Postage Stamp Chat Board & Stamp Bulletin Board Forum
 

Dear friend, welcome!

I remember the day when you showed me the stamps the first time.

I have never seen such many red stamps on one place, and am sure never will see such a mass again.

(btw. nice avatar)

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1978 45 Cent Tree on cover counter: April 2010 - found 10
Ten covers found in one year by stampborders. Call it common now.

Koala, I've made a separate discussion thread for that booklet I mentioned, because it doesn't really belong here:

http://www.stampboards.com/viewtopic.php?p=78865

Greg

rolin,

Thank you - the avatar ("koala") was made by me in zoological garden in Vienna a few weeks ago

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MF

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Click HERE to see superb, RARE and unusual stamps, at FIXED low nett prices, high rez photos, and NO buyer fees etc!

Nice update Glen

This is quite an amazing story - big thanks to kaygeevee and koala for sharing

Just to think, we've (I at least) have only seen a handfull of the find (an amazing handful it is!), can only imagine what else was in amongst it all...

This is my copy postmarked SYDNEY.....any thoughts on Glen's comment that maybe this stamp is now over valued in ACSC?

Hi back o'bourke,

Nearly all the Eosin's that were found in this find have now found new homes and it has not had any affect on the prices, at an auction two nice copies recently fetched $1450 & $1650 + 17½% and I think one was knocked down to a dealer (who may have been bidding for a collector ?).

Best regards David

Hi David,

Thank you for for the information on the Eosin's and the "Italy Find" great reading.

I have started a project related to the 1d George V Heads, which will take some time to complete.

I have had for many years the Australian Commonwealth Specialists Society of Great Britain's checklist of the varieties of the Id stamp, a book that was copyrighted in 1960.

This handbook lists with hand drawn diagrams nearly all the flaws and the time zones in which they appeared on the 1d plates, a brilliant work that lists every one of the stamps that they could plate of the 480 impressions on the 4 plates that were in use from 1914 to 1937.

My copy is somewhat well used and it still is being used from time to time. My varieties of the plated stamps are all over the place, in albums and many stockbooks, mostly because such a collection is unending, for there is always some variety that one could not find that suddenly comes to hand or was too expensive to buy in my younger days.

So, I have decided to get well organised, perhaps my work may be useful to some younger collector in the future.

I have a new copy of the handbook, the 3rd edition. I plan to copy all my notes and additional information about the plated stamps into it, a job of some size. When that is completed I then propose to explode the handbook and place sheets of A4 Lighthouse card between each page and to include an actual stamp containing each of the plated flaws.

That in itself is not a major project but we must remember that additional flaws occurred in the plates' lives that represent different states of the original flaws, as these plates were used from 1914 to 1937. Some of these flaws are only found on red stamps, some on purple ones and some on green stamps and some are found on all three colours.

One thing that is worth remembering is that where a plated stamp had a flaw on it at the time it was first used in production in 1914 then the 1st state shows the flaw. Where a stamp developed a flaw on it after the initial production usage in 1914 there is nothing about it to distinguish its 1st state - e.i. it is like dozens of other stamps that cannot be plated.

It is only possible to add to the collection a first state stamp that developed a flaw later than the 1914 initial production if it is attached to another stamp that has a platable flaw on it. So pieces with two or more stamps can provide a copy of an undistinquishable state or where one owns sheets from all four plates.

On top of that several types of watermarked paper were used - Single Watermark, Large Multiple A, No Watermark, Small Multiple A and C of A. On top of that there were four different perforations used from 1914 to 1937.

So, the simplistic objective of having one of each plated stamp's flaw is really a non-entity, as one of each state of the flaw on the plated stamps in really the only reasonable and minimal objective, an objective that magnifies the number of stamps needed by 2 to 3 times, I would imagine. So that will be my major objective on the new project.

All The Best

Barry

Back O'Bourke
That's really an eternity project if you don't impose limits. What
about the different shades of the red, not to mention single line perf?
And of course discoveries are still being made:-
CNE recently plated as 8/45.
The 'island', a similar phenomenon to the Die 2, which may
assist plating;
Monk, Wajer & Kaigg are attempting to plate more stamps
from their compartment marks alone.

I have maybe 8 000 plated 1d's, so whether we can assist each other, I don't know.
Regards,

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mobbor

Hi mobbor,

There are no limits set for this project, this is my starting point. As soon as you put limits on any collection they become a very basic collection.

This would be set up so that as one obtained an additional flaw or state, colour, watermark or perforated stamp they could add it to the handbook and it could be slotted into place without any re-working.

I suppose that I am looking at this project and research so that my knowledge and experience, will perhaps help someone else better enjoy the great hobby of kings, not that there are any of those left either!

I am sure with can help each other in the near future

All The Best
Barry

Hi to everyone,

Glen has kindly written an article in the Mar. 2008 edition of Stamp News about The Italy Find but I'm afraid that the gremlins have got at the story

The article states "lucky Australian finder "Mr X" ", the article should have stated lucky Austrian finder "Mr X".

http://www.glenstephens.com/snmarch08.html

I guess that this isn't the first time the two names have been mixed up.

If you viewed this board via Stamp News and enjoyed the article why don't you join stampboards and leave some comments here.

Good hunting to all you KGV collectors.

Best regards David.

Yikes!

Thanks for noticing that David.

That's the trouble with spell checkers they recognise either one as correct.

Oh well, if Ronald Regan once thanked his good friends from AUSTRIA Downunder at a major news conference, I am in dubious company!

Yes the current piece is here:

http://www.stamp-centre.co.uk/highvalueimages/9.jpg

And for space reasons they edited a couple of pars, one of which was again thanking "kaygeevee" as I did in the earlier article for his piece, and for generous loan of his items to illustrate.

And yes for anyone following it, "Mr Gee" in David's piece here is "Mr X" in my article, who as we can see can signed up on the board as "koala" and is indeed from Salzburg AUSTRIA!

I'd like to share one of David's wonderful pieces once again if I may.



How many 1d red KGV here?

If you look really VERY carefully you can see there are FIVE 1d reds used here on this one letter. Each cancelled at a different time, and placed on top of a previous copy. Four have Gundagai NSW cancels, and one has Tumut NSW.

The three we can see readily are all very different, a rough paper at right, and 2 quite different smooth paper shades at left and centre.

This was due to some government departments and businesses re-addressing envelopes and affixing another stamp over the top - to save paper.

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Click HERE to see superb, RARE and unusual stamps, at FIXED low nett prices, high rez photos, and NO buyer fees etc!

Hi Glen,

That must be due to "Jet lag" or was it that good bottle of RED.

For those who would like to see a couple of covers showing the reuse, check out the post "KGV 1d Reused envelopes" these are NOT from the Italy find, but I think they are quite hard to find.

Best regards David

with a name here like Koala Im sure mr Gee/Mr X won't mind being called an Aussie for a little while! It all adds to the enigma!

Stampboards member Michael Eastick showed these to me today in Canberra, from the "Italy Find" ... now listed in SG.

I had Australia's best known collector around this afternoon and I showed him this piece which amazed him.

Seeing the last post was 18 months back, I am sure many of our newer members have not had a chance to read this great story!

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Click HERE to see superb, RARE and unusual stamps, at FIXED low nett prices, high rez photos, and NO buyer fees etc!

Just rediscovered this fascinating old thread while searching for something else and thought it worthy of a reprise.

Cheers
Margo

Thanks for bumping this thread again Margo. It was the first time I had seen it and had to read it from start to finish.

At 5:15am my eyes look like those smilies. To sleep,perchance to dream of Italian basements.

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Interested in Stamp Replica cards. E-mail me for numbers.

JOLLY GOOD INFORMATION.
Want to study more,without having to search .
Thanks to all for shareing your thoughts.
Frank.

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lafaronau

And to finding TEA CHESTS of untouched KGV heads on piece!

I have just rediscovered a black and white photocopy that "koala" sent me shortly after the discovery of the "Italian Find".

As it is now some 13 years since the discovery and the material has found new homes since then, I can see no reason not to report it here now.

The page deals with the Rusted clichés and the CNE flaw, there are.

Rusted cliché 4/34: 1 with missing perf. at top right corner; 2 on piece and a further 9 copies. Total 12

Rusted cliché 4/35: 1 with missing perf. at top left corner; 1 missing 4 top left frame perfs; 1 torn off bottom left corner; 2 on piece and a further 6 copies. Total 11

CNE flaw 8/45: 1 perf. OS; 1 perf. OS NSW; 1 on piece; and a further 4 copies. Total 7

Also shown is a joined pair of Rusted clichés 4/34-35.

And the block of 4 showing 4/34-35 40-41 that was shown in an earlier post here on Tues Oct 30 2007 1:50pm.

There may have been more than the above number of Rusted clichés found in the find, but I seem to remember "Koala" showing me just the one page in his stock book dealing with these flaws, but I could be wrong as it's awhile ago since I saw them.

I hope this may be of interest to KGV 1d collectors.

Best regards David

Just an update as I have mentioned in another post on the board.

One of the Salmon Eosins from this find showed "The Flaw under Neck" from pane 7/37.

Best regards David

One of the most fascinating threads I've read here.

To quote George Costanza: 'I'm speechless, I have no speech'

Cheers,

Robert

Robert,

I'm glad that you enjoyed reading this post, the only person who could give us all the full story is of course "Koala".

I still remember the day I opened the 6½ kg parcel of stamps that 'Koala" sent me, I think my main worry was can I afford them, but "Koala" was very kind to me, I think because I had sent him a set of shades that helped him identify the Salmon Eosins.

I did do an analysis of the stamps, ie number of different types and values per 100gms. I'll have to try and find it.

Best regards David

Thank you David

The only small comparison I can offer is the Tattersall's find that gave us so much information on New South Wales numeral cancellations. But it's no comparison really; Tasmania wasn't bombarded through a world war.

A miracle find indeed !!

Whilst looking for my negatives of the KGV 1d Plate Proof sheets I came across the photo's of the find that I took when I visited 'Koala'.
Some of the stamps from the find have been posted here or on other posts dealing with Salmon Eosins or KGV ½d Single Line Perfs.

'Koala' posted here a picture of one of the bags of stamps and below is one that I took.



Others will be posted on the posts dealing with the Eosins and the KGV ½ds.

Best regards David.

I bet no one will offer a bag like that for a long time, I better have a look around China when I go back, I am sure some of the Chinese miners from the early 1900's sent mail back home must be a small stash somewhere . No harm in dreaming.

Micky

Micky,
"If you don't ask you won't know". "Koala" asked and look what he found.

Here are a few more photos to from the find to wet your appetite.

"Koala's" sorting desk.


Some odds and ends.


More to come later.

Best regards David.

Cutouts from lettercards etc.


Used Monograms.


Best regards David.

Love the used monograms!

These days even getting a cigar box of 1d reds on piece is quite unusual - the days of bags full is a dream I think.

I bought 2 boxes an hour ago from an estate. I do not like KGV Reds, have never understood them, and these days to even pick a Die 2 is a major effort squint, so simply do not bother.

The guy had died so cannot ask how much he had checked them, which makes it harder. There were quite a few soaked or peeled off, so probably around 1000, but have zero interest in counting them.

Everyone claims their Reds are 'unchecked', which after 100 years is pretty silly.

All I can do is say they are unlooked at by me, and those that know me pretty much know THAT is true.

In the few hours needed to peer at these, I'd have lotted and mailed 10 other easy to handle lots, so that is where the best and most productive use of dealer time is.

An unusually high % seems to have WA cds postmarks I thought, when taking these few pix.

Boxes like this makes me wish I bothered with ebay, as there the mad bidding on such things occurs.

It is always tough to name a firm price, as neither side has a clue as to what is in here. It is like buying a Lotto ticket pretty much!

I assume such lots are into 3 figures, but have no idea really?

Still nice to see little packages like that GA, for me 10 x 1d reds is considered a wonderful hoard , wonderful to see one day I will find such treasure

Micky

Glen

I would be very interested in these.

John G

You, and every local collector with a single red blood cell in their body I imagine John.

Someone here today made me a fair offer on these I was happy with.

Probably ten years since I've had a decent bunch of on-paper 1d Reds. Even fairly common WA WW1 cds are $5-$10 apiece, and there is more value in the postmarks than the Reds quite possibly!

'Thin One Penny', 'Wattle Line' and 'Ferns' flaws.


'Secret Mark', 'RA Joined' and 'Run N' flaws.


'Dot Before One', 'Damaged Left Frame' and 'Flaw Under Neck'.


I believe that after awhile "Koala" stopped removing these flaw from the find.

Best regards David.

Die 3s


Single Line Perf with flaws, note the Die 2 at right.


Large Mult. Wmk. Cooke Carmine Pinks


I will post some more during the week.

Best regards David.

Amazing stuff David. Keep it coming please.

He must have gone cross eyed sorting out that lot.

Glen

So wonderful to see, would there be any left to search for and having such a hoard does the price decrease?

Keep the pictures coming they look great.


Micky

I believe that 'Koala' picked out 3,000++ Die 2's.

Substituted Clichés 34 & 35




Rusted Clichés 34 & 35


It is possible that 'Koala' may have sold some Substituted/Rusted clichés stamps before I took these photos.

I hope that you have enjoyed the photos, and as they say in the cartoons.

"Thats all folks".

Best regards David.

Great read. I am jealous. Happy for you though!

Hi missionshk,

It's nice to know that you enjoyed this post, there was some remarkable material in the find.

I have one item from the find that I have not posted here, the reason being that to do so may lead to these items being forged.

Best regards David

Thanks Kaygeevee for sharing that.