Riverside Stamps
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Suspect Scott #445 Used Single.
This coil can be made by trimming the perforations off at the top and/or bottom of a fully perforate #426 or adding fake perforations as well as faking a single line watermark to a trimmed unwatermarked imperforate #483. The best fakes are made using the fully perforated #426 especially if the top or bottom is a natural straight edge with a large margin. Fakes made from the #483 will be correct in height (25mm) and will more than likely be very well centered but lack the watermark. Catalog value for a used single is a modest $250.00.
The suspect is single line watermarked showing an “S” at the bottom that is normal and reading horizontal. This eliminate the possibility the suspect is a #483.
Since the suspect can’t be a #483 it can be reasonably assumed that the perforations are genuine and it’s the top and bottom edges that need to be looked at. The top edge barely shows a horizontal guide line. The presence of a guide line at the top indicates that the top edge is a genuine straight edge.
The bottom edge is not parallel with the top edge and slopes downward from left to right. The bottom edge not being parallel is reinforced by the height measurementsthe suspect is 24.25mm tall at the left and 24.5mm tall at the right. A closer look at the right side of the bottom edge shows what may be remains of perforations.
Conclusion: In my opinion the suspect is a genuine #426 with a natural straight edge at the top and perforations trimmed at the bottom.
Reference material used: used:
- The Expert's Book. A practical guide to the authentication of United States stamps. By Paul W. Schmid.
- How to Detect Damaged, Altered and Repaired Stamps. By Paul Schmid
As always comments and suggestions are always welcome.
To Contact Riverside Stamps:
Email:
Mike Girard - Owner / Operator / Web Master:
g1rardmn1099@comcast.net
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I am a member of the American Philatelic Society
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I am a member of the United States Stamp Society  USSS #: 16733 Visit the United States Stamp Society Website at www.usstamps.org |
I am a member of the Perfins Club
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