Postage Stamp Chat Board & Stamp Bulletin Board Forum
 

Personally, Clive, I think he is just having a laugh!

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Peter
Hawthorn - AFL Premiers 1961, 1971, 1976, 1978, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 2008.

Please, no more Kookaburra or bird Puns, or I will ban somebody. And don't think that I am yolking...I am watching this thread with an eagle eye.

Norm

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Geelong, VFA Premiers 1878, 1879, 1800, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1886, AFL Premiers 1925, 1931, 1937, 1951, 1952, 1963, 2007, 2009, 2011, .

As long as you don't band them, Norm!

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Peter
Hawthorn - AFL Premiers 1961, 1971, 1976, 1978, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 2008.

OK, not eBay, but a stunning example of bunny-itis on New Zealand's Trademe.



Currently sitting at $500! Real value - NIL.

Seller: kiwikidz1 (Elizabeth from Greymouth)

1840 PENNY BLACK: World's 1st Postage Stamp!!!
One 1840 Great Britain Queen Victoria Penny Black (1d) postage stamp; the world's very first, un-plated in intense black with red Maltese Cross post mark. Small crown watermark. Alphabet One. Heath's Die One. Imperforated.
An example of the very first which would be a very presentable example was it not for the chip out of the bottom left &, slightly also, at top right.
Scan shows the damage; of course most of this will be most likely historic damage dating back to its initial use 171 years ago.
A fascinating example to own nevertheless because regardless of appearance it is & always will be an authentic example of the world's first ever postage stamp.
A unique opportunity to gift the philatelic collector in your life something they probably don't already have.
Bidding too will begin at $1.00!
(Madness I know but I've determined where we start; you will determine where we finish!)
Good luck to all! It's one more item taking a dive in the name of my funeral fund. Lets go people; I'm getting jittery!

Gotta love that "would be a very presentable example was it not for the chip out of the bottom left" That's some chip!

Interesting set of Q&A - most surprisingly supportive.

There's two other 1d blacks elsewhere on tradeMe at the same time - neither brilliant but both way cheaper and way better than this dog.

Sigh

Tell me someone's joking !





please

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Hatter

For the record, here is the link to the 1d Black. I wish people would throw money at me for junk like that.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/antiques-colle ... 790776.htm

Norm

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Geelong, VFA Premiers 1878, 1879, 1800, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1886, AFL Premiers 1925, 1931, 1937, 1951, 1952, 1963, 2007, 2009, 2011, .

Here's a George V 1 pound Seahorse spacefiller that's already over 70 pounds and a day to go, on eBay UK! Looks like someone shot it and then papered over the mess...

Penny Black spacefillers seem to be about 20 quid each now, too...

Seller information
Member ID david.edwards8

Item number: 110769951739

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/110769951739

I just thought I would add to this thread and show the reverse of this stamp.



It gives a whole new meaning to the term "skillfully repaired". I have nothing against the seller, because it was correctly described, but still has other Grand Canyon size cracks in it, plus many short perfs, and the repair is painfully obvious and fully documented by the seller.




Sold for GBP 102.

Norm

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Geelong, VFA Premiers 1878, 1879, 1800, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1886, AFL Premiers 1925, 1931, 1937, 1951, 1952, 1963, 2007, 2009, 2011, .

Fascinating.

So ... repairing stamps can be worthwhile.

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A man might as well marry ... if he finds a good wife he will be happy ... if not, he will become a philosopher.
Collecting Greater New Guinea & Macropods (Kangaroos & Wallabies).

Are we to assume that GBP 102 is not a high price? Seems pretty steep for a spacefiller!

What the seller was saying with their description was "this stamp would make a good price if in good condition, but given the way it is, we'll put it up at 99p and hope to get maybe 20 quid from a pensioner who wants to fill the space in the album and have a high-value Seahorse."

The fact that it went for so much is why the stamp is gracing this thread.

If it were a great rarity, it would probably have been given careful attention by a professional conservator. (Used copies of the famous "All China is Red" stamp are often described in auction catalogues as "rebacked" and "red has touches of repainting").

In this case, not worth the cost of restoration--ie. why spend $500 to increase the value of something to $500, so its just a contender for "philatelic house of horrors", and that repair job, that's like trying to save money on a dentist and DIY a cavity filling.

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Collecting Mongolia; Thailand; Indo-China; Mourning Covers; OHMS.
My online 'store': http://stampsfromaethelwulf.blogspot.com/

We have here either a Bunny or a shill. Given the postmark, I would not bet the house on it being postally used (retail NZ200.00), and nicely used fiscals can be obtained for NZ5.00

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/NEW-ZEALAND- ... 336e77fce0

NEW ZEALAND, SCO # AR-88 30/- VALUE COAT OF ARMS 1946 POSTAL-FISCAL ISSUE USED



Norm

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Geelong, VFA Premiers 1878, 1879, 1800, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1886, AFL Premiers 1925, 1931, 1937, 1951, 1952, 1963, 2007, 2009, 2011, .

How does he do it? Joanne620 offered this lot:

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1953-55-Q-E- ... 53eabaa27e



Considering they are worth around AUD2 the lot, he managed to attract 32 bids from 4 bidders, and sold this crap for AUD46 Has he finally resorted to using shills?

The underbidder t***1 has the following 30 day feedback report:

30-Day Summary
Total bids: 62
Items bid on: 11
Bid activity (%) with this seller: 93%
Bid retractions: 0
Bid retractions (6 months): 0


Norm

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Geelong, VFA Premiers 1878, 1879, 1800, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1886, AFL Premiers 1925, 1931, 1937, 1951, 1952, 1963, 2007, 2009, 2011, .

Could be a combination of dumb luck and a good feedback/number of sales record.

They sold two other lots exactly the same for hardly anything in comparison:

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1953-55-Q-E-II-DEFINITIVES-ALL-5-STAMPS-MINT-UNHINGED-/360370926770?pt=Australian_Stamps&hash=item53e7c7f4b2

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1953-55-Q-E-II-DEFINITIVES-ALL-5-STAMPS-MINT-UNHINGED-/200688558194?pt=Australian_Stamps&hash=item2eb9f86072

While this stamp is not worthless, I hope they knew what they were bidding on.

I toyed with buying it to fill a collection to sell. That is until I had a close look. Was I on the right track?

This was the sellers description:

Please listing heading and scan for details of this item.

Good luck with your bidding.

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We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm.

Pretty crudely repaired top LH corner .. let me guess .. no mention on ebay?

What happened to the top right corner perfs?

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Greg - Looking for Goulburn Australia Cancels and Grangemouth Scotland Cancels and Covers
Member of the S.T.A.M.P Club for Slightly Twisted And Mad Philatelists - Motto: "Bring back the lick!"

I am willing to go with Bunnies here:

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/MASSIVE-AUST ... 3cc19ebddc



This lot offered by islander_360 has attracted 25 bids from 8 bidders and is up to AUD810 (starting price was AUD100) with a couple of hours to go, no doubt based on tall the magnificent scans and detailed specifics offered by the seller.













Norm

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Geelong, VFA Premiers 1878, 1879, 1800, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1886, AFL Premiers 1925, 1931, 1937, 1951, 1952, 1963, 2007, 2009, 2011, .

The lot immediately above was sniped in the last second for AUD990 by a Bidder who had no previous bidding history on this lot.

In all, it attracted 28 Bids from 10 different Bidders. The only scans were thows I showed above. What am I missing here?

Member Id: d***a( 312) AU $990.00 05-Feb-12 12:17:26 AEDST
Member Id: r***d( 52) AU $980.00 05-Feb-12 12:17:32 AEDST
Member Id: r***d( 52) AU $960.00 05-Feb-12 12:17:05 AEDST
Member Id: h***z( 114) AU $930.00 04-Feb-12 16:43:09 AEDST
Member Id: h***z( 114) AU $900.00 04-Feb-12 16:42:16 AEDST
Member Id: c***c( 62) AU $800.00 04-Feb-12 14:53:30 AEDST
Member Id: h***z( 114) AU $780.00 04-Feb-12 14:08:09 AEDST
Member Id: c***c( 62) AU $775.00 04-Feb-12 14:52:38 AEDST
Member Id: h***z( 114) AU $750.00 04-Feb-12 14:07:42 AEDST
Member Id: c***c( 62) AU $750.00 04-Feb-12 14:51:45 AEDST
Member Id: c***c( 62) AU $700.00 04-Feb-12 14:51:19 AEDST
Member Id: c***c( 62) AU $650.00 04-Feb-12 14:50:56 AEDST
Member Id: c***c( 62) AU $600.00 04-Feb-12 11:51:09 AEDST
Member Id: h***z( 114) AU $575.00 04-Feb-12 05:00:09 AEDST
Member Id: c***c( 62) AU $500.00 04-Feb-12 11:50:45 AEDST
Member Id: h***z( 114) AU $400.00 02-Feb-12 18:59:41 AEDST
Member Id: c***c( 62) AU $400.00 04-Feb-12 11:50:28 AEDST
Member Id: i***o( 387) AU $370.00 04-Feb-12 02:52:19 AEDST
Member Id: s***l( 69) AU $350.00 03-Feb-12 12:34:02 AEDST
Member Id: n***2( 90) AU $330.90 02-Feb-12 13:31:58 AEDST
Member Id: 3***j( 44) AU $269.00 01-Feb-12 13:22:02 AEDST
Member Id: s***l( 69) AU $225.00 02-Feb-12 12:46:49 AEDST
Member Id: s***l( 69) AU $200.00 02-Feb-12 08:42:19 AEDST
Member Id: i***o( 387) AU $175.00 01-Feb-12 21:37:02 AEDST
Member Id: s***l( 69) AU $150.00 01-Feb-12 13:27:28 AEDST
Member Id: s***l( 69) AU $135.00 01-Feb-12 13:27:00 AEDST
Member Id: 0***u( 418) AU $125.55 31-Jan-12 21:56:16 AEDST
Member Id: m***y( 1743) AU $100.00 31-Jan-12 17:00:52 AEDST
Starting Price AU $99.95 31-Jan-12 12:17:34 AEDST

Norm

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Geelong, VFA Premiers 1878, 1879, 1800, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1886, AFL Premiers 1925, 1931, 1937, 1951, 1952, 1963, 2007, 2009, 2011, .

Any bulk lot listed on eBay as being from an 'estate' always attracts a ton of bidders.

Even when they don't show, you know, any stamps?

Norm

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Geelong, VFA Premiers 1878, 1879, 1800, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1886, AFL Premiers 1925, 1931, 1937, 1951, 1952, 1963, 2007, 2009, 2011, .

The bidders are stark raving mad. Who would spend that sort of money on underdescribed crap.

A general non specific type description, blurry photos that show evelopes and bags filled with who knows what, total and utter madness.

There will be envelopes of uber common pre-decimal definitives (QEII) and other common junk. The winner payed 10 times what it was worth on a punt that it might have something interesting.

I note the seller's feedback is now set at private, so he must have changed it as soon as the auction was over.

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We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm.

islander_360 has nothing else for sale, has switched as Paul said, to Private Feedback, has a No Returns policy on this lot, and finally:



Still, none of this makes the bidders less than Bunnies.

I looked at his feedback for recent stuff when it was still public, a few $5.00 stamps, doo dads, a bit of buying, nothing to sway me either way. But certainly no big ticket items that would allow me to trust him with AUD990

Norm

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Geelong, VFA Premiers 1878, 1879, 1800, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1886, AFL Premiers 1925, 1931, 1937, 1951, 1952, 1963, 2007, 2009, 2011, .

I was watching this on the off-chance there would be something interesting in the lots. I lost interest in actually bidding at about $250. Then I was just interested to see what it sold for. Some people are bigger gamblers than I am - and that's saying something.

I am just starting to take an interest in Kangaroos and KGV and am seeing a lot of comments about repair jobs and fakes but more often than not I cannot understand why.

Can someone educate me on what is wrong with the top left corner. Glen mentioned it is crudely repaired.

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A blog mostly about Scandinavian philately, but also stamp collecting in general and a smattering of other things: Scandinavian Stamps

For 500$, there one could get a decent example with wide margins. I see where those bidders come from though.

Toivo

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My blog on philately http://toivostamps.blogspot.com

That sounds like one of Glen's lots, but at least he shows you the stamps!

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Ian Billings - Norvic Philatelics GB stamps info: http://www.norphil.co.uk - also /catalog for our ecommerce site, blog.norphil.co.uk, shop.norphil.co.uk and Ian_norvic on twitter

In response to the editors frank remark about paragraphs and junk, I redo my post with adequate paras.

Perhaps he meant paraphrase to avoid editing?

Penny Blacks!!

The example shown of the worthless, torn (poor old) 1d black standing, it was said at $500, says something about the lust to buy the 'first' adhesive. In fact, as we all know, 1d blacks, are not that rare and most come from old legal letters thrown into storage and forgotten for 172 years.


I, of course, want to discover the drawer or old manilla envelope containing 40 or 50 letters all with 1d blacks and hopefully posted within a week of the release date for the stamp. Every self respecting collector must have one?? A question. I have 17 but defend this by saying I am a Brit collector and 'needed' each plate (I know 17 is over the limit).


The grading of the stamp is defined say in SG but most descriptions on eBay never get anywhere near using the criteria, even where established commercial sellers are involved. It is really all about the plate, the margins (God l bless the careful scissor hands) and condition (as well as flaws, etc).


The 'usual' rate then for a 1d black is around the 100 GBP mark for something with just about 4 margins and that is hanging together well. The equation of around 10% of SG CV does not hold as for most other stamps sold. Of course the hammered example shown has been bid up due to utter pity! I sold a really cut up 1d black recently for 10 pounds.... I am proud to say I announced it as a really poor version and warned people of its obvious demerits.


We should look for the worst example/highest price paid example and award a smiley to the buyer and seller. Worth then is the quality that renders something desirable, useful, or valuable. It is all in the eye and pocket of the beholder. However, as responsible collectors we should ask sellers to revisit grading criteria and be more honest, that would bring prices down, cause extra interest that would maybe push prices up, damn I cannot win. Maybe the GB stamps need a dose of the better grading systems in USA and Os.


Personally the 2d blues have my vote and these are even worse at the grading level.


All this I now we all know, but it is early and I have not eaten breakfast yet.
John

Paraphrased then:
a) do not bid for rubbish,
b) photographs indicate condition.
c) look for the return policy.

John again

Small beer, I know - I smoke through as much in a couple of hours - but someone is heading for an unpleasant surprise when they try to sell their eBay bargain:



http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130645863536

and currently at $US1.25 + $US2 shipping with 9 hours to go. I've alerted the seller to the fact that these are outrageous fakes, and provided scans of the real thing, and he (or she) has added to the listing: "I DO NOT KNOW IF THESE STAMPS ARE REAL OR FAKE. I ALWAYS WELCOME COMMENTS FROM PEOPLE WHO MAY KNOW MORE THAN I.'

And the seller? I swear I'm not making this up: gobunnygo57

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'First I'll steal all the money, then I'll kill everybody, and then I'll go away', Père Ubu

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Ian Billings - Norvic Philatelics GB stamps info: http://www.norphil.co.uk - also /catalog for our ecommerce site, blog.norphil.co.uk, shop.norphil.co.uk and Ian_norvic on twitter

Tony, this was sniped for USD 32.60

Norm

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Geelong, VFA Premiers 1878, 1879, 1800, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1886, AFL Premiers 1925, 1931, 1937, 1951, 1952, 1963, 2007, 2009, 2011, .

Yes, I saw that this morning. If I had had any hair left, I would have scratched it all away. Three different buyers seem to have offered serious money for the lot ...

I just pray that no member of Stampboards was silly enough to throw away their money on such blatant, unmitigated rubbish.

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'First I'll steal all the money, then I'll kill everybody, and then I'll go away', Père Ubu

SB members are usually a bright lot, and would, one hopes, have the commonsense to ask first before chasing rainbows.

Bunnies will always be Bunnies.

Maybe the 3 bidders chasing this were thinking they were genuine and had been discovered in an old collection. Sure it can happen...rarely...but if you take a punt on 100 "as-is" items, and 98 turn out to be duds, will you make enough off the 2 'good' ones to cover your losses?

If the 'lucky buyer' is pointed to this thread, they'll be feeling like this:

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Collecting Mongolia; Thailand; Indo-China; Mourning Covers; OHMS.
My online 'store': http://stampsfromaethelwulf.blogspot.com/

I love a punt on eBay myself. I recently bought this lot of Bundi



on eBay for a bit over $US50, on the small possibility that the top left stamp was SG 1, cat. at £16,000 mint. Of course, it wasn't. It's SG 2, and cat. at £50. So I've ended up about square, and very, very disappointed. But at least I didn't flush my money down the toot, as the mad bidder on that Poonch has done. A little research here, or even in Gibbons for Heaven's sake, would have shown that the stamps were duds.

Anyone want to buy a Bundi SG 2?

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'First I'll steal all the money, then I'll kill everybody, and then I'll go away', Père Ubu

Pop it back up in ebay as :

ALMO$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$T FORE MARGENS ... SUPEEEEEEEEEERB

Seems to be the way to do things.

List it up on eBay with the description "possibly Bundi 1, catalogued £16,000, sold as-is". Even with no guarantee, and despite the obvious fact that if you believe its worth that much, why don't you take it to a real auction house ( ), you'll probably get back most of what you paid.

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Collecting Mongolia; Thailand; Indo-China; Mourning Covers; OHMS.
My online 'store': http://stampsfromaethelwulf.blogspot.com/

I think Tony might (just might) value his reputation (amongst ugly collectors at any rate) a little more than the previous 2 suggestions imply.

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Peter
Hawthorn - AFL Premiers 1961, 1971, 1976, 1978, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 2008.

I was toying with putting it in the Sale forum, and hoping that some buyer might not have read this thread

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'First I'll steal all the money, then I'll kill everybody, and then I'll go away', Père Ubu

Perhaps only a mini-bunny in the grand scheme of things, but why pay AUD 22.15 (including postage) for an item that could be purchased 7 days a week for five bucks?



http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/ws/eBayISAPI ... true&rt=nc

Norm

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Geelong, VFA Premiers 1878, 1879, 1800, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1886, AFL Premiers 1925, 1931, 1937, 1951, 1952, 1963, 2007, 2009, 2011, .

And another mini-bunny, for this item, worth 20 cents on a really good day, which sold for AUD 8.01 plus a Dollar postage.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/ws/eBayISAPI ... true&rt=nc



I wish people would hand me money like that.

Norm

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Geelong, VFA Premiers 1878, 1879, 1800, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1886, AFL Premiers 1925, 1931, 1937, 1951, 1952, 1963, 2007, 2009, 2011, .

This one is probably worthy of a thread on it's own.

Another sun fade being offered as a missing colour. Bidding hasn't finished and the bargain hunters have bid this up to $32.

Tae half a look and you can plainly see the other colours are faded as well.

Seller: blue-lazer

Item Number: 310378945459

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/45c-GARDENS- ... 0378945459

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We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm.

Sorry, but I might dissagree for the moment here. That doesn't yet look to me to be a sun fade. The original red is far to strong to have gone so easily without far more yellow (and green) also fading.

The other "faded" colours look to me to be where there is less red printed (but still used).

I'd need to stick a few out in the sun for a couple of days to prove it.


(PS - Isn't Blue Lazer a member here?)

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Greg - Looking for Goulburn Australia Cancels and Grangemouth Scotland Cancels and Covers
Member of the S.T.A.M.P Club for Slightly Twisted And Mad Philatelists - Motto: "Bring back the lick!"

The black has gone from the trees at the rear, the greens are washed out and the browns as well. If not sun, bleach.

$43 not well spent for someone.

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We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm.

I agree - people have to remember that the trees are not printed in green, they are a combination of CMYK colours. If the Magenta is out, then many parts of the design will be affected, including the tree trunks which are not only black, they will include elements of other colours. This stamp looks brown, but it wasn't printed in brown:

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Ian Billings - Norvic Philatelics GB stamps info: http://www.norphil.co.uk - also /catalog for our ecommerce site, blog.norphil.co.uk, shop.norphil.co.uk and Ian_norvic on twitter

Give me a couple of days. How many of these would you like, with Red missing, which is always the first colour to go bye byes?





Norm

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Geelong, VFA Premiers 1878, 1879, 1800, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1886, AFL Premiers 1925, 1931, 1937, 1951, 1952, 1963, 2007, 2009, 2011, .

Was that printed in 4-colour process, or in the colours that are there? Back in the 60s stamp printers used multiple cylinders, one for each colour required, in photogravure printing. That's not how it works now.

_________________
Ian Billings - Norvic Philatelics GB stamps info: http://www.norphil.co.uk - also /catalog for our ecommerce site, blog.norphil.co.uk, shop.norphil.co.uk and Ian_norvic on twitter

Norm, like I suggested, give it a few days and we'll see who has egg on their face.
Your poking fun at someone who does leave stamps in the sun to see what happens.
And as a PS, NO, Red is not always the first colour to go and I can prove it. I've shown it before.

I'll even stick some of the Xmas ones out as I doubt the red will go first with those as well, it should be far more likely the beige. That looks more chemical to me, rather than UV. But it's not hard to prove.

As soon as these storms move away.

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Greg - Looking for Goulburn Australia Cancels and Grangemouth Scotland Cancels and Covers
Member of the S.T.A.M.P Club for Slightly Twisted And Mad Philatelists - Motto: "Bring back the lick!"

The results are in.

Mine was produced chemically. It was a fast job and with some extra care I could achieve much better results.



Slight damage to the lower left so you can have this 'second reorded' missing colour for $20. Numbers 3 to 200 should be 'discovered/ready' next week if you want more.

Sun does wonderful things to modern Australian stamps.

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We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm.