Here's something I've never seen before. Look in the lower-right margin of this South Vietnam stamp, the low value of the Operation Brotherhood set of 1955:
That's a clearly visible crease with a rounded corner. It's visible from the back of the stamp as well. I'm guessing that it's damage as a result of being pressed against something — a metal perf gauge? — under considerable pressure. But perhaps it's an EFO straight from the printing plant. Ideas?
Thanks for your responses, Erniejax and Anglophile. That corner actually is embossed slightly. I hadn't thought about the damage occurring at the time of perforating. It would be interesting to see the machine it was done on. Anyone have any other ideas?
Silence in the face of adversity is the father of complicity and collusion, the first cousins of conspiracy.. 25 Sep 2015 12:17:23pm
re: Curious crease
"The Puzzling Case of the Curious Crease"
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".... You may think you understood what you thought I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you think you heard is not what I thought I meant. .... "
Hey you old salt, I love that title. Sounds like the next classic American novel.
When I was a young lad, of about 12, I was reading a novel that Mom said I was too young
to be reading, but I read it anyway. It was "The DA Cooks a Goose", a typical Erle Stanley
Gardner novel.
I think you should write that novel....in the Erle Stanley Gardner style. I've read many of your
posts and enjoy your wit and writing style.
I was sure that by now with all the excellent clues someone would have this figured out.
The stamp got the curious crease, because it was carried in someone's wallet next to a credit card.
Why was it in someone's wallet? I'm so glad you asked me that! It was placed in there in a hurry
so that the person that had stolen it could leave the crime scene. It was taken to a black market
dealer of fine stolen antiquities for examination.
Who was this person and what had he done? I'm so glad you asked that question too. He had
murdered the owner of a very rare and fine collection, and was showing this as a teaser for
getting the attention of the black market dealer.
If you take this stamp to your neighborhood friendly Scotland Yard office....oops Royal Canadian
Mounties office, they will use special lighting devices and microscopy to reveal enough numbers
very barely embossed as to be almost invisible to the naked eye, that will reveal the identity of
the killer.
And you will be handsomely rewarded.
Then Charlie will be able to write the great American....oops Canadian novel. Or if he doesn't
have the time maybe a novella or short story for Readers Digest, Hmmmmm?
It was placed in there in a hurry
He had