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United States/BOB & Other : Question of Authenticity - Unusual Philately

 

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Jake6
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16 Jul 2016
12:38:10pm
Hi Everyone. I am thinking of bidding on these "stamps" on eBay. They are quite unusual and speak to me (and I love anything Halloween-related re: the Salem stamps). However, I am wondering about their authenticity, esp. with the uneven edges on a couple of them. Does anyone have any information regarding these various stamps and their origin? They are all from one seller. Thanks for any info!

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JF0505

16 Jul 2016
01:35:21pm
re: Question of Authenticity - Unusual Philately

Real would depend on what they are being advertised as

The SALEM stamps are real - they are recent Cinderellas & fairly common

The union square is a bogus stamp - so no real value
The original Union Square US 141L3 2c is black on rose and the 2cents is spelled "Two Cents" and no dot in the top.
It is actually quite common unused
$3 but $3000 genuinely used

Your stamp on the left, the genuine 141L3 on the right
Image Not Found Image Not Found

Here is a another one (wrong color) and a genuine on the right value about $30
Image Not Found Image Not Found

The seller's Union Square offerings are ALL bogus or forgeries
I would buy NOTHING from this seller
His APS & other credentials would lead me to think he knows the difference ... so make your own conclusions.

Safe buying on eBay - keep getting opinions of fellow members - that is the only safe way.

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ikeyPikey
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16 Jul 2016
02:23:49pm
re: Question of Authenticity - Unusual Philately

NB: Imperforate stamps were often cut clumsily, so that is not a clue.

Q/ Why does "imperforate" not pass the SOR spell-checker?

Cheers,

/s/ ikeyPikey

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BenFranklin1902
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Tom in Exton, PA

16 Jul 2016
03:44:18pm
re: Question of Authenticity - Unusual Philately

" Imperforate stamps were often cut clumsily, so that is not a clue."



which got me thinking... were scissors costly in the mid 1800s? In the same way your fountain pen was a valuable possession? Did post offices issue scissors to cut stamps apart, and were they clumsy devices? Or were they using pocket knives and razor blades to cut the stamps apart?

Just trying to account why many were cut so sloppy back then.

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Jake6
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16 Jul 2016
09:13:03pm
re: Question of Authenticity - Unusual Philately

Thanks, guys. Funny thing is, he does have the Black on Rose Union available as well. He also has a huge # of sales and a high satisfaction rate, though I know this can be faked. Also a member of the APS. I wish I could trust buying stamps on eBay, but it can be a gamble. I'm glad I have you guys to give a helping hand to a neophyte. Thanks!

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ikeyPikey
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17 Jul 2016
12:21:26am
re: Question of Authenticity - Unusual Philately

"... were scissors costly in the mid 1800s? ... Just trying to account why many were cut so sloppy back then ..."



Try it yourself.

Print the outlines of stamps (hint: spreadsheet, set borders around the cells).

Now try to cut the sheet into strips with a straight razor (or any other open, sharp blade), even with the help of a straight edge.

Now try to pile the strips onto one another, so you are cutting through more than one at a time.

Now look at your stamps. Yikes!

Cutting multiple pieces of paper at once with scissors is impossibly messy, even with a nice pair of Fiskers.

Cheers,

/s/ ikeyPikey
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sheepshanks
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17 Jul 2016
09:03:56am
re: Question of Authenticity - Unusual Philately

After trying Ikeys method then do it as fast as possible because in the PO you have a queue of people getting irritated and wanting to be on their way as soon as possible.

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Revstampman

17 Jul 2016
11:42:01am
re: Question of Authenticity - Unusual Philately

The Salem Post is a complete Fantasy!
Made by "Global Stamps" for sale to collectors.
Technically a Cinderella, yes.

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Jake6
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17 Jul 2016
12:44:29pm
re: Question of Authenticity - Unusual Philately

Thanks, everyone for your help! I had a feeling they were too good to be true. Kind of sad, though . . .

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BenFranklin1902
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Tom in Exton, PA

17 Jul 2016
12:49:43pm
re: Question of Authenticity - Unusual Philately

"The Salem Post is a complete Fantasy!"



And most of the modern local posts are just stamp collectors playing post office for fun and to sell covers. Very few actually provided a mail delivery service.

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Revstampman

17 Jul 2016
01:51:46pm
re: Question of Authenticity - Unusual Philately

Yes, that is quite true. However when these 1st hit eBay he was selling them as "Rare Local Post Stamps." They were not being sold as modern "issues" ( I use issues in the broadest sense.).
Which shows that he was just looking to defraud collectors out of their hard earned money!
Most makers of "Modern" Local Posts make it clear that they don't have and never had any type of postal validity! In other words they are just for fun.

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Jake6
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17 Jul 2016
04:14:15pm
re: Question of Authenticity - Unusual Philately

Regarding the Salem Witch Cinderellas, I suppose they can still have some historic interest to them if they were made a very long time ago, but my guess is they were just made to look old. Anyone know the year? I don't think 1866 is very likely.

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copy55555
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17 Jul 2016
05:06:32pm
re: Question of Authenticity - Unusual Philately

I believe they were produced post 2010. I have a bunch of these = Santa Claus, Indiana 1860; Tombstone 1881; Boomtown Letter Dispatch 1879; Hell Michigan 1932, etc. Salem Special Delivery - Salem Dead Letter Office. They are cute.

Tad

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Jake6
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17 Jul 2016
06:28:42pm
re: Question of Authenticity - Unusual Philately

Wow, that really is recent. Thanks for the info, Tad.

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amsd
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Editor, Seal News; contributor, JuicyHeads

17 Jul 2016
07:30:02pm
re: Question of Authenticity - Unusual Philately

and recent shouldn't be discounted.... try finding recent US Christmas seals properly used....... go ahead..... try......

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"Save the USPS, buy stamps; save the hobby, use commemoratives"

juicyheads.com/link.php?PLJZJP
BenFranklin1902
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Tom in Exton, PA

18 Jul 2016
07:04:09pm
re: Question of Authenticity - Unusual Philately

"Real would depend on what they are being advertised as"



I know a place that sells "Guaranteed Used Cars".

They guarantee they are used and they guarantee they are cars.
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Author/Postings
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Jake6

16 Jul 2016
12:38:10pm

Hi Everyone. I am thinking of bidding on these "stamps" on eBay. They are quite unusual and speak to me (and I love anything Halloween-related re: the Salem stamps). However, I am wondering about their authenticity, esp. with the uneven edges on a couple of them. Does anyone have any information regarding these various stamps and their origin? They are all from one seller. Thanks for any info!

Image Not Found

Image Not Found

Image Not Found

Like
Login to Like
this post
JF0505

16 Jul 2016
01:35:21pm

re: Question of Authenticity - Unusual Philately

Real would depend on what they are being advertised as

The SALEM stamps are real - they are recent Cinderellas & fairly common

The union square is a bogus stamp - so no real value
The original Union Square US 141L3 2c is black on rose and the 2cents is spelled "Two Cents" and no dot in the top.
It is actually quite common unused
$3 but $3000 genuinely used

Your stamp on the left, the genuine 141L3 on the right
Image Not Found Image Not Found

Here is a another one (wrong color) and a genuine on the right value about $30
Image Not Found Image Not Found

The seller's Union Square offerings are ALL bogus or forgeries
I would buy NOTHING from this seller
His APS & other credentials would lead me to think he knows the difference ... so make your own conclusions.

Safe buying on eBay - keep getting opinions of fellow members - that is the only safe way.

Like 
2 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.
Members Picture
ikeyPikey

16 Jul 2016
02:23:49pm

re: Question of Authenticity - Unusual Philately

NB: Imperforate stamps were often cut clumsily, so that is not a clue.

Q/ Why does "imperforate" not pass the SOR spell-checker?

Cheers,

/s/ ikeyPikey

Like
Login to Like
this post

"I collect stamps today precisely the way I collected stamps when I was ten years old."
Members Picture
BenFranklin1902

Tom in Exton, PA
16 Jul 2016
03:44:18pm

re: Question of Authenticity - Unusual Philately

" Imperforate stamps were often cut clumsily, so that is not a clue."



which got me thinking... were scissors costly in the mid 1800s? In the same way your fountain pen was a valuable possession? Did post offices issue scissors to cut stamps apart, and were they clumsy devices? Or were they using pocket knives and razor blades to cut the stamps apart?

Just trying to account why many were cut so sloppy back then.

Like
Login to Like
this post

"Check out my eBay Stuff! Username Turtles-Trading-Post"
Members Picture
Jake6

16 Jul 2016
09:13:03pm

re: Question of Authenticity - Unusual Philately

Thanks, guys. Funny thing is, he does have the Black on Rose Union available as well. He also has a huge # of sales and a high satisfaction rate, though I know this can be faked. Also a member of the APS. I wish I could trust buying stamps on eBay, but it can be a gamble. I'm glad I have you guys to give a helping hand to a neophyte. Thanks!

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
ikeyPikey

17 Jul 2016
12:21:26am

re: Question of Authenticity - Unusual Philately

"... were scissors costly in the mid 1800s? ... Just trying to account why many were cut so sloppy back then ..."



Try it yourself.

Print the outlines of stamps (hint: spreadsheet, set borders around the cells).

Now try to cut the sheet into strips with a straight razor (or any other open, sharp blade), even with the help of a straight edge.

Now try to pile the strips onto one another, so you are cutting through more than one at a time.

Now look at your stamps. Yikes!

Cutting multiple pieces of paper at once with scissors is impossibly messy, even with a nice pair of Fiskers.

Cheers,

/s/ ikeyPikey
Like
Login to Like
this post

"I collect stamps today precisely the way I collected stamps when I was ten years old."
Members Picture
sheepshanks

17 Jul 2016
09:03:56am

re: Question of Authenticity - Unusual Philately

After trying Ikeys method then do it as fast as possible because in the PO you have a queue of people getting irritated and wanting to be on their way as soon as possible.

Like
Login to Like
this post
Revstampman

17 Jul 2016
11:42:01am

re: Question of Authenticity - Unusual Philately

The Salem Post is a complete Fantasy!
Made by "Global Stamps" for sale to collectors.
Technically a Cinderella, yes.

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
Jake6

17 Jul 2016
12:44:29pm

re: Question of Authenticity - Unusual Philately

Thanks, everyone for your help! I had a feeling they were too good to be true. Kind of sad, though . . .

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
BenFranklin1902

Tom in Exton, PA
17 Jul 2016
12:49:43pm

re: Question of Authenticity - Unusual Philately

"The Salem Post is a complete Fantasy!"



And most of the modern local posts are just stamp collectors playing post office for fun and to sell covers. Very few actually provided a mail delivery service.

Like
Login to Like
this post

"Check out my eBay Stuff! Username Turtles-Trading-Post"
Revstampman

17 Jul 2016
01:51:46pm

re: Question of Authenticity - Unusual Philately

Yes, that is quite true. However when these 1st hit eBay he was selling them as "Rare Local Post Stamps." They were not being sold as modern "issues" ( I use issues in the broadest sense.).
Which shows that he was just looking to defraud collectors out of their hard earned money!
Most makers of "Modern" Local Posts make it clear that they don't have and never had any type of postal validity! In other words they are just for fun.

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
Jake6

17 Jul 2016
04:14:15pm

re: Question of Authenticity - Unusual Philately

Regarding the Salem Witch Cinderellas, I suppose they can still have some historic interest to them if they were made a very long time ago, but my guess is they were just made to look old. Anyone know the year? I don't think 1866 is very likely.

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
copy55555

17 Jul 2016
05:06:32pm

re: Question of Authenticity - Unusual Philately

I believe they were produced post 2010. I have a bunch of these = Santa Claus, Indiana 1860; Tombstone 1881; Boomtown Letter Dispatch 1879; Hell Michigan 1932, etc. Salem Special Delivery - Salem Dead Letter Office. They are cute.

Tad

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
Jake6

17 Jul 2016
06:28:42pm

re: Question of Authenticity - Unusual Philately

Wow, that really is recent. Thanks for the info, Tad.

Like
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this post
Members Picture
amsd

Editor, Seal News; contributor, JuicyHeads
17 Jul 2016
07:30:02pm

re: Question of Authenticity - Unusual Philately

and recent shouldn't be discounted.... try finding recent US Christmas seals properly used....... go ahead..... try......

Like
Login to Like
this post

"Save the USPS, buy stamps; save the hobby, use commemoratives"

juicyheads.com/link. ...
Members Picture
BenFranklin1902

Tom in Exton, PA
18 Jul 2016
07:04:09pm

re: Question of Authenticity - Unusual Philately

"Real would depend on what they are being advertised as"



I know a place that sells "Guaranteed Used Cars".

They guarantee they are used and they guarantee they are cars.
Like
Login to Like
this post

"Check out my eBay Stuff! Username Turtles-Trading-Post"
        

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