alyn
webmaster for the ISWSC http://iswsc.org and ATA http://www.americantopicalassn.org 01 Nov 2006 02:02:01pm | Afternoon all, I was wondering if there is an easy way to try and figure if a cancel is forged or not. I ask because in a grabbag I bought from a local dealer I have the 30 centismo Italian used that if it is legit catalogues for $1,100. Not that I would ever get that or consider selling it, I would like to assign a legit value to it for my records. When I get home from work I will post a scan. Cheers, Alyn
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biggeorge
02 Nov 2006 01:41:47pm | re: Italy: Detecting Forged Cancel
Alyn, I usually approach any cancellation that vastly increases the value of a stamp with a grain of salt (actually with a whole ton of salt!) 1. I assume the cancel is forged until it is proven to be otherwise. 2. If the cancel looks like something I could have done myself with a cork and some ink, it might be forged. 3. If I really want to know if the cancel is genuine, I send the stamp in to the Philatelic Foundation or the APS for a cert. I send it in as a genuine used stamp and then get it back as a mint stamp with gum cleaned and forged cance. Also with a refund! (Someone suggested sending it in as a "mint, ungummed stamp with a forged cancel." And wait for them to ask for more money because it is a real used stamp.) As far as your stamp is concerned, the cancel looks like something you could duplicate with a cork and some ink. Look for more used stamps of this series and see what the cancel on them looks like. (look on eBay and in auction catalogs.) If even the inexpensive stamps have a similar cancel, you may have a good one. Then you could send it in for a cert.
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