Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
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There are probably more - will add as I remember unless somebody else already has
Eyes
Catalogs (incl early by decade)
Computer (Colnect and specialty websites for example)
Reference books (Billigs for example)
Reference books (cancels)
Reference books (by country)
Reference books (forgeries)
Tongs
Watermark tray
Lighter fluid
Color guides / reference stamps
Templates (grilles, overprints
Magnifying glasses
Thread counters
Scanner
Paper type (reference stamps)
UV lamps
SignoScope (last resort)
Lamp with natural light
Skepticism - if it “might” be - it isn’t
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@Webpper
May I ask what are friles? How do you use them? This is a new one on me, well done!
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Thank you. I apologize and have corrected "frilles" to grilles! Good catch!
There is a clear plastic template that has rectangular outlines of the various grilles used on US stamps which helps to ID stamps if the grilles are weak in certain areas.
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Thank You
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I webpaper!
That sounds very useful!
Where can I get one of these grill templates?
Oh, also for IDing stamps I use Google Image Search and...
Stamp-O-Rama! It seems to be the best source for stamp identification.
-Ari
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Thank you
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PhilatelistMag20
I don't know where to get one - I did a lot of shows back in the 80's and at one of the shows a dealer was passing them around gratis. Hopefully someone knows where to source them if they are still around - so much useful stuff just isn't around anymore - think Dennison or, even better FoldOHinges.
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The grill templates, plus lots more, are on "Precision U.S. Specialty Multi-Guage"
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Thank you
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The most important now is usually Colnect. After that then it is a catalog.
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The most difficult for me to ID are when the languages/alphabets are Cryllic, Arabic or Hindi. I've got two on my desk now that are in Hindi from likely an Indian state, but which one? I could search the Scott catalogs at the stamp club, but I don't collect them so if I can't I can't ID from my old Scotts' "What Stamp Is that" right away, I move on. Maybe there is a guide that helps with these.
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I have also used the Colnect app for photo identification and has worked often,
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Thanks!
Hopefully I can find one for under $20!
-Ari
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Can anyone elaborate on detecting forgeries?
I have The Serrane Guide and Earee's 8 volume Album Weeds. I also like the reference illustrations on StampForgeries.com, but they only cover limited items.
Any other suggestions?
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Detecting fakes, forgeries and counterfeits is in a nutshell is a collectors nightmare but not really. There is a section dedicated to the topic in Scott's Specialized Catalog of United States Stamps and Covers and more books have been written about the subject than I can count. The entire section in the Scott catalog is dedicated to postal counterfeits. There has been many different ways thought of to defraud the collector. Ranging from re-gumming, re-perforating, removing cancels, pressing out grills, making fake grills to downright making a stamp that is darn near undetectable to the untrained eye. What is really puzzling well at least to me is why some of the imposter stamps are in-fact more valuable than the originals.
This is a topic that really drives me up a wall. For one I have made myself a small reference collection of the imposter stamps that mostly consist of re-perforated stamps and a couple of re-gummed stamps. Some have been made better than others but easily detectable. I have a gutter pair of Washington's that if there weren't holes placed in the gutter would have been worth a couple of grand. But because someone many years before me decided to try their hand at making it something else and destroyed it. But the silver lining is that it isn't lost to the garbage can but in a reference collection now. Mine to be direct and to the point.
Fakes, Forgeries and Counterfeits shouldn't be confused for errors, freaks or oddities. That topic is a whole other can of worms.
Jeremy
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Natural sunlight when identifying grills in particular. There is nothing better in my opinion. More than one source for information. For example: I have several different references on hand when it comes to narrowing down those perceived difficult to identify stamps particular for me the 19th century US large bank note issues and all of the issues prior to that.
Here are the references I have in my personal library.
The combined copy of 2 books. United States Grills by WM. L. Stevenson and Notes On The Grilled issues of The United States By Lester Brookman
The Scott Specialized Catalogue of United Stamps and Covers
The Scott Identification Guide to U.S. Stamps Regular Issues 1847 -1934 BY Charles N. Micarelli
The United States Postage Stamps of the 19th Century volumes I, II, and III by Lester Brookman
U.S Large Banknotes Identification Guide BY Bob Pipes and Steve Einhorn
All used in conjunction with The U.S. Specialty Multi-Gauge and a good set vernier calipers.
A couple of different color gauges.
A digital scanner.
This forum and several other online sites. Like Stamp Smarter.
That is just a few of my references and tools not all of them.
Jeremy
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@Sarge
I really like your choice of tools.
May I ask, do the color gauges (2) really work for you, I've always had difficult time using these?
What color gauages do you use if you don't mind me asking?
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The wonder gauge.
The Stanley Gibbon's color gauge. Which reminds me more of a Benjamin Moore paint swatch than anything else.
Stamp Smarter and the reference library.
My own reference collection that I have put together over the years.
The Scott Specialized Color Guides for United States Stamps.
An old Mystic retail catalog with the pictures of some of the stamps they have for sale. In particular for colors in the subtle reds and pink spectrums, carmines, vermillion and scarlets too. There are other colors that haven't mentioned. I think you can feature what I'm taking about.
I used to go to the Rocky Mountain Philatelic Library located in Denver every chance I got when I lived in Co. Springs. THAT PLACE IS PHENOMENAL!!! I thought that I'd type that last sentence in all capital letters. As if I were shouting it from the top of a tall building. If you ever get the chance to pay it a visit. I strongly recommend it to any philatelist you won't be disappointed.
There are some others that I have missed here that I have used in the past too.
They are all great tools that can get you close if not spot on in most cases. But one has to remember that everyone in the world sees colors differently. So it is always a huge gamble when sending something of to get an expert opinion and certificate. Which is why I generally don't do that. One of two things will happen. One will be sorely disappointed or one will be really happy with a wallet on a diet for several months at the very least. I understand that people have to be paid for their time. I really do. I too consider my time as money. But it is an opinion nothing more than that and in some cases stink.
I'm sure that you've seen some of the eBay sellers who push the certificates with stamps just to sell for the most money possible. There is nothing wrong with that. That is capitalism at its finest form. But what gives me pause is when there are two or more certificates for the same stamp and one certificate contradicts the other. I've seen this with PF, APS and Wiess certificates sometimes in aggregate. Grading is another topic all together that really gets under my skin.
The bottom line is not just one single source. I really like using the different gauges especially when it comes to identifying the Washingtons and Franklins. The shade varieties can drive a sane man crazy.
Jeremy
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I'm a simple soul.
A perf guage, a set of catalogues and experience.
Life is complicated enough without hankering over different shades of colours, papers, postmarks, whether it is postally used or came off a FDC etc. If I can see the watermark with the naked eye fine if not, tough, it gets ignored, dumped, put aside, chucked out etc etc etc.
How come the Stanley Gibbons colour charts have changed their descriptions several times since 1840? (Simples!! To get folkies to part with their cash!)
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I'm always interested in what tools you use to ID stamps?
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12:59:39pm
re: What Tools Do You Use to ID Stamps?
There are probably more - will add as I remember unless somebody else already has
Eyes
Catalogs (incl early by decade)
Computer (Colnect and specialty websites for example)
Reference books (Billigs for example)
Reference books (cancels)
Reference books (by country)
Reference books (forgeries)
Tongs
Watermark tray
Lighter fluid
Color guides / reference stamps
Templates (grilles, overprints
Magnifying glasses
Thread counters
Scanner
Paper type (reference stamps)
UV lamps
SignoScope (last resort)
Lamp with natural light
Skepticism - if it “might” be - it isn’t
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re: What Tools Do You Use to ID Stamps?
@Webpper
May I ask what are friles? How do you use them? This is a new one on me, well done!
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01:43:36pm
re: What Tools Do You Use to ID Stamps?
Thank you. I apologize and have corrected "frilles" to grilles! Good catch!
There is a clear plastic template that has rectangular outlines of the various grilles used on US stamps which helps to ID stamps if the grilles are weak in certain areas.
Login to Like
this post
Approvals
re: What Tools Do You Use to ID Stamps?
I webpaper!
That sounds very useful!
Where can I get one of these grill templates?
Oh, also for IDing stamps I use Google Image Search and...
Stamp-O-Rama! It seems to be the best source for stamp identification.
-Ari
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10:11:12pm
re: What Tools Do You Use to ID Stamps?
PhilatelistMag20
I don't know where to get one - I did a lot of shows back in the 80's and at one of the shows a dealer was passing them around gratis. Hopefully someone knows where to source them if they are still around - so much useful stuff just isn't around anymore - think Dennison or, even better FoldOHinges.
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this post
re: What Tools Do You Use to ID Stamps?
The grill templates, plus lots more, are on "Precision U.S. Specialty Multi-Guage"
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re: What Tools Do You Use to ID Stamps?
The most important now is usually Colnect. After that then it is a catalog.
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08:15:42am
re: What Tools Do You Use to ID Stamps?
The most difficult for me to ID are when the languages/alphabets are Cryllic, Arabic or Hindi. I've got two on my desk now that are in Hindi from likely an Indian state, but which one? I could search the Scott catalogs at the stamp club, but I don't collect them so if I can't I can't ID from my old Scotts' "What Stamp Is that" right away, I move on. Maybe there is a guide that helps with these.
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re: What Tools Do You Use to ID Stamps?
I have also used the Colnect app for photo identification and has worked often,
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this post
Approvals
re: What Tools Do You Use to ID Stamps?
Thanks!
Hopefully I can find one for under $20!
-Ari
Login to Like
this post
re: What Tools Do You Use to ID Stamps?
Can anyone elaborate on detecting forgeries?
I have The Serrane Guide and Earee's 8 volume Album Weeds. I also like the reference illustrations on StampForgeries.com, but they only cover limited items.
Any other suggestions?
1 Member
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11:23:58pm
re: What Tools Do You Use to ID Stamps?
Detecting fakes, forgeries and counterfeits is in a nutshell is a collectors nightmare but not really. There is a section dedicated to the topic in Scott's Specialized Catalog of United States Stamps and Covers and more books have been written about the subject than I can count. The entire section in the Scott catalog is dedicated to postal counterfeits. There has been many different ways thought of to defraud the collector. Ranging from re-gumming, re-perforating, removing cancels, pressing out grills, making fake grills to downright making a stamp that is darn near undetectable to the untrained eye. What is really puzzling well at least to me is why some of the imposter stamps are in-fact more valuable than the originals.
This is a topic that really drives me up a wall. For one I have made myself a small reference collection of the imposter stamps that mostly consist of re-perforated stamps and a couple of re-gummed stamps. Some have been made better than others but easily detectable. I have a gutter pair of Washington's that if there weren't holes placed in the gutter would have been worth a couple of grand. But because someone many years before me decided to try their hand at making it something else and destroyed it. But the silver lining is that it isn't lost to the garbage can but in a reference collection now. Mine to be direct and to the point.
Fakes, Forgeries and Counterfeits shouldn't be confused for errors, freaks or oddities. That topic is a whole other can of worms.
Jeremy
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11:42:15am
re: What Tools Do You Use to ID Stamps?
Natural sunlight when identifying grills in particular. There is nothing better in my opinion. More than one source for information. For example: I have several different references on hand when it comes to narrowing down those perceived difficult to identify stamps particular for me the 19th century US large bank note issues and all of the issues prior to that.
Here are the references I have in my personal library.
The combined copy of 2 books. United States Grills by WM. L. Stevenson and Notes On The Grilled issues of The United States By Lester Brookman
The Scott Specialized Catalogue of United Stamps and Covers
The Scott Identification Guide to U.S. Stamps Regular Issues 1847 -1934 BY Charles N. Micarelli
The United States Postage Stamps of the 19th Century volumes I, II, and III by Lester Brookman
U.S Large Banknotes Identification Guide BY Bob Pipes and Steve Einhorn
All used in conjunction with The U.S. Specialty Multi-Gauge and a good set vernier calipers.
A couple of different color gauges.
A digital scanner.
This forum and several other online sites. Like Stamp Smarter.
That is just a few of my references and tools not all of them.
Jeremy
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re: What Tools Do You Use to ID Stamps?
@Sarge
I really like your choice of tools.
May I ask, do the color gauges (2) really work for you, I've always had difficult time using these?
What color gauages do you use if you don't mind me asking?
3 Members
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02:57:22pm
re: What Tools Do You Use to ID Stamps?
The wonder gauge.
The Stanley Gibbon's color gauge. Which reminds me more of a Benjamin Moore paint swatch than anything else.
Stamp Smarter and the reference library.
My own reference collection that I have put together over the years.
The Scott Specialized Color Guides for United States Stamps.
An old Mystic retail catalog with the pictures of some of the stamps they have for sale. In particular for colors in the subtle reds and pink spectrums, carmines, vermillion and scarlets too. There are other colors that haven't mentioned. I think you can feature what I'm taking about.
I used to go to the Rocky Mountain Philatelic Library located in Denver every chance I got when I lived in Co. Springs. THAT PLACE IS PHENOMENAL!!! I thought that I'd type that last sentence in all capital letters. As if I were shouting it from the top of a tall building. If you ever get the chance to pay it a visit. I strongly recommend it to any philatelist you won't be disappointed.
There are some others that I have missed here that I have used in the past too.
They are all great tools that can get you close if not spot on in most cases. But one has to remember that everyone in the world sees colors differently. So it is always a huge gamble when sending something of to get an expert opinion and certificate. Which is why I generally don't do that. One of two things will happen. One will be sorely disappointed or one will be really happy with a wallet on a diet for several months at the very least. I understand that people have to be paid for their time. I really do. I too consider my time as money. But it is an opinion nothing more than that and in some cases stink.
I'm sure that you've seen some of the eBay sellers who push the certificates with stamps just to sell for the most money possible. There is nothing wrong with that. That is capitalism at its finest form. But what gives me pause is when there are two or more certificates for the same stamp and one certificate contradicts the other. I've seen this with PF, APS and Wiess certificates sometimes in aggregate. Grading is another topic all together that really gets under my skin.
The bottom line is not just one single source. I really like using the different gauges especially when it comes to identifying the Washingtons and Franklins. The shade varieties can drive a sane man crazy.
Jeremy
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06:14:42pm
Auctions - Approvals
re: What Tools Do You Use to ID Stamps?
I'm a simple soul.
A perf guage, a set of catalogues and experience.
Life is complicated enough without hankering over different shades of colours, papers, postmarks, whether it is postally used or came off a FDC etc. If I can see the watermark with the naked eye fine if not, tough, it gets ignored, dumped, put aside, chucked out etc etc etc.
How come the Stanley Gibbons colour charts have changed their descriptions several times since 1840? (Simples!! To get folkies to part with their cash!)
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