Received in the mail today an unused Theresienstadt Parcel Admission Stamp as shown below.
The stamp depicts the surrounding landscape of Bohemia. The camp was established by the Germans in November 1941 about 40 miles north of Prague in the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia created after Nazi Germany occupied the western region of Czechoslovakia in March 1939. It was a multi-use camp, acting as a settlement, transit camp, and propaganda tool. The stamp, which was printed in Prague, was issued by the Prague Jewish Council beginning in July 1943. Inmates at Theresienstadt could receive inspected packages of food and clothing from people outside the camp if the packages had this stamp. An inmate could request a package every two months. The Jewish Council in Prague would notify the sender to come pick up the stamp if they lived in Prague, if they lived outside of Prague, the stamp would be attached to the notice. Living conditions in the camp were horrible and about 33,000 inmates died there. On May 2, 1945, as the end of the war approached, the International Red Cross took over administration of the camp. The German staff fled on May 5 and 6, and on May 9. Soviet troops arrived and assumed responsibility.
This stamp is very often faked. Some are so good that even the fakes are faked. In addition signatures on the back are also often faked. I am by no means and expert, but I researched this stamp over a 3 month period. I had the seller send me a full screen 600 DPI picture so that I could make out the details that separate the fakes from the real item. I cannot make out the signature on the back, nor could the seller. After receiving the stamp, I studied under my microscope to look for any signs that would cause me concern and found none. I am fairly confident that the stamp is genuine, but will be sending to the BPP for authentication.
Although not listed in Scotts, it is listed in Michel and completes my collection of German Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia 1939-1945.
The second picture has a blue cross from a pencil.
Have you looked very closely on the front of the stamp? Is it really not used in any kind of way like my example in the above link?
If not than the signature on the back is on the wrong side of the stamp and most likely FALSCH / FORGED
Cancelled stamps are ALWAYS signed on the right side
MNH stamps ALWAYS on the left side of the stamp.
I have read all your post and find them most informative and interesting. I looked at your post about the second picture and do not see any blue cross with pencil. I see the star, but is printed on the paper just like the other two pictures.
I fully understand the placement of expert marks on the back of stamps, but my question is when did the formal placement start? Could an expert mark have been placed prior to the time the placement positions were formalized?
I did fully research the stamp and did use the web site you mentioned. My stamp meets all the criteria, specifically all 6 points indicated in the picture of a real stamp. I also used the following:
Yes, it is still morning here. Just went on daylight saving time and it is now 10:31. I must apologize, I only looked at the last picture you posted. Went back to the beginning and I do see the blue cross you mention. I cannot find any mark on the front of the stamp and that, along with the position of the mark on the back is the only thing that has me concerned.
Before I send for certification, do you have any recommendations on where to send? I plan to send to BPP, but would like to use someone in the US to save on cost.
WOW! Just read the BPP rules from the link you posted. Very informative and precise. I have already sent an email to Mr. DETLEF PFEIFFER asking for his address and price. Found his email address on one of the Web sites I researched.
I also sent an email to the German Philatelic Society here in the US asking if they knew of anyone in the states that would be suitable for expertising the stamp.
Will let you know if I get any responses.
Best Wishes, Mel
PS: Thought I had already sent this response, but must have hit the wrong button. If a duplicate, I apologize.
@mbo1142
one of my 150+ articles on WW forgeries (+1700 pages for now) - a 5 page article
I occasionally publish some on another site & will/might eventually publish a book
No website or blog access - too busy to maintain
"If you really want some information on this stamp goto the folowwing link :
http://stampforgeries.com/forged-stamps-of-theresienstadt/
"
on the first picture there are numbers on the stamp.
when you move your mouse over one of these numbers you get the description just like SForgCa did in his picture here.
I even guess that the link I gave you is HIS site.
I have already been to that site and have it bookmarked. In fact that is where I got most of my information regarding the stamp I have and where I found the information regarding Mr. Detlef Pfeiffer. That site only shows 6 items to look for. The picture posted by SForgCa shows 8 different items to look for and for the reason I was looking to add an additional source.
My stamp is on its way to Mr. Detlef Pfeiffer and when it returns, I will post here.
After waiting so long for the certificate I was surprised to read your comment, "I am no a happy camper". Very sorry to hear you are disappointed, so being the friend I am ... I will take the stamp off your hands.
Meanwhile, I'll keep my fingers crossed this was just bad grammar caused by months of isolation, not a bad typo or a stuck "w" key...