Expertizing Stamps!

[revcollector]

Hey Mike - I know, I just remember reading about them over the summer. IMHO, I am not a fan of grading at all. Yes, I think the better quality and centered should be valued higher but I don't think you need a computer to tell someone how centered something is. It's also impossible to tell how many examples of a 100J item there is out there - hence what the market value should be on them. I see those overrun country stamps being graded. In the past year or two their values have plummeted!

Revcollector - I guess less faked R102's and more those with added cancels (increase the price), sealed tears which I may not notice, and for the R102a's the perfs.

Yes, I have noticed quite a few up on StampWants. Those which are a sure case and those which I can easily prove, I just report. Problem is - most sellers don't realize it or think of it. It's a case of risking profits - many are just naive about it.

I love the easy ones - those who alter the stamps through trimming. Many people who alter them just see the value increase but don't know the specifics. Like how can there by a imperf 2c with a hand cancel from 1869? The likelihood of that is the same as me traveling to the moon for my honeymoon.

Yes, a good mentor is a must. There are many rev collectors/dealers out there that are incredibly knowledgeable. Especially right now - I love looking through the collections of those like the late Cunliffe, Bleckwenn, Curtis, Jackson, Friedberg, etc.

Andrew

There is a tiny possibility of a high value imperf used in a very small town in the Midwest or far west having a late cancel(Eric Jackson had/has a pair of one of the $5 imperfs with an 1871 ms cancel, but this is VERY MUCH the exception. No way to know where it was used, however). I have been very fortunate in my life, I met Mr. Cunliffe several times, he once showed me the differences between the shades of the violet and the green papers on the 1871 proprietaries using 5 copies of the $5 value, plus a $1 for the green paper! He just pulled them out of his pocket. I was 18 at the time, it was like watching Houdini do a magic trick! Aside from Mr. Curtis, who I have never met, I know the other three for many, many years, and have learned a lot from all of them, especially Brian Bleckwenn who has been a fellow club member for 40 years. His knowledge level is almost unbelievable.

[Deano]

Yes, Bill does not do numerical grading for stamps. That is an extra expense you purchase from either the PF or PSE (more so from the PSE).

Bill certifies if a stamp is genuine and if there have been any faults (creases, etc.) and alterations - reperforation, filled thins, etc. As everyone is saying, he is just selling his expertize knowledge. You buy the item here on StampWants, pay for it and send your stamp to him. He checks it out and sends it back with a certificate similar to the one he advertizes in his auction.

If you take a look at Gary Posner's listings, he often uses Bill's services as does many other places. He is becoming more well known for his certs. and especially his dedicated hard work in getting them back to collectors in a reasonable time.

I personally send all my more valuable pieces in my collection to him for certs. Just makes me sleep better at night knowing that I don't have a fake R102!

Andrew

OK I understand that..........And BTW Congrats on you and your soul mate for a unity (and it is Life long) I hope the best for you both.......................Take care................ , Deano

[albionstamps]

Yes, tiny possibility for a higher value but very nearly impossible for a lower value. I have seen quite a few of them around the site. Although, Mark is very good about taking them down very quickly.

I haven't met Mr. Curtis yet but would certainly like to in the future. I have heard nothing but incredible things about him. Just imagine how you were at 18 with these guys - that's how I am now with them (as I am only 21).

What club are you referring to? ARA? Revenues as a whole?

I owe a lot to Mr. Bleckwenn - he's an incredible person. I have spent one too many days visiting the PF and his collection there. He has an eye for quality like no one else - better yet, he finds some incredible things! I find Eric Jackson to be a great person to talk to. I love visiting his booths at shows and just sitting down looking through his items!

Andrew

[revcollector]

Yes, tiny possibility for a higher value but very nearly impossible for a lower value. I have seen quite a few of them around the site. Although, Mark is very good about taking them down very quickly.

I haven't met Mr. Curtis yet but would certainly like to in the future. I have heard nothing but incredible things about him. Just imagine how you were at 18 with these guys - that's how I am now with them (as I am only 21).

What club are you referring to? ARA? Revenues as a whole?

I owe a lot to Mr. Bleckwenn - he's an incredible person. I have spent one too many days visiting the PF and his collection there. He has an eye for quality like no one else - better yet, he finds some incredible things! I find Eric Jackson to be a great person to talk to. I love visiting his booths at shows and just sitting down looking through his items!

Andrew

The NY chapter of the ARA. I didn't expect you to be quite such a young man, but I am glad that you are. The hobby needs young blood to continue. You are certainly correct about the lower values, they should almost always be very early cancels. Color and paper mean a great deal, as well.

[albionstamps]

Yes, I interned at NYCC this summer but didn't have a chance to go to the ARA meeting - I think it was on 10th September. I promised my fiance that I would go with her out in NYC for Fashions Night Out. Although, Mr. Bleckwenn did invite me to attend. I basically helped re-organize a lot of the library and put the USA section together at the NYCC library.

I am a member of the ARA as well. Reminds me - I have to contact them. Have you received any journal lately? I think the last one I received was way back in February/March!

And yes, paper type is a main factor. Although, it is very hard to see silk fibers online - especially since some issues only have a couple of threads which are visible! One of the best books I have on Revenues is actually the most basic - Richard Friedberg's Introduction book! You should have seen how happy I was when I bought a copy and he signed it for me!

Andrew

[revcollector]

Yes, I interned at NYCC this summer but didn't have a chance to go to the ARA meeting - I think it was on 10th September. I promised my fiance that I would go with her out in NYC for Fashions Night Out. Although, Mr. Bleckwenn did invite me to attend. I basically helped re-organize a lot of the library and put the USA section together at the NYCC library.

I am a member of the ARA as well. Reminds me - I have to contact them. Have you received any journal lately? I think the last one I received was way back in February/March!

And yes, paper type is a main factor. Although, it is very hard to see silk fibers online - especially since some issues only have a couple of threads which are visible! One of the best books I have on Revenues is actually the most basic - Richard Friedberg's Introduction book! You should have seen how happy I was when I bought a copy and he signed it for me!

Andrew

The magazine has been having some difficulties, I believe that the editor has had some personal issues. I wish that I had known that you were here working in the CC library, I probably could have helped, at least some of the time.
Silk fibers are almost impossible to see online, they can be pretty difficult with the stamp right in front of you at times. On the match and medicines, it is often even more difficult to see them, they take very close examination. However, in the first issues the imperfs are on a different paper from most of the perfed stamps as well.
Richard F is a very nice man, I'm sure he was happy signing it too. He is a good man to deal with.

[albionstamps]

Thank you very much for letting me know. I always try and keep my eye open for the auctions as well but haven't seen much up....

The CC Library was/is in need of a bit of help. I worked hours and hours and still needs more work! I guess as with most things - it's the finance which is needed!

Yes, I remember reading about the differences in paper but that is something I need to read more into. I find it very difficult to tell differences...

Andrew

[revcollector]

Thank you very much for letting me know. I always try and keep my eye open for the auctions as well but haven't seen much up....

The CC Library was/is in need of a bit of help. I worked hours and hours and still needs more work! I guess as with most things - it's the finance which is needed!

Yes, I remember reading about the differences in paper but that is something I need to read more into. I find it very difficult to tell differences...

Andrew

You have to spend time looking at nice copies of unquestioned genuine imperfs. From the back as much as the front. Then you have to do the same with perfed stamps, and look at copies of the same title(mortgage, inland exchange, whatever) side by side. Eventually the differences sink in.

[wrw1943]

Hi Guys,

I am now back from the 3-day weekend U.S. Classics Show/Postal History Symposium at the APS Headquarters in Bellefonte/PA, and am just getting caught up on the backlog of expertizing work, and was so lucky to also have a package from APS waiting with exactly 50 items in it!

I had a chance a bit earlier tonight to attempt to open a StampWants Store, figuring that might be a good first thing to try to accomplish, but gave up rather quickly when I saw all of the options that I don't know the first thing about. Also, the most recent relisting of my expertizing services buy-it-nows on StampWants resulted in not one sale, which means that of the last 30-40 listings I've done, only four have sold. I might be wrong, but I have therefore concluded that for me to put any additional effort or ask any of you kind folks to put in any additional effort in trying to help me set up a store, etc. is not something I want to persue at this time. I have decided that I might continue to relist the unsold BIN service offerings, since they only cost 6c each, but that's about all the effort I am going to put into this site.

I still want to thank you all for your kindnesses and would be pleased to hear from any of you at any time.

[khj]

Welcome back, Bill! We hope the show went well for you!

It does take a while for people to notice your auctions, especially since they aren't stamp auctions but for expertizing service.

Any time you change your mind and want to set up a store, somebody here will be more than happy to help!

k

[wrw1943]

You are very kind. Unfortunately, the amount of time I can spend online trying to figure out how to do these things is something I really can't spare. Too bad there isn't someone here, with the talent that I lack, who would be willing and able to take my basic selling info and create a Stamp Store site, a Signature and avatar. Seems to me that if someone could work off of my latest color ad which will appear in the United States Major Error Catalog and create an ad based around that info, that would be great! In fact, that ad was created by Linn's Staff by drawing from my website info, so I do know that great results can happen simply by taking the info and graphics from one place to another - it's just that I don't know how to do it!

I think what I may do is change around my StampWants selling page info by posting the new ad there, then maybe someone can take the info and graphics and create a store format for me. Anybody interested?

PS See my ebay listings under seller wrw1943 and find my Stamp Identification Service listings, and in those listings is the advertising and graphics which can be used for other formats here on StampWants.

Bill

[noernberg]

You might want to go ahead and ask Mark (the owner) to see if he could help a bit. I know he did in the past, but that was long ago before SW got to be really busy. Never hurts to ask. Otherwise, whoever would offer to do this for you would have to "Log in" as you, and I'm sure you don't want to have someone do that.

Sorry, but I think us folks can only point you the way.

-Doug

[michael78651]

Doug's right. Mark has helped several set up their stores here.

[khj]

Although we're all willing to help, I think many of us (myself included) would feel rather uncomfortable actually setting it up for you because we would have to know your password.

[wrw1943]

Oh yes, of course, I completely forgot about the security situation, password, etc. Forgive me.

In any event, I will still be pleased to answer any questions asked of me here at any time.

Thanks again!

Bill