauge does Not match up very well.

December 11, 2003 Richard Ballhagen (spain_1850)

If a true expert is one knows what he doesn't know, but is certain that what he doesn't know doesn't exist, is he still an expert?

December 11, 2003 Matt Liebson

Prometheus: yes, that's a Perfection. Don't remember which type it is (there are 3 main types and a receiver marking).

December 11, 2003 Mike E

prometheus
Yes, it is a Perfection. More of a mechanically assisted handstamp than a machine, but frequently referred to as a machine cancel.

December 11, 2003 prometheus

Brian M I owe you some scans
Here's One that's handy XMASSEAL

December 11, 2003 prometheus

Machine Cancel Mavens
What is this Perfection?

did I guess correctly?

December 11, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

do we want to get philosophical?
A true expert is one who knows more than anyone else about a subject and, as Richard states, knows what he doesn't know.
Other people don't know what he doesn't know since they only know what he does know from what he imparts.
However, how does the expert know what other people know?
If the other people consider a person to be an expert because he has written an article or presented a display, then they are equally expert because they now have the same apparent knowledge as the writer/displayer.
That is, they now know what he knows, but still don't know what he doesn't know.
 

December 11, 2003 prometheus

David B
They are going to visit a brother who married a downunder girl and moved there to live. He likes it alot. Has offered me a ticket also
But flying over big ponds of water is a personal phobia.

December 11, 2003 Richard Frajola

Rob F Same here - the quest to learn is motivated by an appreciation of just how much we don't know.

December 11, 2003 Rob Faux

Richard F If I listed all I did not know, it would be rather depressing... Not sure that makes me an expert in anything either. ;)

December 11, 2003 Richard Frajola

Experts
Tony R I define an "expert" as a person who has enough experience in a field to know the what he DOESN'T know (and is willing to admit to it).

December 11, 2003 Rob Faux

experts
Tony A valid question, with a couple of good answers already. Happily, we have media such as this discussion board that give us a chance to become familiar with persons and their grasp of various knowledge. If you observe people long enough, you can get a good idea as to where their knowledge lies and as to how reliable it likely is. And, if you feel that the overall population is generally well informed - you can get a great idea of who the experts are based on those many of the board go to with questions.

Somewhat unfortunately, a person with no experience in the community will best be served by learning a bit him or herself about the topic area and the community. I wouldn't put my faith solely on self-proclamation or organizational membership because there are simply too many people who misrepresent (sigh).

so, one way to figure this out would be to ask a sampling of people on the board who they would ask for opinions on various items....

December 11, 2003 David Benson

Promo, 3 weeks in Moe, what did they do to deserve that.

David B.
 

December 11, 2003 prometheus

IMHO Cutest girl in world
Can be found right HERE

Thanks Dave

December 11, 2003 David Benson

Promo,

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Flats/1695/can-pic/swau005.jpg

Exactly the same, besides what's in a name.

Moe (pronounced MOW EE) is just a small Victorian country town that people pass through going to somewhere else.

David B.

December 11, 2003 Bill Weiss

Experts
Quick post and got to run, but Paolo's answer is right on the mark. If someone proclaims that he is "expert", ask him for whom he expresses opinions? If the answer is that he expresses them for himself, then he's only an expert in his own mind (although he MIGHT truly be expert in his field), but if he is expressing opinions for a recognized committee or a respected organization, then in my mind, that makes him "certified". Can someone be an "expert" and NOT express opinions for a committee or organization? Absolutely. Some top-notch collectors and dealers are experts who do not work for anyone. I would match a top-notch auction house describer/owner such as Scott Trepel, against many "certified" experts (and I'm not certain whether Scott expertizes for PF or not), and there are many others as well.

December 11, 2003 prometheus

David B
Thanks - was told None available in Moe
Big difference in Sasparrila and Root Beer IMHO.

Thought some one might be pulling my chain
am shipping them a make your own Root Beer kit.
Family friends heading to MOE for a three week stay , Watch out un married men in the area these ladies (?) are looking for men.
 

December 11, 2003 David Benson

Prometeus, Root Beer is available in most supermarkets, either by that name or Sarsaparilla. I usually have a bottle or 2 in the fridge.

David Benson

December 11, 2003 prometheus

Check..check..check....
Massive problems all over and every aspect of life in general....

Is this a Money Order cancel here

While many posts in the last couple of weeks have generated my interest and are worthy of comment I will refrain and just try to keep up, with the new.

any one waiting on stuff from me It is NOW on the way
Sorry for delays lets call them christmas presents now.
JFR,BobH, Mag John and others FW too.

Not that it matters ,as my opinions carry little or no weigth in the world of Stamps, But if mr. Paolo B. needs any more positive
support he has mine he has never failed to point me in the right direction when it comes to stamps from Italy (and other places too)

Ken L - Thanks for the Info both philatelic and personal you have provided . It helps to understand some of your leanings.

Jim ,lavar,Christo ( got those tiny covers thanks) Thanks for the Informative Scans and to those who add onfo to them

denizens of OZ Besides the Quaint olde downtown and local park what is there to do in MOE AU, and is it true that Root beer is Not available in your land down under??


 

December 11, 2003 Tony Roper

Experts
My question is still how to tell what "expert" is self proclaimed and who is certified. How do I know when reading a description which kind it is?

December 11, 2003 09.44 Knud-Erik Andersen

December 11, 2003 Richard Warren

PS - do you think that Conquest or Vertex would lay off Myanmar if the junta fell to bits and (as is quite feasible) an NLD administration took over under Suu Kyi? Of course the SLORC/SPDC are fascist goons, but that's not the point.

December 11, 2003 Paolo B.

Experts
Tony Roper
If you will be able to read this, please reveal me his name. I'd like to know that "another" you mentioned and eventually learn something from him.

One important element of distinction is that the first class of experts you mentioned, the "self proclaimed" (or self appointed) ones, might do the "job" for free and just for the joy of sharing information with the SOLE purpose to get further information due to the pontentially large audience of the internet, confirmations and/or eventual corrections. Not only, but they might do it also to prevent others from getting burned and therefore making a free job for the entire philatelic world.
The second class and most properly referred as experts, the "certified" ones, as it is also written below, besides the overmentioned joys, are also authorized and rightfully DEMAND to get a monetary compensation to do the job.
Paolo

December 11, 2003 Richard Warren

Sorry, didn't mean to be so tetchy.

December 11, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

Paul
see your "secret email" for more info.

December 11, 2003 Chris

Japanese Stamp Packet
Colin At $1.99, the packet would be quite a good deal
if it included the pictured stamps. Most of the large commems
cat at .80 each or more in Scott's. (Part of this is that prices
for recent used Japan are way out of whack in Scott's, I have a
1 gallon freezer bag full of the 80 woodpecker defn that I would be
happy to get a nickel each for. They cat at .80 each, so that bag is
theoretically worth a grand or more.)

However with the generic picture, I would be hesitant to bid.

Chris - need to get another kilo of Japan on paper to soak.

December 11, 2003 Tony Roper

Bill Weiss: How does a collector sort out the self proclaimed from the certified experts?

December 11, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

Sorry Paul, at the time I was writing a similar message on Richard F's board.
LP stand for London Philatelist.

December 11, 2003 Bill Weiss

Experts, Unions, Etc.
Good morning everyone. I am still mounting photplates but am taking a few minutes to catch up on this board.
TONY R. When I use the term "certified expert" it simply means that I am employed by two expert committees, thus I consider myself "certified" by them to expertise their "patients". There is no formal program. One gains a reputation or gets older and wiser, and someone else recognizes it, or whatever. In my case, I've described stamps professionally for over 30 years, and have collected and studied, and along the way have written books on five different subjects, in some cases making me an "expert" in certain areas.

KEN L. I did not realize your Union background, but you don't know mine either! At one time many years ago, I was so active in the USWA that I ran for office (Grievance Committee) and only lost by 4 votes out of thousands cast! I was a radical activist in the shop, etc. I then turned 180 degrees and became a BOSS (the dreaded "boss") and spent the rest of my career at Beth. Steel in that capacity. I don't miss the Steel Company even on payday and I've been out since 1983.

BRIAN; THe book on color by Roy White "Color In Philately" has good visuals of the pink/rose stamps and so does a recent work by a man named Morris, but I don't know the name of it. THe positive identification of Scott #64 (pink) and the shades of pink, versus the shades of rose has always been a subject of controversy in philately and always will be, simply because the human eye sees colors differently from person to person. Even "certified" experts do not agree on pinks. It will never change. In theory, the true pink #64 has a tinge of purple in it or at least that's what the eye is supposed to pick out. In pigeon-blood pink, the shade is deeper/darker and is said to have a tinge of blue in it. Now I must get back to work!

December 11, 2003 Tony Roper

Experts
Bill Weiss: How does one get certified as an expert?

December 11, 2003 0640 Ferd W

Tin-can mail
David Benson-Thank you for your response! However, I would pass the lot before I would ask Janet K. for the time of day !!! FW

December 11, 2003 sveiki! <philaweb at (remove) yahoo dot dk>

Jim WS Thanks! Fill me in on LP. To me it means Long Play. {:o)

December 11, 2003 Ken Lawrence

David Shumaker

I'll look over your stamp if you like, but the odds are long that if it's a rotary press print, someone added fake perfs to a booklet stamp after trimming off gauge 10-1/2 perfs at the top. Spacings on the 11-70 perforations are a consequence of the wheel diameter. The bar perforation's spacings are based on English units (thousandths of an inch) between centers.

December 11, 2003 sveiki! <philaweb at (remove) yahoo dot dk>

BTW... Fixed the e-mail form. Had the wrong e-mail settings filled in. Appologies to those who tried!

December 11, 2003 Ken Lawrence <apsken@aol.com>

Stamps and revolution
Richard Warren

I’m just an old fashioned leftist, and a union man. In 1961 I was the IWW’s youngest member. During my two decades of activism in the Southern Freedom Movement, I worked on organizing campaigns for several unions. Today I’m a member of the National Writers Union. Occasionally I’ve held elective office, but now I just pay dues and carry my card.

Guy Debord would savor this: Several years ago the United Automobile Workers union absorbed the NWU, so dues collected from assembly line workers in UAW's basic industry jobs pay our organizers to recruit toilers whose worst workplace hazards are writers’ block, writers’ cramp, being misquoted by David Benson, and the occasional libel suit.

Now you say it’s my anti-imperialist duty to call the cops on under-employed, uninspired copycat job-shop printers in central Europe, demanding that the stamp police secure a market monopoly for the goon government of Myanmar. This is rich material, not just for anarchist cartoons.

Who needs Charles Dickens? David Edgar should script this farce for the Barbican, with Vanessa Redgrave cast as Alison Ruttenberg’s proletarian power seller. Tension would gradually build toward the grandest event since the masses of Paris stormed the Bastille in 1789: an enormous bonfire that consumes all the world’s fake, illegal, and exploitative stamps.

In one fell swoop, to borrow a phrase from the bard, the entire world’s culture has been rescued. As the curtain falls on this pyre, the chorus rises: “Aux armes, citoyens! Aux armes, citoyens!” Not a dry eye in the house. I’d buy a ticket to that.

 

December 11, 2003 03:38 Jim Watson

There is also an update of a picture postcard Gold Coast to the United States in 1939. It was addressed to the Rosicrucians.

December 10, 2003 09.58 pm Colin Judd UK http://mysite.freeserve.com/xzephyr_Japan_stamps
 

Colin
 

December 10, 2003 Lavar Taylor

Well had a wart removed from my heel today. Anasthetic is now wearing off, so it hurts (it was a VERY large wart so a quarter-sized chunk of my heel is history). The obvious antidote is more philatelic material, especially since I can't ski for a few weeks.

December 10, 2003 Roger Heath

Bellinzona RC (not rugby club)
When I sell this Bellinzona razor cancel, I must be certain to mention the perfin! Dang, it's expensive bidding when others are in for another reason.
I only have five Bellinzona razors in my collection and they are all post cards. The clerks there didn't like them and the postmaster requested an early end to the experiment but was told to use them. One of the three used here was only used for 6 months in 1902, and is very rare. This cover will be a clean addition to my collection.

Roger

 

December 10, 2003 Brian R

Does anyone know if someone or organization, has ever published a representative color plate, to help newbies seperate the wheat from the chaff? If so who, and where, can one be had?

December 10, 2003 Christo van Zyl

Cancels of the Day 43


Todays cancels of the day are:


Jamaica (Kingston, 21/12/1957)
>
Great Britain (Ramsgate, 14/5/1895)

Nyassaland (Limbe, 13//1930)

Gold Coast (Accra,16/4/1953)
 

December 10, 2003 Brian R

unknown brian
Welcome! Normally, we stick to actual philatelic posts, but get a little silly every now and then. Please, join in, and tell us about what you collect.

December 10, 2003 Brian

cool board

December 10, 2003 Brian R

wow
To think I still consider $20 ebay lots high rolling....I've been chatting with a bunch of pinkie ring wearing big fish! Congrats Bill W on your winning poker game. :O)

December 10, 2003 3:30 CET Paolo B.

Games
By appointment, I am in the condition to challange anyone at conventional chess (most Russian and n-dimensional Vulcanian chess players strictly excluded) at yahoo.com... if I remember the password for the house ;-)
All have a good continuation, Paolo

PS: CET = Central European Time



 

December 10, 2003 Paolo B.

Your kind note
Hi Allan McC.
Thanks for your kind note & proposal.
Yes, it is I writing, eBay ID "vonbag".
I am sorry that your e-mail bounced. My apologies for that.
A month ago, or something, when I was in Italy my wife downloaded a freeware "mail washer" and, since so many spam e-mails are addressed to us, on average fourty per day (including "requested confirmations" from someone who calls himself eBay and other non-spoof spam e-mails from eBay, just out of imbecillity), it can have occurred I or my beloved half accidentally deleted and/or bounced some useful e-mails.
My e-mail address is bag + aglia (a bag of garlick ;) at wanadoo dot nl. But I will contact you as soon as possible.
Kind regards,
Paolo

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

Jim

December 10, 2003 Marius

Bill Congrats on that good effort. At PokerStars I just built up my fun money account from $1,000 to $65,000 over a week of playing then lost the lot in 1 hour at a higher limit table. If you ever log in there my user id is marius55 and you can search me out for a game.

December 10, 2003 Marius

Latvia postcards
Paul That is really a very well done site. I would like to see some text beneath the postally used cards rather than just an item number. i am now thinking of something I can do along similar lines.

December 10, 2003 Bill Weiss

I'm Back!!
Good evening everyone, and after being away for several days and buried in my auction catalog photo-mounting, I have very little time to be anywhere but there, so forgive my absence.

To MARIUS, I just want to report that I am proud to say that I finished at the 'final table" in a tournament for the first time! Quite exciting. I finished in 9th place out of 74 entrants in a limit Texas Hold-em tournament and won $740.00. While I can't retire just yet, the profit over the entry fee ($550.) will buy a few meals, but the pride in outlasting 65 other serious players is worth the grueling (started at 11AM, and I was out at 9:30PM (10.5 hours!) experience. Anyway, I thought you might appreciate it more than most other board members.

In the next few days I hope to be finished with my auction chores for awhile and can then come back on here more often. I don't even have time now to read back over the past few days, so if anyone has anything they want to say to me or any questions, I will check back here in about 2 hours to address anything you may have for me.

December 10, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

Thanks Mark,
I figured one or more was probably Kilimanjaro but seeing as seller listed by Scott # (note that malicious linker) and used pathetic ipix to illustrate stamps, I hadn't a clue.
 

December 10, 2003 Mark Bardell

Tanzania sets
Jim

Firstly the sets catalog at $50 total. They depict various wild animals and various places of interest including Kibo Peak, Kilimanjaro ( 800sh - 2085 and 400sh, 500sh & 600sh - 2108, 2116 & 2124 ). All four of these are the same design.

Hope this is of help.

Mark.

December 10, 2003 sveiki! <philaweb at (remove) yahoo dot dk>

Anyone up for constructive criticism, nitpicking and critique on this?

December 10, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

Nomad
You got them all.
Only about 2 out of 30 students did though.

Can someone with a 2003 or 2004 catalog tell me what these sets depict and catalog value.

December 10, 2003 nomad55

Jim WS
I think I could pass your test

Sulfur - matches
Gypsum - sheet rock
Diatomite - filter for brewing
Phosphate - fertilizer
Rock salt - hydro chloric acid
coal - energy

How'd I do?

December 10, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

Richard

The first two O-levels I got were RE and Art.
So I end up an aetheistic scientist.
Makes a lot of sense !!

December 10, 2003 Richard Warren

I have seen Clifford Harper's stuff before and like his style. He contributed to some of the same publications as I did in the '70's, but went on to earn a living at it, which I've never managed. I didn't know about the "stamps" though.

December 10, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

Only ten more exams to grade.
This is tedious !!
Some of these kids must live in a different world.
Or are totally lacking in common sense.
Example question:

Match the following materials with their industrial uses
Sulfur fertilizer
Gypsum filter for brewing
Diatomite hydrochloric acid
Phosphate matches
Rock salt energy
coal sheetrock

December 10, 2003 11.14 am Colin Judd UK http://mysite.freeserve.com/GB_Special_Issues/
 

Colin

December 10, 2003 David Benson

Ferd, make that Passenger Ships, cruise ships came later,

David Benson

December 10, 2003 David Benson

Ferd, I suggest you write a note to Janet Klug as she is one of the leading experts on Tin Can Mail. It most probably is a scarce usage as most mail was sent by passengers on cruise ships. I can't imagine many cruise ships around the Pacific in 1942.

David B.

December 10, 2003 10.45 AM Ferd W.

Tin-can mail
Anyone- Are the Tin-can mail covers from the summer of 1942 [Censored ] to US with 4 cents Postage Due stamps anything special ? The seller is trying to convince me so ! They are in a lot with some material I would like- all or nothing lot. He seems to feel this is a very special item! Why ? Any help appreciated. FW

December 10, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark <jlwstarkatsulrossdotedu>

It's definitely not me.
Just gave my last final exam.
Anybody want to grade 30 papers for me?

December 10, 2003 Dave P

David B Irrespective of the (deliberate?) mistakes, the WIP auctions neatly underline your often voiced problem of sellers listing with a Scott No and no description. On a lot of his commonwealth I would have no idea which watermark or perf the stamps were, and even if interested could not have bid.

December 10, 2003 John In N.Y. From Ms.

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
Iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii know it took up space.But i had to check in!

John headed to rochester.

December 10, 2003 07:16 Jim Watson

Today in Postal History
Knud-Erik,
Thanks for the translation. I've updated the page appropriately.

December 10, 2003 06.55 Knud-Erik Andersen

December 10, 2003 06:45 Jim Watson

Running late again. :-(

December 10, 2003 05:21 Eric Dyck

Razor Cancel

An Interesting stamp Story

According to Guatemala-2: “Other copies of the 5P with inverted center have a vertical knife slash or scratch. Kohl tells two versions of the story of their origin: One is that the President considered the misprint an act of lèse majesté, and slashed the sheets delivered to him; these were found when his home was sacked by a mob after he was deposed. The other is that a high postal official under Estrada Cabrera had kept these sheets, but was forced to turn them over to his successor. In spite, it was said, he slashed the sheets.”

Eric
 

December 10, 2003 03.16 Knud-Erik Andersen

December 10, 2003 Roger Heath

URL's
David B -
Your URL's don't work. One gets a quick shift to a Vendio entry page.

Roger

December 10, 2003 00.15 Knud-Erik Andersen http://sudeten.bizland.com/postal_history.htm
 

December 09, 2003 10:39pm Allan McComb <allan at mccomb dot com>

Paolo B..................hi. Are you the same Paolo that was on the eBay chat board? If so, I attempted to email you through eBay re: a large group of correspondence I wanted to give you, were you interested, and the email was bounced. If you are interested in more information, please send me your email at allan@mccomb.com.
Allan

December 09, 2003 David Benson

Paul, this is the scans of the Tonga 1893 GFB Official.

The color is a Ultramarine with a Bright Carmine overprint.

http://www.vendio.com/my/ihost/display.html?f=GFBunfaded.JPG&rp=1&sortm=a

Most of the balance of the unsold were damaged by water and the color has changed from an Ultramarine to a Dull Blue and the Carmine has faded. The original colors are very scarce.

http://www.vendio.com/my/ihost/display.html?f=GFBFaded.JPG&rp=1&sortm=a

David B.




 

December 09, 2003 Christo van Zyl

Cancels of the Day 42


Todays cancels of the day :


Gold Coast (Akpafu Mempeasem, 21/4/1955)

Ireland (Clae Chloinne Mhuiris, 14/3/1947, 7-0 pm)

Hong Kong (Hong Kong, 29/6/1920, 12 30)

Gold Coast (Kumasi A, 13/10/1954, 63 OWV). I don’t know what the 63 OWV at the top is/means. Any suggestions?
 

December 09, 2003 4:05 CET Paolo B.

Anne I conservatively tend to agree with David B. regarding your Austrian N/P stamp (here) albeit, at first glance, it reminded me of a reprint, slightly faded and with a fake cancel. I don't know almost anything about these, though. The only reliable and intelligible references I have on these are the Sassone Specialized catalogue, the CEI catalogue, the Serrane guide and these nice pages here (targets reachable from toolbar at left).
The experts I'd think of regarding classic Austrian and Lombardy Venetia stamps and postal history are, in order: U. Ferchenbauer, S. Sorani and G. Bottacchi.

David B. my apologies for my slow reply to your kind e-mails. I am working on it.

Greetings, Paolo

December 09, 2003 David Shumaker

Stupid Question Time. Was ther ever an 11 x 11 sheet rotary essay prepared for the one cent value of the 1923 series? On the way to the 10.5 gauge, was an 11 gauge experemented with? It would be different from the #596 because it would have the 11 gauge from the 1927 rotary which is slightly different from the 11 gauge of the flat plate and waste issues.

December 09, 2003 Ken Lawrence <apsken@aol.com>

David Shumaker

Louis Fiset has published the most comprehensive scholarship on gum breakers in The United States Specialist. I don't have those references at hand. For now:

Gauge 10 rotary press sheet stamps should have Type I gum breakers. The breaker bars were located on the delivery end of the bar-and-wheel perforators, and those were the spacings that existed until after the gauge 10 equipment was replaced by the gauge 11 by 10-1/2 perforators. The first stamp in the new gauge, Scott 634, appeared in December 1926. Gary Griffith (United States stamps 1922-26) wrote, "Within six months, all of the two-way perforators were refitted, and eventually all of the denominations of the Series of 1922, except for the dolar values, were given this new compound perforation."

Scott 632, the compound 1-cent rotary sheet stamp, replaced Scott 581 on June 10, 1927.

Martin Armstrong (U.S. Definitive Series 1922-1938) wrote that Type II was introduced in early 1929 (late 1928 is more probable in my opinion), and Type III in early 1930. (This is why genuine Kans. and Nebr. overprints exist only on stamps with Type II breakers.)

Very recently, a previously unknown gum breaker type was reported in the Specialist, proving that we still have much to learn.

If you feel confident your stamp is an exception, I'd be happy to examine it and give you my informal opinion. If it really is an exception, I hope you'll submit it to APEX for certification.

December 09, 2003 David Shumaker

Gum breakers on US rotaries
I have been trying to learn about gum breakers on early US rotary press issues. The "1847usa.com" site records 3 types of breakers on the 1923 definitives. Type II is supposed to have been used from 1928 to 1930 when the Perf 11 x 10.5 issue was current. However, I have a One Cent perforated 10 x 10 (Scott 581) precancelled "Nashville, Tennessee" that seems to have Type II characteristics. Any significance if a #581 has Type II gum breakers? Where can I get good info on this topic? Thanks.

December 09, 2003 2:23 Ken Collins <purduekenn@hotmail.com>

219D - Lake Shade
Seller has a listing of 219D that appears to be a 220. I noticed he sold a 220 as a 219D before.
Item is on Ebay at:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2933430859&category=676
 

December 09, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

Anarchists on stamps
Here.

December 09, 2003 Richard Warren

However, this is getting interesting. Bill Weiss may have had a point. Is there anything you don't know everything about?

December 09, 2003 4:33 addie <brandi_28557@yahoo.com>

ladykit
I have this little booklet of 11 airmail stamps and six 2 cent stamps all the airmail stamps are used but the rest are in perfect condition along with the book. Can Someone please e-mail me how much you think they are worth because i'm trying to sell them.

December 09, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

For Roger
Mauna Kea from Kohala.

December 09, 2003 David Benson

Paul, send me your email address and I will send you the scans of what the correct colors of the Tonga GFB should be. 99.9% are faded from water damage to the remainder stock.

David B.

December 09, 2003 David Benson

Paul, there was no problem, they will be winging their way back to London this afternoon for a full refund including my costs.


David B.

December 09, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

RB
Looks like Edward VII underwent a face lift !!

December 09, 2003 paul laniosz

now off to do some work , i think i over did it at this auction because the wife told me, just put all the boxes back in my car and work on the boxes i purchase last year ,then get rid of the material i purchased earlier this year , boy some wifes just not collectors . happy with the material i just purchased ,i guess she doesn t facture that into it. ......paul

December 09, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

I wonder how close to the Post Office this is?

December 09, 2003 john@magnolia stamps

Ok so I'm here in md. and darn it's cold.
 

December 09, 2003 04:25 Jim Watson

jimbo
 

December 09, 2003 Guillaume van T.

December 09, 2003 Roger Heath

Swiss Miss
Would someone else also tell this seller that the original Zurich 6 does not have 1 8 4 3 in the corners. I tried again to report this but the system is having cookie problems, therrefore, again it's not possible to report via "normal" channels.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2971295501&category=4749

Roger

December 08, 2003 Christo van Zyl

Cancels of the Day 41


Todays cancels of the day :


Ceylon (Madulkele, 18/2/19410

Hungary with an oval Porto cachet – added to the stamp as an overprint, or put on afterwards by a PO clerk?

Tanzania (Ngara, 9/3/----)

Malagasy Republic (Iulear, Madagascar, 30/4/1969)
 

December 08, 2003 Brian R

An off the wall hypothesis....maybe he's really cheap, and is trying to scam the APS. If he's called on it, doesn't he get a free cert if real? Or maybe he's just hoping any eventual buyer will take his word for it.

December 08, 2003 sveiki! <philaweb at (remove) yahoo dot dk>

For $40 bucks I'll be happy to leave feedback... {:o)

December 08, 2003 David Benson

Paul, presume the Bangkok is Crown CC not Crown CA,

David B.

December 08, 2003 David Benson

Paul, I hate naming names BUT the name begins with SAND and ends with FAYRE,

any chance of seeing a scan of the Bankok 24c.

David B.

December 08, 2003 Michael Walter

The seller of this auction says that this is the rare Pigeon Blood Pink . Any comments
 

December 08, 2003 paul laniosz

london auction
DAVID BENSON ------hope you resolve the issue with the london auction house . just to let you know i spent three days viewing lots with two BRITHS from SANDAFAYRE . hope its not the firm your having problems with. i meet tony and simmion both great guys to eat breakfest with each day and just talk stamps . they were buying material for the march auctions . they were totally puzzled by my buying habits and items i was bidding on . but i did get a nice BANGKOK 1882-83 24 cents green with cert. because my collection didn t have a page for bangkok {which was greatly upsetting }.......paul

December 08, 2003 Ken Lawrence

Brian R

Yes, nearly all the stamps issued by the independent Trucial States were legitimately used as postage, mostly on international mail. Domestic mail, such as it was, is mostly to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Das Island, though there was also regular mail service between Sharjah and Khor Fakkan. During the period of independence, stamps were issued denominated in four different currencies, including surcharged issues. My American Philatelist article provided considerably more detail than my earlier Congress Book article cited by Jim W-S.

December 08, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

Roger
Neat cloud.
I also have neat photos from Parker Ranch, but they are on my other computer.
And not my web site.

December 08, 2003 Roger Heath

Volcano Photo
Jim -
I don't know if you've seen thisvolcano photo on the web. It isn't mine so you can look. );>)

December 08, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

A smattering of Trucial State Fuji stamps can be found here and here

December 08, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

Ken
As you state in your article Reckoning with the stamps and postal history of the Independent Trucial States, 1963-73, it is very confusing.
The six Trucial States formed UAE in December 71, Ras al Khaima joined in Feb 72, stamps issued after august 72 were illegally released, but no stamps used after January 73 were legal.
It would seem that, in most cases, the stamps were legally contracted but the postal officials decided if they could be legally used.
Apart from some post-dated CTO's to get rid of the accumulated surplus of stamps, some of which appear that they may have actually resided, for some instant of time, in the Trucial States.

December 08, 2003 Brian R

Ken L
Thanks, I kind of always suspected that. Looks like I'm part of the illegals problem, even if I got these long before I knew what I was doing. What about the larger ones that look to be actual used stamps? Did any of the Umm-Al-Qwain issues ever do actual postal service? Or were the whole lot of them, just a way to line the local emir's pockets?

December 08, 2003 Ken Lawrence

Brian R

The tiny, poorly registered CTOs are Egyptian forgeries of larger genuine Trucial States stamps, sold as souvenirs of the Arab world to foreign tourists.

December 08, 2003 Roger Heath

Nick's Dilema
Nick -
Your problem to overcome is not once a speeder always a speeder, it's once caught and showing no regard for the law you got caught again. Doing the same thing, on the same road, during a short period of time shows a certain lack of understanding Ploice enforcement procedures. They'll stay there until the traffic slows down, doen't matter to them it the same people caugth each day.
Here's how you clear your name. End the auction of your £2,250 stamp, then send it to the BPA and get a clean certificate. Then show it off to all of us and rub our noses into the dirt. Until you offer a "good" certificate for any of your rare overprints I'm afraid, you'll be watched. We're really good cops at heart and want to protect the public, not stifle your enjoyment of driving. Drive all you want but not on the public highways. You're a hazard!

Roger

December 08, 2003 David Benson

Paul, ti's a coincidence that you just mentioned them as I did say that I doubted if they could exist in blocks in the original shade. Well, the scan was in the original shade but it only took a split second from when I received them yesterday and my email to the auction in London saying I was returning them as they were faded and mng. They cost over Gibbons catalogue value as they would have been unique. The scan no longer shows on their site and I am awaiting a reply from them. Luckily I have 2 sets with full color and a large block of the 1d.

David B.

December 08, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

Paul
If very limited market means me, I'll agree.
One of the few sets of US stamps to include volcanoes.

December 08, 2003 Ken Lawrence <apsken@aol.com>

Richard Warren

It's difficult for me to reconcile an adherent of Guy Debord's philosophy with a crusade against anything illegal, despite having an open mind and a generous spirit. The aim of the Situationist International was/is to make outlaws of us all. My friend Fredy Perlman, who translated and published Society of the Spectacle in this country, left a tenured professorship to establish his anarchist printshop in Detroit as that movement's U.S. headquarters. Were he alive today, he would probably be printing counterfeits and forgeries of both legal and illegal stamps, and giving them away, to highlight the absurdity of it all, defying anyone on the street to tell the difference.

Meanwhile among collectors, I think a line will be drawn at approximately the century mark, when no one will produce a serious worldwide album, nor even country albums for the prolific producers. Once the remaining interest is almost purely topical and government posts are nonexistent, the postal imperative will disappear. Serious topicalists want everything, even though the ones who clear their throats and say they collect "thematically" deny it.

I write as an accomplished Walt Disney topical collector and exhibitor, now departed from that field. The very best Disney stamps, commanding far the highest prices, are poster stamps, not postage stamps. Demand for them among serious philatelists is massive, such that World War II combat insignia poster stamps designed by Disney, originally sold in five 50-stamp sets for a dollar per set including the album by major newspapers across the U.S., now sell for $5 and up per stamp, $100 and up when used as cachets on patriotic covers. No Disney postage stamps command such interest.

You and I should agree on the terms of our side bet about the future worth of today's illegals and escrow it in a time capsule.
 

December 08, 2003 2:38pm Allan McComb <allan at mccomb dot com>

Paul.............thanks for you reply. I have never seen them, and I have collected stamps for 40 years. I bought them very inexpensively as part of a collection that I more than got my money back a long time ago.
Allan

December 08, 2003 paul laniosz

TONGA STAMP
DAVID B -----did you get the overprint stamps from tonga , can you scan them for me . i checked chicagopex stamp show and nobody had them ,also checked gregg manning auction and they had a lot with two of them ,but it was the faded which i guess is sold for less then a nice set of bright overprints .....paul

December 08, 2003 paul laniosz

national parks
ALLAN------you purchased something that will be hard to get your money back on,unless you purchased it very cheap. those stamps are very common and have a very limited market. they should of been purchased in complete sets , i have seen them many times in sheets and part sheets at auction and they get a low percent of catalog.....sorry about the bad news ....paul

December 08, 2003 2:24 p.m. john Gordon <johnr@castlemoyle.com>

Ebay feedback for sale
Someone left you a bad feedback? Want to get rid of it? It only costs $40.00 per bad feedback at the feedback remover.

I found out about this from a friend whose correct negative feedback against a seller was removed while my friend was on vacation out of the U.S. and away from his computer and e-mails.

All it takes is $20 to "file a case" and another $20 once the "Square Trade" Mediator responds to you.

Pretty smooth.....
John

 

December 08, 2003 1:58 pm Allan McComb <allan at mccomb dot com>

National Parks imperf, rouletted
Hi...............I bought a collection a while ago out of New Jersey, and it
contained a large group of National Parks Imperfs, used, privately
rouletted. Anyone ever hear of or run across anything similar? Any info
would be appreciated. I can send scans and/or an inventory. Smallest
denomination is 4 cents, up to and including the 10 cent, singles, pairs,
strips of 3 and strips/ blocks of 4.

December 08, 2003 David Benson

Dave P. When listing Stamps on the Ebay.com site there is a notice about the APS arrangement and this is agreed to when listing. There are no notices on any non US site which states anything about the arrangement.

David B.

December 08, 2003 Dave P

Richard W When you list you have a choice as to which areas you will mail to, I assume this controls the site on which the auction appears. So if a seller on the German site chooses to mail to Germany and Europe, the lot would appear om .UK but not .com

December 08, 2003 Dave P

Incidentally you have already admitted that one of your "sources" was currently making these, and that he was also constructing forged covers. You apparently disapproved of the latter - did you notify the authorities?

December 08, 2003 Richard W

I'm amazed he was convicted. I'd have expected him to argue triumphantly that it was someone else's car with a fake license plate, or that he lent his car to a prospective buyer who was test driving it and at the wheel when the offence incurred ...

December 08, 2003 Brian R

Richard W
Lets pray that his drivers permit stays intact. If he were stuck in front of his computer, he'd likely use the bulk of his time here, in a futile attempt to continue convincing us that his actions are somehow virtuous.

December 08, 2003 Richard W

When I sell, I list on eBay UK. And my listings have gone through to the main site. I don't recall having made a choice as to whether they should be visible on eBay.com or not, apart from indicating my willingness to mail worldwide. Is that what makes the difference? Why do [some?] German listings show up, apparently, in the UK, but not on eBay.com?

December 08, 2003 Richard Warren

Any more speeding tickets for you, mate, and you'll find yourself banned from driving. Which is a very good analogy with the eBay situation.

December 08, 2003 13:06 Dave F. (moderator)

David B: I disagree with your interpretation with what he subsequently said. To me, together, both things make sense. If an overseas sellers chooses to make his/her lots available outside of their "home country" website and specifically on the ebay.com website, then they are subject to the requirements. To me, that's why he says, "This includes some overseas sellers."

Either way, I would suggest that someone (perhaps with some authority) specifically contact him about this question. You may link back to this site as well. I believe he has reviewed it on occasion, although I would not expect him to check it with any frequency.

By the way, the relevant discussion on this particular seller began on August 25, and I believe his first post was on August 28. (Instead of going back page by page, you can pull up half-a-month's worth of posts at one time by going through the StampChat home page, which is the first bullet point in the "Top Links" above.)

Now almost in contempt of court! BBL.

December 08, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

Thanks christo, I had seen that auction and I think card is missing a 5 cent stamp or a postage due.

December 08, 2003 David Benson

Dave, yes that is what Dan said, but he was wrong and I mentioned that he had made a mistake.

It may be best if you contacted Dan Neary for a definitive reply to a simple question " ARE ANY NON.US SITES INCLUDED IN THE EBAY/APS AGREEMENT ".



repeating it again,

David,

It is items on ebay.com. This includes some overseas sellers.

Dan

December 08, 2003 12:48 Dave F. (moderator)

Here is a direct copy-and-paste from the online workshop. I've gotta run. I'll leave it to someone else to post a link to that workshop and/or clean up my html:



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://contact.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ReturnUserEmail&requested=stamps@ebay.com
12/01/03 3:21 PM (# 94 of 103)

Jim,

If a seller based in the UK would like their listing viewable on the US site (ebay.com), that seller has to abide by the policies of eBay.com AND eBay.co.uk. So under this scenario, the SCW/APS would be reviewing this listing if it is posted on eBay.com.

Dan
 

December 08, 2003 20:40 Nick I (lotus194)

Overprints
Duncan D--Several years ago I was given a ticket for speeding in my car, I picked up another ticket several weeks later for the same offence along the same stretch of road. Does that now mean that every time I drive along that road I must therefore be speeding and should be punished?

You seem to be infering that because you discovered some of my stamps to be modern forgeries some time ago, it must therefore mean that so is the rest of my lots.

Please confirm you do not make your living anywhere in or near the legal profession.

Dave B--Please do not refer to my items as worthless pieces of cr*p, surely beauty is in the eye of the beholder, yes?

Rules--What chance do I and other sellers have of interpretting the rules of ebay if you lot of so called experts (who more often than not are responsible for forcing rule changes) cannot make head nor tail of them. My understanding is that ONLY sellers on ebay USA must mark the backs of their forged offerings.

Just thought I would mention

Nick

December 08, 2003 Christo van Zyl

Jim W-S: A heads up for you

December 08, 2003 Richard W

Dave - I just tried yours and it's the stamps page I recognise, and seems to work fine. The link you've just posted takes me to a more general help report page.

December 08, 2003 12:25 Dave F. (moderator)

re: non-US items. I was also one of the people who asked about this. I don't have time to review the document just now, but it was my understanding that if the item came up while doing a search or browsing on eBay.com, then it was subject to the requirements. In the case of the "bogus" overprints from England, its failure is the mention and evidence of the indelible stamp.

So, David B, in this case, I don't think it would ever go to the SWC and APS. It's a more clearcut violation of eBay's policy, which it can enforce itself without needing to turn to a philatelic specialist.

Perhaps someone can can put in a descriptor of some of the auctions in question (as opposed to a seller search) and see if the items come up.

I think this is a case that Dan Neary ought to be made aware of. Perhaps someone can take a few minutes to write this up a bit. I've noted at least 2 email addresses for him that he's publicly associated with, and I would imagine that someone who reads this board may have a more direct email address for him. Perhaps one of you can contact the other. (As I mentioned earlier, I will unfortunately be out of contact for a while today beginning in just a few minutes.)

December 08, 2003 Richard W

Thanks - it worked fine.

December 08, 2003 12:18 Dave F. (moderator)

Roger: You're right, and it's not just you. I just tried it, and it says my browser is rejecting cookies, but I'm watching the Norton Firewall software show me that it's accepting the cookies.

Here is the link provided by Dan Neary during the workshop:

http://pages.ebay.com/help/contact_inline/index.html

I just tried it and it appears to work.

December 08, 2003 Richard Warren

But meanwhile, I'll settle for accurate description of these things on eBay. And it would be enormously cheering if the APS board would push things in that direction. I don't see how anyone could object, excepting on grounds of practicality. And practicalities can be sorted.

December 08, 2003 Roger Heath

Report Link
David F -
I try that link sequence, and on the second Ebay page I receive an error page concerning cookies, which means my cookies "on" is different than Ebay "cookies" on. I tried both with Netscape 4.8 and 7.0. same result. Must be secret cookies, and guaranteed to keep the reports to a manageable level!

Roger

December 08, 2003 12:02 Dave F. (moderator)

Richard W: It's permanently a link near the top of this page. In the left-hand column called "Top Links", third bullet point down. At the bottom of the eBay page, there is a link to report an auction. (I noted that it is different than the one given in the online workshop last week. I've been meaning to add the other one given as well.)

I'll be back later. On a brief lunch break from jury duty service today.

December 08, 2003 Roger Heath

Never mind -
It must have been too many days at high altitude! );>)
Roger

December 08, 2003 sveiki! <philaweb at (remove) yahoo dot dk>

Amen. {:o)

December 08, 2003 Richard Warren

Sorry if this has been mentioned below somewhere I've missed, but my bookmarks for the stamps selling guidelines (and report form) are now diverted to eBay help home page. Which doesn't have "stamps" in the index. Great. Can anyone give me the new address for the guidelines and report form? Thanks.

December 08, 2003 David Benson

Roger, that is exactly the same reasoning why the Nazi items were banned on the US site as they infringed French laws,

David B.

December 08, 2003 Roger Heath

Overseas exemptions, huh?
The only way a seller listing on another site should be able to avoid Ebay.com rules is if that seller does not make his auctions available world-wide. If the various Ebay sites are running their own businesses in some sort of franchise agreement, I have no problem with them becoming the laughing stock of the Ebay world for allowing frauds and fakes on their sites. The instant a seller clicks the "sell world-wide" button makes that seller liable to the rules where his auctions will appear.

As Sveiki! pointed out there are cultural differences around the world and if fraud and attempted cheating is the name of the game in different locations, let that be for those "home rules" to apply there, but again the instant the product and merchandise is made available to other "cultures", new rules will apply. It's a two way street, which many non-US people may consider hypocritical, but one must say we are trying to clean up the "Mother" site first. If other sites don't want to respect these rules, fine, auctions listed on those sites may only be sold to the "home" market, or to people who by looking at other sites understand the differences. If these are acceeptable to Ebay Germany, so be it, but I prefer they are not visible on Ebay.com which they are.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2970521374

2970521401, 2970521424, 2970521440, and many more from the same seller.

Roger

December 08, 2003 David Benson

Bill, it wouldn't make much difference even if it was listed on the US site, I still haven't noticed any non US items pulled,

David B.

December 08, 2003 David Benson

Bill, it is definitely only items that are originally listed on Ebay.com that are under the scrutiny of the SWC and the APS. All others are open slather,

David B.

December 08, 2003 Bill Dempwolf

Bill

December 08, 2003 David Benson

Bill, this is Dan Neary's correction,

stamps@ebay.com
12/01/03 3:33 PM (# 101 of 103)

David,

It is items on ebay.com. This includes some overseas sellers.

Dan


David B.

December 08, 2003 David Benson

Bill, he made a mistake with his answer, if you go down a few more lines you will see where I corrected him and then he stated the correct version. They are not even sure of it themselves,

David B.

December 08, 2003 Bill Dempwolf

Bill

 

December 08, 2003 11:03:19 PST Bill Seymour <billsey@dsl-only.net> http://www.seymourfamily.com
 

One of the good guys
After sending the seller of this item an email, he immediately dropped the starting bid from $9.00, changed the title and changed the description. No need to report. :-)
 

December 08, 2003 Brian R

Jim I was the one that said Krakatau was the largest. Unfortunately, your answer was pretty elaborate, and left the wife too much room for an out. So I ended up washing the evenings dinner dishes anyway. :o( Next time, I'l send you one of those "secret emails", with exactly how to phrase the answer.

December 08, 2003 David Benson

Bill Dempworth, Nick is right, there are no regulations that insist that items listed on non US sites have to be backstamped whether the item is viewable on the US site. It is only for items that have been listed on the US site.

However if some idiot wants to pay 51 Pounds for an absolutely worthless piece of crap that is described then it their own fault.

David B.

December 08, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

Guillaume

Many thanks for the correction to the Russian version of "volcanoes on stamps" which I finally got around to correcting.
Amazing how an apparently simple task can be so complicated.
First I had to email Guillaume's letter to my office since Netscape 4.5 couldn't read it.
Then had to rewrite cyrillic text in word processing program since my html editor wouldn't take cyrillic.
Then printed document.
Then scanned document.
Then had to adjust image size with jpg reader.
Then upload to web site.

Brian
You never mentioned who won the bet on Krakatau!
BTW there is a stamp commemorating eruption issued by Indonesia in 1983. Unfortunately, I don't have it yet.

December 08, 2003 Brian R

Anybody have any thoughts or opinions?

December 08, 2003 Michael Walter

Nick I would never ask you to “cut” me a special deal. I was going to ask if you could just MAKE me one as a special order. All I ask is that you don’t put it into a glassine to fast as the wet ink could smear. The folks on this board are entitled to your special discount, are they not?
 

December 08, 2003 Roger Heath

Off-topic photos
Aloha,
I spent the weekend at a hunting cabin on the north side of Mauna Kea volcano with my wife and others. We were located at the 6800ft level along a 4 WD track within the Parker Ranch. I thought you might like to see a couple of photos demonstrating not everything in Hawaii is beaches. Friday night looking west and looking north.

Roger


 

December 08, 2003 Richard Ballhagen (spain_1850)

Rarestamp seems to be getting some good money for his unmarked "cinderellas" nowadays. Of course, snice we can't check the bidders names, we'll never know if they are real bids or manufactured ones.

December 08, 2003 David K. <eaglearts@aol.com>

David B.
Took your advice and will divide the lot into 3 tonight; they all are perf 14 as issued.

December 08, 2003 sveiki! <philaweb at (remove) yahoo dot dk>

Umm Al Quwain
Chris Here! {:o)

December 08, 2003 Chris

So Where Is This Redux
What are the lat/long coords of Umm Al Qiwain?
Population centers?

Chris - Always good to have the target list drawn up before need

December 08, 2003 sveiki! <philaweb at (remove) yahoo dot dk>

The registered cover has a proper usage of two NVI (No Value Indication) postage stamps ~ the "I" postage stamp is for international postage, the "R" postage stamp is for registered. Pretty unusual to get the "R" postage stamp properly used on international destinations. Price is appealing.

December 08, 2003 Duncan Doenitz

Nick

Just for the sake of any newbies here...

You know darned well that we caught you many times buying stamps on eBay that reappeared in your sales with the overprint added, so you can drop the pretense about the source of the forged overprints.

We may not know the day of the week when the overprint was added, but when YOU do, and don't tell your customers that the ink is still wet you are still being deceptive, and it looks like this time you have fooled someone.

I'm just saying...

Duncan Doenitz

December 08, 2003 Ken Lawrence <apsken@aol.com>

Arabian Gulf

For collectors of Gulf states stamps, I published comprehensive articles on them in Scott Stamp Monthly, the American Philatelist, and the American Philatelic Congress Book some years ago, still the most comprehensive studies of the pre-federation independence period in any language. Neil Donaldson's book and supplement are the sources for the British period.

My collection of commercially used Gulf States covers, including examples of the banned stamps of the 1960s and 1970s, had been assembled originally by the late Richard Imus, a U.S. diplomat (economic officer) posted to all the U.S. embassies in Arabia and the Gulf at one time or another. I still have one of his best covers, bearing a UAE provisional overprinted Abu Dhabi stamp and a Sharjah stamp posted at Sharjah to Kuwait. In retirement Dick Imus headed Mercedes Benz in North America. I doubt that anyone else has assembled a collection of that postal history comparable to his. It is now dispersed, sold at auction by Michael Rogers a few years ago. Among the colectors assembling these covers today is one of the UAE's richest bankers, a subject of Sharjah.

Residents of the United States may have difficulty locating maps that include this body of water so labeled, because until 1979, the Shah of Iran was the unofficial U.S. regent there, so it is usually called the Persian Gulf here, a term loathed by most Arabs. Even before al-Qaida became a household term, State Department and Pentagon instructions to U.S. diplomats and military personnel in Arabia cautioned them not to say Persian Gulf, though CNN coverage of two U.S. wars in Iraq have undermined that sensitivity.

December 08, 2003 04:41 Jim Watson

I've also updated a previous semi-postal first day cover for today from the Philippines in 1943 during theJapanese occupation. I found the Pangasinan High School! Join General MacArthur and return to the Philippines.

December 08, 2003 Bill Dempwolf

Bill

December 08, 2003 12:18 Nick I (lotus194)

ebay rules
Dave P--Over sensitive, me? Only when I am being discussed on this board do my ears prick up, I will not pretend I do not enjoy the little battles we have had in the past, but I also now the underhand methods you will employ when roused, and it is that which makes me wary and over sensitive.

Your comments are once again based on presumption and not fact, which comes as no surprise to me personally, but what about the lurkers?

What proof do you have that this stamp was overprinted to order, and what proof that this is a modern forgery added this year? Answer, you do not know any of these things, but it will not stop you presuming will it, after all this board always has been a law unto itself when judging and sentencing hasn't it?

Also, I know I have been away for a few days but when did ebay UK release a policy that all "known" forgeries and fakes should be marked as such? Please enlighten me and others like me, as I am a stickler for ebay policy and rules as you well know, and would hate to inadvertantly break one of their "new" ones.

As for cheating buyers, I once again refer you to my feedback, strange that the hordes of poor cheated collectors of whom I rob of their meagre few pence of disposable income fail to use their voice to condemn me isn't it?

Nick

December 08, 2003 john@MagnoliaStamps

not that I care but
Michael W. Here's the link that you tried to post last night!try this And yes it is doing rather well.I'm sure that the bidder can read. He clearly states (bogus Overprint)

Nick! mark those darn stamps...FAUX

December 08, 2003 Dave P

Nick You are getting over-sensitive. If you choose to make your business public, and by posting an auction on Ebay that is what you are doing, you leave yourself open to public comment, it is not a case of anybody poking their nose in.
I fail to see how that stamp can be getting harder to come by, 1d lilacs are still available by the bucket-load (even nice mint ones), and as the overprints are basically made-to-order I don't see that scarcity comes into it.
I also not that you are in breach of Ebay rules in not marking the stamp as a fake. Finally, under Ebay rules you should be giving all information about alterations etc., since you know the overprint was added this year why do you not say so in the auction? By not doing so you are cheating the buyers.

December 08, 2003 10:00 Nick I (lotus194)

ebay item 1d Lilac
Michael Walter

I am not sure whether you have a genuine interest in my auction as a prospective buyer, or once again the current philatelic topics on this board have once again dried up and its time to poke your nose into other peoples affairs.

If I am right with the first option, then I have to tell you the same as I have told the other members of this board, I cannot cut you a special deal on my lots as it would be in breach of ebay rules. Although I can give you a hot tip, this is a paticularly nice stamp and you would not be dissapointed with your purchase if you put a bid in, especially as they are getting harder and harder to come by in such good condition.

Nick

December 08, 2003 01.46 Knud-Erik Andersen

December 08, 2003 Lavar Taylor

The use of this cancel on a commercially used postal card is rare, and used to a destination other than Germany makes it a very nice item indeed. To give you an idea of how hard to find these types of items are, the Arge cancel catalog values this cancel on a feldpost cover or card at 90 DM. The cancel legitimately used on a franked cover is valued at 1500 DM. Almost all the existing covers with this postmark are feldpost items (which invariably were sent back to Germany). The fact that the sender was with the cavalry brigade makes it even more interesting. I did not realize that the Germans had maintained a cavalry brigade in China during the Boxer Rebellion. I suspect that it was not very large, too difficult to ship the horses to China. The reverse of the card can be seen here .

December 07, 2003 David Benson

David K., Is that a good representation of the 12s.6 as the color looks faded, it may be a scanning problem,

David B.

December 07, 2003 DavidBenson

David K, most collectors of Bermuda wouldn't have a clue what those stamps are. They should have the perforations noted (perf.14 or perf. 13) and they will then be able to discern into which group of shades or printings they are. In my opinion you are doing yourself a great disservice by listing the 3 odd values together. You will find it would be much easier if you sold them separately. The 12s.6 is always in great demand.

David B.

December 07, 2003 David K.

Whoops; the link didn't work! Listed them on eBay #2971062983;

December 07, 2003 David K <eaglearts@aol.com>

Just listed 3 outstanding stamps: Bermuda #53-4-97 Unused MH EF. Some of the best I've seen in a long time. It's a bummer that the gum is glazed! They are just so nice to look at!

December 07, 2003 Christo van Zyl

Cancels of the Day 40


Todays cancels of the day :


China (Tsientsin 11, 14/2/1930)

Ireland (Beal Tairbeirt, 2/11/1959, 6 15pm)

Belgian Congo (Ostermansville, 4/7/1951)

Netherlands Indies (Pangkalpinang, 17/2/1940)
 

December 07, 2003 Brian R

BTW
your link below isn't working.

December 07, 2003 Brian R

Michael
Yes, I got your e-mail. Don't put any undo emphasis on the freebie headed towards me. Worry about your paying customers, or about digging yourself out from under all that snow, first. :o)

December 07, 2003 Michael Walter

Brian R Did not know if you got my email. We got over a foot of snow. I will mail the CSA3 out to you tomorrow
 

December 07, 2003 Brian R

s'ok Jim
Part of the reason for my post,
was to deflect focus on the fact,
that I don't know where it is either. :o)

December 07, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

Just kidding Brian.
If I hadn't had students from Oman, I wouldn't have a clue either.

December 07, 2003 Brian R

Jim W/S
You must remember that you're talking to Americans (no offence intended Chris)
I doubt that one in a hundred, could point to Afganistan on a map, before we occupied the place.
Now, after the Taliban have been driven back into the caves,
I'd guestimate one in twenty-five can.
Heck, I'll bet a simple majority, can't even find Texas on a map.
I'd even wager a pound of unsearched Machins,
that a similar poll taken on the streets of Dallas, or Houston,
would return similar results.

December 07, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

chris
Shame on you.
Umm Al Qiwain is located southwest of Ras Al Khaimah and north of Sharjah.
And on the coast of the Arabian Gulf.

December 07, 2003 Chris

Where Exactly Is This Place?
So where is "Umm al Qiwain" supposed to be?

Chris - doesn't actively collect the dunes, but hangs on to any that show up in other lots

December 07, 2003 Ken Lawrence

Richard Warren
The real difference between us, I think, is that my perspective is based on the enormous cultural change we are passing through. In our lifetimes postage stamps have become historically and technologically obsolete, or nearly so. While both absolute and relative numbers of stamps used on mail decline, and the volume of postal communications declines, and postal services become private corporations rather than government services, postal administrations continue to increase their output of stamp issues to reap easy revenue from collectors. These debased stamps are mass marketed today in this country by former USPS official John Van Emden, for example, who peddles popular topicals at high prices through display ads in general circulation media -- Princess Diana, Elvis, the Beatles, you name it. Stamps never intended for postal use, which he advertises as "legal tender" (which they are not) in their designated home countries. Once this style of collecting overtook philately as we knew it, and USPS piled on with silver ingot replicas of stamp designs by Hallmark, the link between postage and stamps was all but severed. People who collect those really don't care about the connection to mail, so it's a small step for them to buy labels that are not postally valid anywhere. I deplore the misrepresentation, whether it's by someone selling legal or illegal stamps, whether from Abkhazia or Australia, because it's the same problem. But it's equally true that all those stamps and labels will surely be prized in the future for what they really are by serious collectors. The formerly spurned 1960s and 1970s issues of Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Manama, Dubai, Fujeira, Khor Fakkan, Sharjah, Ras al Khaima, Umm al Qiwain, Qatar, Mutawakelite Yemen, Kathiri, Qu'aiti, and other disputed territories of Southern and Eastern Arabia today sell for handsome prices, according to Michael Rogers, a respected dealer in Asian philately.

December 07, 2003 Ken Lawrence <apsken@aol.com>

Richard Warren
I don't know D&G Philatelic. I believe Herrick, Kent Research, and Interpost are all Herzig businesses, as is Global Stamp News in Sidney, Ohio. Similarly Sam Malamud has both Intergovernmental and Ideal Stamp Company. Dave Kols has Regency, Superior, and whatever he calls his on-line auction. Todd Patric has Jamestown and Falcon. Mike Zoeller has Artmaster, House of Farnam, and Cachet Craft. The Leo August heirs have Washington Press, Artcraft and White Ace. Jim Helzer has Fleetwood and Unicover, plus several foreign stamp agencies for North America. The list goes on a lot longer. In some instances the distinctions are wholesale, retail, and manufacturing.

December 07, 2003 15.48 Knud-Erik Andersen

December 07, 2003 15:04 Bjorn Munch

A lucky find
I saw that cover too, but since I know very little about pre-philately and this was *to* Norway I didn't pay attention. But it does look like an odd route.
 

December 07, 2003 14.07 Knud-Erik Andersen

December 07, 2003 Richard W

Long I
Thanks Jim. So the "coincidence" could be more economic/demographic? I hadn't thought of that.

December 07, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

Richard
I'm not aware of the interrelationships of the dealers on Long Island, Bill or Ken can probably answer that.
However, Long Island is a big place (at least by New England standards), and many of the stamp dealers who previously occupied the City, probably moved there as being convenient and relatively cheap.

December 07, 2003 Christo van Zyl

New Selling Record fo Me!
Who said that Bophuthatswana Covers can't sell? These established a new, highest selling price on ebay, beating my previous best (just over $100) comfortably! I am quite a happy chappy!

December 07, 2003 Richard Warren

A number of philatelic agencies - Kent Research, D & G Philatelic, Interpost - all have Long Island addresses, together with big new issues retailer Herrick Stamp (William Herzfeld), which I believe owns big new issues retailer Marlen (Leonard Cohen). Is there some sort of business relationship here, or is it just the long arm of coincidence that a number of similar outfits are within a short geographical distance of each other on Long Island?

December 07, 2003 Jonathan Keene <jeltonATmaineDOTrrDOTcom>

Swiss covers
In my purchases I have acquired quite a stash of foreign covers (of which I know nothing about). Here is a sampling of some swiss wrappers that I have come across. Any value to these? Trash or treasure? As always any info is appreciated.

Jonathan

 

December 07, 2003 John@MagnoliaStamps

Paul L.
Oh driving thru the snow in a 2 door chevrolet,sliding cross the median praying all the way!
I glad to hear that you made it home safely.i.ll be headed back up there tonight,or in the morning.Someplace in W.V.first and then on to Syracuse N.Y. for a second stop. Making that money.Well tell us what did you buy..I'm still interested even as I sell off all of my extras..

John in Ms. where the sun is shining and its 40 dgr's

December 07, 2003 paul laniosz

DRIVING THRU THE SNOW
JOHN--MAG STAMPS ----just got home from stamp auction in n.j. drove home ,loaded with stamps from 7;00 p.m. saturday until 11;00 a m sunday on a straight shot on I-80. looked at lots all morning then auction started at 3;00 and over at 7;00 ,then jumped in car for drive . started in 9 inches of coastly snowstorm until sunshine in beatuiful chicago......paul,

December 07, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

Brian
Krakatau, and it is west of Java, not East as in the movie title.
That depends on how you want to define "recorded"
If you mean with scientific intruments, the answer is possibly yes.
If you mean known and written about, the answer is no, not even close.
Tambora eruption of 1815 was an order of magnitude larger, as my web site shows.
And there are pre-historic eruptions that dwarf Tambora.

December 07, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

Richard
Thanks, but I'll stick with the philatelically-inspired issues.

December 07, 2003 BrianR

Richard W--I love it!....a vintage illegal....

December 07, 2003 Richard Warren

Jim W-S
Jim, a vintage illegal (maybe three or four years old?) but not in the name of Bashkiria. I can't quite focus on the country title in the scan, but it reads " ..... -orgostan", I think. The seller doesn't even know what the supposed nation is. And he doesn't care either. This guy shifts a lot of illegals on eBay. But hey, you all have a chance to get in on the ground floor here - remember, Ken L reckons that items like this will be greatly prized in the future.

December 07, 2003 David Benson

Knud, don't know but presume it has something to with the " Dampskip Christiana ",

David B.

December 07, 2003 09.54 Knud-Erik Andersen

December 07, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

Gotherorg instead of Gotheborg?

December 07, 2003 09.52 Knud-Erik Andersen

December 07, 2003 Bob H.

Good morning, K-E - and no clue about your cover.

December 07, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

Okay, I live a sheltered life but who is
Cameron Diaz and where is Bashkiria?

December 07, 2003 09.32 Knud-Erik Andersen

December 07, 2003 09.30 Knud-Erik Andersen

December 07, 2003 Christo van Zyl

Greg I: Thanks for the info on the 363 PO. I normally don't expect much in the way of rarity, most of the times I collect the cancels just because they look so good on a stamp. But sometimes jewel come along, such as e.g the Ulvig cancel of the other day. Sometimes it boggles my mind that what one has, is one of the last remaining few.
Thanks also to you and the others for that interesting discussion on dumb cancels. And that Charleston cancel of yours is something I am envious of!

December 07, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

Jimbo
Unfortunately Whitney doesn't list airmail cancels in their entirety.
Mackay states that prewar (WW2) examples of aerodrome or airport postmarks are very scarce and were usually confined to special events such as the England-Australia air race of 1934 or the inauguration of a new service. Datestamps with ivory handles and silver cases were used in Croydon 1931-34 and Southampton in 1937 at the launch of new services and only a handful of V.I.P. letters were cancelled on either occasion.

December 07, 2003 07:48 Jim Watson

Western Air Express Cover
Jim W-S,
Thanks for the information on that cover. I wonder if that was a common metering technique in Britain at the time.

December 07, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

Good morning John, on this day of infamy.
And lots of snow in the northeast US.

December 07, 2003 John@MagnoliaStamps

Jim Whitford-Stark...Good Morning Professor!

December 07, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

Sorry, August 24th was a goof in earlier Sanabria, it was updated to August 26th.

December 07, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

Jimbo

Cover is for Intenational Airlines Ltd. The "Western Air Express" from Plymouth to London via Portsmouth and Southampton.
Sanabria dates it as August 24th issue. Valued at $20 in 1963.

December 07, 2003 Greg Ioannou (g.1)

Belgian numeral cancels
Christo #363 is Tournai. It is presumably one of the common ones (although I don't have any references that gives rarity ratings for these) -- Tournai was a pretty big town at the time.

December 07, 2003 Chip G

Michael:
There were two things that caused me to write what I did:
1- To portray it as though all fraud was being ignored because the auctions you reported were still going on 48 hours later was a bit harsh. Likewise, there was no indication of how long that overprint auction was going on prior to its being reported. If I understand the process, somthing gets reported, referred, reviewed, and, if multiple committee members concur, ebay is advised. They, in turn, advise the seller to pull the auction. So, if there weren't two overprint specialists, it wasn't going to get pulled. This is not a fault of the system, but rather one of coverage areas. This will likely be fixed over time if the system works and is expanded to include more members after this initial pilot period.

2 - The tone you took with the line "To date no action by eBay has been taken against any of the auctions." is in direct opposition to the line you used "One seller of a perforated proof ended his auction early today due to being reported." (Actually, how do you know that the seller was not just doing the right thing once alerted?)

Without access to the full database of reported item, which would include all those reported you can only come up with something that says "Of the auctions our group reported...," rather than "of all of the auctions reported." Your sample (this board) is skewed.

Please do not take my comment as a criticism or reporting fraud - rather it is problems with the numbers and the tone. I have and will continue to report auctions I see, both to the sellers and the SWC, but I cannot see what will be gained by continually clubbing ebay over the head.

Chip

December 07, 2003 05:38 Jim Watson

December 07, 2003 07:57 Jim Watson

I've also updated two previous covers for today from Gold Coast to Germany in 1883 (gee, the same date as the Moens card) and another postal card from Guatemala to Germany in 1893. A three postal card day!

John,
Thanks for getting my link posted properly. Just another senior moment.
 

December 07, 2003 Christo van Zyl

Cancels of the Day 39


Todays cancels of the day :


Belgium, dotted rhomboid with palindromic number 363. Any idea on the name of the PO?

China (Yunnanfu, date in Chinese) – anyone help with the date?

China (Tientsin, 9/6/1930)

Great Britain (Bath, 13/7/1886)

Belgium (Liege, 8/3/1884)
 

December 06, 2003 Michael Walter

Chip G and All I have been emailed by several board member from both this board and Frajola’s board encouraging this effort. I have been advised by several philatelists to post once a day for about six months to accumulate information. A lot of notable Philatelists have volunteered to help with the project. For the record I am PRO-EBAY as I am a seller. Ebay is a wonderful venue to buy and sell stamps. I am anti-fraud. I would like to see eBay be a valuable resource for years to come for both buyers and sellers of stamps. The folks with SCADS, Dave Frick’s board and many others have done a wonderful job helping rid eBay of fraudulent auctions. The job is far from over. I am a member of the APS. Volunteers that are helping me are both APS members and non APS members. I think that the APS/eBay “partnership” is a good thing that needs time to work. My goal is to get as many people as possible to scan the stamp listings and report as many fraudulent auctions to eBay as possible. I will record all the data that I can get, not to condemn the APS or eBay but to let them review the information to help them improve the program. The SWC only has so many eyes. If we can increase the number of fraudulent auctions being pulled and speeding up the process than that is a good thing
 

December 06, 2003 Bill Weiss

Various
ANNE; I can tell you aren't a hunter! In this country, they are not "stags", they are "bucks". What you saw was a male whitetail deer, which is a buck. I am no longer a hunter either, by the way, having given it up about 10-12 years ago.

CHIP G. I do not understand the spirit of your last post, criticizing Mike W's efforts to get fraudulently-described stuff off eBay? I took the time yesterday and the day before to report 12 items to Mike W., in turn he reported them to eBay. I understand that the process takes time, and with a weekend involved even moreso, but if I understand the process properly, they will even go after a fraudulent lot after it's sold, so if that's true, there's no harm done by the delays. I think Mike's doing a good thing by being willing to report these items. I think he's bringing it up continually to encourage chat board members to keep reporting bad lots to him, and if so, I think your ill-advised to criticize him for it.

Anyway, I'm done for the night and off to pay poker tomorrow. Everyone have a nice Sunday.

December 06, 2003 john @ magnolia stamps

Here's the link that Jim tried to post.try this

December 06, 2003 Chip G

Michael:
If the seller ended the auction, you cannot say that ebay did nothing. They will only pull the auction if the seller won't, and only when there is definitive proof that the stamp ain't what it is supposed to be.
I think your statistics may be skewed due to an anti-ebay bias.
Chip.

PS - Although this is a noble endeavor, do we have to keep dwelling on this subject?

December 06, 2003 Jim Watson

Anne's Tree
Anne,
I forgot to mention that my wife enjoyed the story of your snowy scene and the counterpoint of the falling tree worry.
Michael,
Don't forget that the timeline is probably at least 72 hours for action - probably longer on weekends. It's not instant. First, the eBay people have to read the message and forward it to the SCW. Then two of the SCW members have to confirm the question and forward it to the APS. APS has to agree and then allows 24 hours for contacting the seller before action can be expected.

December 06, 2003 Jim Watson

Anne's Tree
Anne,
Yes, I did remember your tree from earlier. Your suspicions concerning another tree failure wer such a nice contrast to your enjoyment of the snowy scene.

Bill,
It certainly is uncommon if not a first ever to have a hurricane forming at this time of the year. It's probably just a failure of the satellite intelligence system and a figment of the weatherman's imagination.

NOIP,
Has anyone seen one of href=http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2970700280&category=3514
target=_blank>these before?
We'll see if I got the spacing correct on that one.

December 06, 2003 Michael Walter

UPDATE I am watching 23 active auctions that have been reported and emailed to me. In most cases I have reported them again. The material has both been U.S. and Worldwide stamps. To date no action by eBay has been taken against any of the auctions. One auction with a forged overprint ended with a sale today. One seller of a perforated proof ended his auction early today due to being reported. I have been and will be really busy this weekend so I hope to be able to put the data on my web page and make it public sometime this week. There are experts of all types of material reviewing the reported material to make sure it is indeed necessary to report. Thank you to all of the volunteers.
 

December 06, 2003 Michael Walter <scsof@hotmail.com>

I am looking for volunteers to please look through the eBay stamp listings of their specialty and to please report any and all fraudulent listings. Please email me with the auction # and your complaint. Your name will not be used or published if you do not want it to be!! This should be a several month project. At the end all available data will be made public and sent to the APS, USPCS, Linns Stamp News and Ebay. Thank you to those that have already emailed me!!!


 

December 06, 2003 Bill Dempwolf

Bill

December 06, 2003 Anne

Jimbo: Glad you liked the description. I meant the part about the tree falling on the house. The insurance company's designated tree service just got around to removing the last one yesterday morning. It's been sitting in our backyard ever since the windstorms two weeks ago. As for hurricanes, isn't the season over?

December 06, 2003 15:33 Bill Claghorn http://www.geocities.com/claghorn1p/
 

I just got back from PENPEX. What a wonderful show. There was a wide range of exhibits, dealers, kids room with lots of free stamps and soaking, library research available, Post Office station with Old Glory booklets and wonderful people. The lunch room conversations covered all phases of philateley and it was a rich experience to share with old friends.

 

December 06, 2003 Dave P

GB Dumb cancels
Greg
The cancel of the type Christo shows was purely an economy measure, it was much cheaper to prepare a stamp without the moveable date slugs.
There are another group of "dumb" cancels used both during WW1 and WW2 where information was blanked out for security reasons. Perhaps the best know is the Krag machine used at Inverness on naval mail, where the place name etc was replaced by "x" 's, leaving only the date. There were also a lot of sundry cork and rubber cancels in the shape of stars etc. used on naval and military mail. The triangles were also used in a couple of cases, but because they showed the office number, were not actually as "dumb" as the personnnel might have thought! On the same lines the various FPO stamps were regularly switched between units to dsguise their origin if intercepted.

December 06, 2003 frank

A snowy Big Apple day
Central Park is blanketed in a winter wonderland of white as I write this on a late Saturday afternoon. Kids and dads are sliding down the hill by the row boat lake near West 72nd Street and dogs are going crazy. It's an old fashioned NEw YOrk City weekend. I'm sitting in a 3rd floor brownstone apartment on the Upper West Side, listening to jazz, looking out on the street scene of snow covered cars and trees and sipping a glass of my best jug Burgundy. A Scott International Part I stamp album is open to Persia and I'm mounting a neat set of early 20th century forgeries into it with GENUINE Dennision prefolded stamp hinges.Yes, I've still got several packs of Dennison's left. Can't beat em. If anyone knows a good hinge maker let me know? Hope you're all enjoying the weekend.

December 06, 2003 David Benson

Dana,

Commonwealth & British Empire Stamps 1840-1952, 2004 Edition,

David B.

December 06, 2003 13:24 Dana Krueger <dkrueger at kfl dot com>

Regards, Dana

December 06, 2003 nomad55

Canadian blackout cancels
here in cropped form

Both covers are for sale.

 

December 06, 2003 Greg Ioannou (g.1)

Dumb cancels
I believe that wartime "dumb" cancels like Christo's were more than an economy measure. There was also a secutity angle to them -- putting as little information on the outside of mail as possible. The Canadian ones don't even show where they were sent from -- just a black ring.

December 06, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

Drats, sniped.

Thanks to Eric some updates to central American, Guatemalan volcanoes.
Agua
Atitlan
Pacaya

December 06, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

Christo
It is a "dumb" handstamp used during WW2.
An economy, udated rubber stamp.

December 06, 2003 Dave P

Christo Your London cancel was one of a series of "dumb" (date-less) rubber stamps brought in as war-time economy measure in the '40s. Mostly used for cancelling packets, and sometimes parcels.
That is a nice QV 5/- you have there.

December 06, 2003 Christo van Zyl

Cancels of the Day 38


Sorry about the lateness of posting todays cancels of the day. It is my son’s 10th birthday and we were busy entertaining 13 kids and their parents at a recreational park with a swimming pool and barbeque facilities. Enjoyable, but on the other hand sorry that I haven’t been able to attend my local stampfair.


Somali Coast Protectorate (Djibouti, 25/1/1895)

Great Britain (East Dulwich, Friern Rd SE, 2/2/1882)

Great Britain (London) with ID/control number 78. Date unknown. What kind of cancel is this?
 

December 06, 2003 Michael Walter

Anne
What state are you in? We got 8 inches Thursday night and another 10 inches last night here. (A little north of Baltimore, Md)

December 06, 2003 09:11 Jim Watson

Anne,
Wonderful picture! I remember the pain of losing branches from slowly grown trees due to heavy, early snows in Colorado. No fun! Now I wonder how I'll respond to the next hurricane! Naw, it'll never happen.

December 06, 2003 Anne

As I look out my window, snow is gently falling. Tree branches are delicately bowed under their load of white. Across the street, the woods are lovely, not so dark (it's 11 AM) and deep. A squirrel tunnels under the snow, jumps to a tree trunk and from there lands on the hand rail of the bridge across our little brook. All is silent. A picture-perfect postcard. I wonder which tree will be the next to fall on our house.

December 06, 2003 08:09 Jim Watson

Greg I.,
That is a really nice cancel on that South Australia. Wouldn't it be wonderful if they were all that nice?

Jim W-S,
Yes, it is but that's what gives philately variety. Caribbean islands on Friday and the Bosporus on Saturday!

December 06, 2003 Jim Whitford-Stark

Er Jimbo
Turks islands are a fair ways from Turkey.

December 06, 2003 Greg Ioannou (g.1)

Les Molnar from St Catharines visited last Wednesday, and brought over a stockbook of South Australia for me to go through. In it was this little gem. Far nicer than the two strikes I had of that postmark -- and three years before the earliest recorded date. Thanks, Les!

December 06, 2003 04:42 Jim Watson

I've also updated a previous cover for today from the Turks Islands to St. Lucia in 1902.

Snow, snow, what's that? Here on the Gulf Coast we don't have that.

December 06, 2003 Mauro Mowszowicz

US Fancy Cancel
Richard F and Matt L, thanks for your quick reply to my yesterday's question
Regards
Mauro

December 06, 2003 Jim Griffith <griffith@dweeb.org> http://album.dweeb.org
 

Jim
Sunnyvale, CA
:-P

December 05, 2003 Anne

Good night to all and to all sweet dreams of snow plows and shovels, Austrian forgeries, and driving safely in the snow.

December 05, 2003 Anne

Austria
Oops--wrong link. Here.. The other one leads to the main website.

December 05, 2003 Anne

David: Thanks. As usual, you're tersely right. I finally dug out Serrane and tried to decipher his horrible drawings, which helped a little, although the color of that particular stamp makes it even harder. I did a little web research to try to find an example of the real one and came up with this. Color is definitely off on mine. The site has a lot of other info too. Maybe I'll spring for one of his CDs.

December 05, 2003 John in Ms.

Frank
I think he must!but then again look at what he sells.beanie bears and such.This must be his 1st stamp collection.

December 05, 2003 Frank

PayPal only dealer
John, I once met a candy store owner who said to me when I asked him courteously when he would be making a fresh batch of fudge candy, "I didn't go into business to be dictated to. I went into business to be a dictator!"
This guy sounds like his brother. Very interesting that he has a solid 100 percent feedback rating on over a thousand sales. Does he frighten his customers into submission?

December 05, 2003 Frank

Road safety
Let me echo what John said. Extreme caution is warranted in winter road conditions. For those of you overseas: Americans on their giant interstate highways travel at speeds of 65 to 75 miles per hour (105-120 kilometers per hour). Recently I left Long Island, New York, for the New England region state of Vermont. I took the car ferry from Port Jefferson, N.Y., avoiding the crazy roads around New York City.
Entering the harbor in Connecticut rain drops were falling on the water. By Massachusetts it was snowing and the roads had ice underneath the snow. By Vermont it was solid snow. The first storm of the season. Visibility was down to less that a half mile. I and a convoy or other cars were in the slow lane and happy to do 35 miles an hour. In the passing lane cars and trucks were still moving at 70 miles an hour. A white pick-up truck passed me moving at about 70 like there wasn't a worry in the world. Several miles up I came on an accident scene where the driver of the white truck lost control flipped over and was killed. I saw two more accidents before I got up to the state capital. And these were Vermont cars and trucks in trouble! They're supposed to know how to drive in snow and ice. I was praying towards the end of the drive that I'd make it. People forget how to drive in snow and have to retrain themselves. I waited and extra day to come home for good weather to drive in. And here's the crazy part. The day was crystal clear, the roads were dry, and they were virtually empty up in Vermont. In the space of two hours the interstate was closed in three different sections because of accidents and we were diverted to secondary roads. I still don't understand it except maybe people were tired. Put a couple of cinder blocks or bags of sand in the trunk (boot) for extra traction, put on snow tires or at the least all weather radials and take your time.

December 05, 2003 John in Ms.

inventory
I do it the old fashioned way.I use a pen and a notebook.And whats left of my memory.

December 05, 2003 John@MagnoliaStamps

paypal only
Now here's a dealer who wast payment on the spot.(SAME DAY Payment Through Paypal Only !! NO EXCEPTIONS) It's a wonder they have any bids at all.

John

December 05, 2003 8.22 p.m. John Gordon <johnr@castlemoyle.com> http://www.historicpomeroy.com
 

Philatelic database
I'm using a couple of dbase databases for my inventorying (is that a word?). The first, catlog.dbf, has country, scott, catalog year and mint and used values, description, 3 fields for coding topical issues, plus a field for Gibbons # and even one for Minkus catalog # (does that date me?). The second database, data.dbf, is linked to catlog.dbf my the country and scott number and has a field for quantity owned, which album it's in, what I paid for it and when. (I think I imported the files into dbase from old individual Multiplan spreadsheets, which in turn had been "upgraded" from Visicalc files on a TRS-80 Model IV.)


While a bit disk space hoggy at 2.5 megs for the data file (35,000 items) and 15 megs for the catalog file (90,000 items), what does it matter since computers are so fast and full of disk space?

I can create a quick report to take to shows, print a list of wants or haves or stamps above a certain value and even generate a web page (see http://www.marianstamps.com/mary.htm).

There's my two cents worth.
John

December 05, 2003 9:52 p.m. John@MagnoliaStamps

A nickles worth of free advice
John @ Magnolia Stamps
Tupelo Ms.

This message is intended for all of my friends in the U.S. and yes even you Ken L. It does not apply to those of you overseas!

The winter months are now upon us so let’s take caution when driving on the high-ways, Especially this time of the year. A few pointers.

Share the road .Don’t try to hog it! You are not the only one out there.

Please do not try to pass a 18 wheeler on the right!

Use caution when exiting the high-way the roads are slick ,and trucks have a tendency of parking on the shoulders of the off ramps.

Fog lights ,(ie) road lamps ,driving lights should be properly adjusted and used only when fog is present .They have a purpose and it’s not to make you look cool!

Dim your lights for oncoming vehicles.

When a 18 wheeler is trying to pass don’t speed up or try to ride along side of it .This just makes the driver mad.

As of Jan 4 2004 there will be new hours of service instituted by the Federal Hi-way Commission ,governing the hours that a driver can drive .Thusly more trucks will be parked for longer periods of time .And since there is a shortage of parking spaces for trucks ,there will be no telling where you may find them setting.

Also lets take into consideration that better then 50% of the drivers of these rigs have less than 2 yrs experience ,and many of them have this I don’t care attitude ,in other words they had just as soon run over you as to look at you.

I arrived in N.Y. Monday night to find a snow storm and 3 truck wrecks, Tuesday evening on the way home I encountered 3 in Pa. On I-81 Thursday there were 2 more in N.C. all were due to what I call over driving for the condition of the road. Only 1 in Ga. It was caused by a car who spun out on the slick road and went across the median and hit a truck.

So lets all be careful out there, and I’ll see you on the road!
B.T.W. I will be in W.V. on Tues. and then in the Syracuse N.Y. area on Wednesday.

John in Ms.

December 05, 2003 19:18 Dave F. (moderator)