Share your ebay "Re-Perforated Stamp of the Week".

The Pom · Post by **The Pom** » 04 Mar 2013 10:07

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Austria-8-Emperor-Franz-Josef-Brun ... 0933535623

"Condition : nice, no faults. "

For sale by ebay seller ocstampstore. I emailed them about it some time ago - no response & no amendment to the listing, so the consequence is a little light negative publicity.

There are no prizes on offer for spotting which side is dodgy.

robertlyon777 · Post by **robertlyon777** » 04 Mar 2013 11:53

I'm guessing the top

[hopes he is right

]

The Pom · Post by **The Pom** » 22 Sep 2015 17:59

Another beauty from the fine folks at Apfelbaum.

https://www.apfelbauminc.com/shop-by/55-very-fine-extremely-fine-og.html

This, apparently, is "VERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE". Being America, of course, this is just a reference to the centering, which we can all see anyway.

I reported this stamp to them Sep 5th & got a reply Sep 8th: "I will check into this".

Global Administrator · Post by **Global Administrator** » 22 Sep 2015 18:26

The Roo is re-perfed top AND right.

billw2 · Post by **billw2** » 23 Sep 2015 01:45

It's Apfelbaum. One of their head honchos was howling about how grading is a scam, etc... And they're the worst offenders at selling Fine stamps as VF, F-VF as VF-XF and VF as XF, etc.

Meanwhile... That stamp should be "VF Appearance, reperforated top and right". Oh wait, then it'd be worth a fraction of what they're asking. My bad!

The Pom · Post by **The Pom** » 23 Sep 2015 17:30

They also had a 5/- Bridge, similarly re-perfed.

This has gone from their listings, hopefully not because some poor sod has bought it.

CollectorColin · Post by **CollectorColin** » 23 Sep 2015 19:12

Global Administrator wrote:The Roo is re-perfed top AND right.

Sorry if this has been asked elsewhere, but how, other than just experience, can you tell the stamp is reperfed top and right?

To a casual collector such as myself, it looks fine. Obviously it is people like me they are hoping to snare, not that I would buy an expensive stamp on eBay anyway.

1ngram · Post by **1ngram** » 24 Sep 2015 01:47

What are these people using to reperforate a stamp? Do they have a some sort of die or a sewing machine with brass puncher on it.

I would emphasise that I have no interest in perforations myself nor am I intending anything criminal but I'm intrigued if this is some sort of industrial effort or merely craft work by some nefarious characters.

Global Administrator · Post by **Global Administrator** » 24 Sep 2015 01:54

CollectorColin wrote:
Sorry if this has been asked elsewhere, but how, other than just experience, can you tell the stamp is reperfed top and right?

To a casual collector such as myself, it looks fine.

Some re-perfs are pretty good and fool most. But surely, looking at this dog, the mangled mess across the top is self evident?

Leaps out at me - the top corners are just appalling. Looks like the idiot used a hatpin, or drawing pin, or something equally crude to do it!

CollectorColin · Post by **CollectorColin** » 25 Sep 2015 01:12

Global Administrator wrote:
Some re-perfs are pretty good and fool most. But surely, looking at this dog, the mangled mess across the top is self evident?

No, to me it's not self evident. That's why I asked how you tell.

billw2 · Post by **billw2** » 25 Sep 2015 01:56

With US stamps a quick and easy test is known as the "Srail Test" named after dealer Ken Srail.

Assuming the scan is aligned, some quick copying and pasting will show if the perfs line up properly or not. While not totally foolproof it catches most reperf jobs:

I look for uneven perfs, and on the 'Roo above the holes don't line up the way I like them to and the perf tips aren't the same even size.

Global Administrator · Post by **Global Administrator** » 25 Sep 2015 02:06

Bill, on early USA you have single line perfed stamps, so the corners differ on every stamp, so harder to spot reperfs on that basis.

Roos were comb perforated hence one can never have absurd top corners like that Apfelbaum stamp dog.

That collectors cannot spot that, at a 1 second glance greatly surprises me, especially AFTER they've been told it is crudely re-perfed by a blind nun with a hatpin, but they can almost never spot better regums either, so that is why the spivs prosper I guess.

CollectorColin · Post by **CollectorColin** » 25 Sep 2015 02:37

Thanks Bill that makes sense.

Global Administrator wrote: That collectors cannot spot that, at a 1 second glance greatly surprises me, especially AFTER they've been told it is crudely re-perfed by a blind nun with a hatpin, but they can almost never spot better regums either, so that is why the spivs prosper I guess.

We all have to start learning somewhere. Bill has provided an answer, you have provided sarcasm.

Global Administrator · Post by **Global Administrator** » 25 Sep 2015 02:45

Well you will never learn, if you do not read the advice (twice) of those who know their field, in direct response to your question. In stamps or anything else in life.

And you will likely never learn anyway, if you sneer at those who answered your query.

Ask for free expert advice that might well save you money, and then berate those giving it. Nice touch.

Global Administrator wrote:
Roos were comb perforated, hence one can never have absurd top corners like that Apfelbaum stamp dog.

Global Administrator wrote:
Some re-perfs are pretty good and fool most. But surely, looking at this dog, the mangled mess across the top is self evident?

Leaps out at me - the top corners are just appalling. Looks like the idiot used a hatpin, or drawing pin, or something equally crude to do it!

vikingeck · Post by **vikingeck** » 25 Sep 2015 03:51

Must be a language thing Colin

I sympathise with your question and your response to the explanation. No "sneering".

I've collected for 50+ years, and confess I would not have spotted the reperf or Known why, though I now see the top row as odd.

I do not collect Australian Roos, and am unlikely ever to buy a 10/- at any price , so I did not know that they were COMB Perf . It had never in 50 years crossed my radar. Still on that learning curve .

billw2 · Post by **billw2** » 25 Sep 2015 09:45

Glen et al,

I'm not familiar with how Australian stamps are perforated as I collect US, however....

These areas that I highlighted are what made me suspect; the uneven perf hole spacing and at top right the top right perf hole being further in than the others.

Global Administrator · Post by **Global Administrator** » 25 Sep 2015 10:07

Yes you are on the right track Bill.

I repeat as it seems not to have occurred to many, all Roos are Comb perforated hence corners will be neat and square in near all cases. And 'matching' on both sides more importantly.

Like the 2d red Anzac below below which are always comb perf. The 1/- next to to it were always line perf and hence you almost never get neat even comers.

vikingeck · Post by **vikingeck** » 25 Sep 2015 18:35

Thank you Bill , I see where the problems are . An excellent explanation .

Maybe because I've never been in the esoteric world of expensive perf stamps , and have not run into (knowingly) the problem of reperfs, and the suspicion of that sort of fakery has never arisen in my collecting.

Apart from Samoa, my interest for 35+ years has been the imperf " square stamps" of Denmark 1851-64

CollectorColin · Post by **CollectorColin** » 25 Sep 2015 19:11

billw2 wrote:Glen et al,

I'm not familiar with how Australian stamps are perforated as I collect US, however....

These areas that I highlighted are what made me suspect; the uneven perf hole spacing and at top right the top right perf hole being further in than the others.

Thanks Bill, a clear explanation.

psestamp · Post by **psestamp** » 26 Sep 2015 08:13

It is interesting to me:

I always thought that only expensive stamps were reperforated. I figured the labor involved in reperforating was large and needed some skill so I thought a faker would not earn anything by doing cheap issues.

How wrong I was.

I see so many cheap stamps reperforated - it is amazing. There is no labor in the process and it is very fast and easy with the correct equipment. A comb perforator is just a slam bam thank you man away from a profit. The number one problem with stamp faking is reperfing.

Regumming is another story as it is time consuming and requires skill - but that is for another thread.

PSE put out a book on the subject

mozzerb · Post by **mozzerb** » 26 Sep 2015 08:41

Colin: Don't sweat it, not everybody spots things at a 1 second glance all the time, however expert.

Remco Mouthaan · Post by **Remco Mouthaan** » 08 Oct 2015 00:06

Reperfed US Stamp 1862 24c Scott#78c?

And Reperfed US Stamp 1863 5c Scott#76?

Reperfed US Stamp 1870 7c Scott#149?

billw2 · Post by **billw2** » 08 Oct 2015 01:43

psestamp wrote:It is interesting to me:

I always thought that only expensive stamps were reperforated. I figured the labor involved in reperforating was large and needed some skill so I thought a faker would not earn anything by doing cheap issues.

How wrong I was.

I see so many cheap stamps reperforated - it is amazing. There is no labor in the process and it is very fast and easy with the correct equipment. A comb perforator is just a slam bam thank you mame away from a profit. The number one problem with stamp faking is reperfing.

Regumming is another story as it is time consuming and requires skill - but that is for another thread.

Image link inactive. Removed

PSE put out a book on the subject

Caj,

How do I get a copy of that book??

Bill

billw2 · Post by **billw2** » 08 Oct 2015 01:53

Remco Mouthaan wrote:Reperfed US Stamp 1862 24c Scott#78c?

And Reperfed US Stamp 1863 5c Scott#76?

Reperfed US Stamp 1870 7c Scott#149?

All of those have been reperfed obviously.

Also, if that 24c stamp is being offered as a #78c then they're on crack. I collect that design, the 24c 1861 issue and known them fairly well. That stamp appears to be a Lilac shade, Scott #78. Scott 78c is Blackish Violet and extremely rare; perhaps 50 copies truly exist.

Remco Mouthaan · Post by **Remco Mouthaan** » 08 Oct 2015 02:37

Was suspecious already about the perfs.

They are here in between the other stamps, but they did looked like someone did some work on them indeed

. So no crack addict this time, #78 it is then.

To bad about the c, i assume they are just spacefillers now as the reperfing ruined their value?

tritrek · Post by **tritrek** » 08 Oct 2015 20:16

Global Administrator wrote:Yes you are on the right track Bill.

I repeat as it seems not to have occurred to many, all Roos are Comb perforated hence corners will be neat and square in near all cases. And 'matching' on both sides more importantly.

Like the 2d red Anzac below below which are always comb perf. The 1/- next to to it were always line perf and hence you almost never get neat even comers.

... quietly "coming out" that after reading a lot of material I've finally understood the difference between comb and line perforation!

The Eureka moment is priceless!! I'm a visual type after all... Thanks

ewen s · Post by **ewen s** » 08 Oct 2015 20:24

More good stuff here tritrek

https://www.stampboards.com/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=9570

tritrek · Post by **tritrek** » 08 Oct 2015 20:57

ewen s wrote:
More good stuff here tritrek
https://www.stampboards.com/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=9570

Incredible amount of knowledge on this forum!

If this was collected into a wiki it would be a philatelic bible!

billw2 · Post by **billw2** » 09 Oct 2015 02:49

Remco Mouthaan wrote:Was suspecious already about the perfs.

They are here in between the other stamps, but they did looked like someone did some work on them indeed . So no crack addict this time, #78 it is then.

To bad about the c, i assume they are just spacefillers now as the reperfing ruined their value?

Basically. That 24c is probably worth, I dunno, $10-15, maybe $5-10 on the 5c and the 7c? Couple of dollars unless grilled, and even then maybe $20.

The 24c stamps of that issue come in a myriad of different shades and even the experts don't agree on all of them. From the scan it appears to be a Lilac, Scott #78.

The 78c is extremely rare and rather distinctive; while called Blackish Violet a true 78c appears black with a slight violet cast to it.

Here's a pic of the copies in the Philatelic Foundation's reference collection, both on cover and with virtually identical centering and from the same correspondence and mailed within a week of each other in Hartford, CT in 1864 so almost certainly from the same sheet:

Remco Mouthaan · Post by **Remco Mouthaan** » 09 Oct 2015 04:12

Indeed it does not have the 78c shade at all.
Like you mention, its more black then violet, but maybe it may be more obvious in the flesh.

Strange yellow picture, but given the centering or more the lack of it, this looks more towards the 78c, although the chance is slim.

http://m.ebay.com/itm/US-Scott-70-Washington-VF-Used-275-00-/251983574238?nav=SEARCH

psestamp · Post by **psestamp** » 09 Oct 2015 07:33

Re our book - Order on line at

http://www.philatelicsecrets.com/

It is $10 postage paid to anywhere - so in Australia the book is pretty damn close to free after shipping costs

And as for the 3 pictured stamps - the size should be a big clue before you do anything else. All 3 stamps are incredibly small. Obviously when a stamp is reperforated you "take away" paper and these have had a large reduction in size.

billw2 · Post by **billw2** » 09 Oct 2015 10:03

Remco,

That stamp on eBay isn't even close.

A Blackish Violet looks like it's Black at first glance. I'd need to see the eBay stamp in person but it's likely a Brownish Lilac (70) or a Lilac (78).

Genuine Blackish Violets are BLACK, not any shade of Lilac or Violet, they appear BLACK. They're also extremely rare stamps.

billw2 · Post by **billw2** » 09 Oct 2015 10:04

Caj,

Thanks, Ordered!

If you didn't ship yet, can I add the latest SMQ to that order? I can send PayPal or give you credit card, etc.

Thanks,

Bill

tritrek · Post by **tritrek** » 09 Oct 2015 22:20

Me too... I was clicking around but the shipping costs did not pop up anywhere so I said OK, I guess it's free... and it is... so waiting for the book

The Pom · Post by **The Pom** » 15 Oct 2015 22:01

No prizes for spotting which sides are dodgy on this one......

Ebay seller: covers-n-stamps

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/360856737757

This is clearly a copy of SG 63 (Large margins, Haarlem print, CV £22) re-perfed to look like SG 54 (Small margins, Luxembourg print, CV £650).

Global Administrator · Post by **Global Administrator** » 16 Oct 2015 12:11

Even on ebay surely they are not THAT dumb?

"Cat $500 only $60 today" .. even the Ebay seller "covers-n-stamps" clearly knows it is dodgy judging by that price.

billw2 · Post by **billw2** » 17 Oct 2015 03:23

Global Administrator wrote:Even on ebay surely they are not THAT dumb?

Really?

The Pom · Post by **The Pom** » 17 Oct 2015 04:51

Global Administrator wrote:
"Cat $500 only $60 today" .. even the Ebay seller "covers-n-stamps" clearly knows it is dodgy judging by that price.

Not really, Luxembourg of all periods is selling at a small fraction of CV. If I could sell my spares at 12% CV I'd be more than happy.

Global Administrator · Post by **Global Administrator** » 17 Oct 2015 04:57

Chris he is doing 12% of SCOTT.

SG is far higher as you point out.

Send me all your nice LUX for 6% of SG and we have a deal!

josto · Post by **josto** » 24 Oct 2015 21:46

Do you think this one would qualify as pr-perf. of the week!? But maybe it could be one of the better CTO issues!?

Greetings

Global Administrator · Post by **Global Administrator** » 24 Oct 2015 21:57

Josto .. not re-perfed .. just some moron owner with a pair of scissors.

josto · Post by **josto** » 24 Oct 2015 22:15

Hi Glen,

thanks for your info! I thought the lower right corner looked strange. So not too bad.

Greetings

The Pom · Post by **The Pom** » 17 Jan 2016 23:01

This week's offering, from one of Stampboards' favourite crooks, Mr John Bozic, aka ebay seller Gottacute.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-Roo-Acsc-35B-SG12-DARK-BROWN-1st ... 1965933268

As always, no prizes are on offer for spotting the re-perforated side.

ChrisGray · Post by **ChrisGray** » 17 Jan 2016 23:14

Okay, I'm not knowledgeable about this awful (and often obvious) butchery of stamps, what on Earth are they hiding by re-perforating one side?

Are they hiding toned perfs, or is it the odd pulled perf that would turn away certain collectors?

Allanswood · Post by **Allanswood** » 17 Jan 2016 23:45

To enhance the centering, cover a bad perf, clean some toned edges (sometimes). Any and all.

The Pom · Post by **The Pom** » 18 Jan 2016 00:11

As Allan says, anything to improve the appearance of a stamp.

Not sure it's worked in this instance.....

billw2 · Post by **billw2** » 18 Jan 2016 02:41

ChrisGray wrote:Okay, I'm not knowledgeable about this awful (and often obvious) butchery of stamps, what on Earth are they hiding by re-perforating one side?

Are they hiding toned perfs, or is it the odd pulled perf that would turn away certain collectors?

Yup.

Also, on US stuff, they're trying to hide a straight edge or make a stamp appear to have better centering.

woodster · Post by **woodster** » 20 Jan 2016 00:58

CollectorColin wrote:Thanks Bill that makes sense.

Global Administrator wrote: That collectors cannot spot that, at a 1 second glance greatly surprises me, especially AFTER they've been told it is crudely re-perfed by a blind nun with a hatpin, but they can almost never spot better regums either, so that is why the spivs prosper I guess.
We all have to start learning somewhere. Bill has provided an answer, you have provided sarcasm.

As well as some humour ... "blind nun with a hat pin"

psestamp · Post by **psestamp** » 20 Jan 2016 11:00

woodster wrote:
CollectorColin wrote:Thanks Bill that makes sense.

Global Administrator wrote: That collectors cannot spot that, at a 1 second glance greatly surprises me, especially AFTER they've been told it is crudely re-perfed by a blind nun with a hatpin, but they can almost never spot better regums either, so that is why the spivs prosper I guess.
We all have to start learning somewhere. Bill has provided an answer, you have provided sarcasm.
As well as some humour ... "blind nun with a hat pin"

This is why we at PSE put out the Book of Secrets.

By the way - anyone who ordered it, How did you like the book?

pizzifini · Post by **pizzifini** » 25 Jan 2016 23:09

Global Administrator wrote:Well it has a missing corner, but it is not re-perforated.

Then I am missing the meaning of re-perforated.
I thought it means that new perforations are cut into the stamp.
In this case it looks like the stamp is smaller because it has been cut into...

I think its time I do some more research into the subject.
But thats one half penny yellow that I will not be buying... at any price.
I already have some dodgy ones... from now on only quality purchases for me...