The Work of the RPSL Ltd Expert Committee Presentation by Christopher Harman RDP, Hon. FRPSL Chairman Friday 13 th October 2017 (based on a presentation to RPSL 9 th February 2017)
Structure of RPSL expertising RPSL Ltd The Expert Committee for the Royal Philatelic Society London A limited company wholly owned subsidiary of The Royal Philatelic Society London a registered charity The Expert Committee (9 members) handles an average of 350 patients every six weeks - circa 2,500-3,000 patients per annum A major contributor to the finances of the Society
Brief history & operation of the Expert Committee Founded in April 1894 following an instruction to Council to appoint an Expert Committee who shall adjudicate upon any stamp or stamps submitted to them for their opinion Original members were M. P. Castle, E. D. Bacon, Major E. B. Evans It is surprising to many to hear that, 120 years on, the Committee has had a total of only 40 members since 1894 The Committee seek assistance from a number of consultants over 60 subject specialists, including China, Australian O S perfins etc. The work of the Committee is labour intensive and there are a number of volunteer helpers who sort paperwork, check photographs, write certificates The day to day work of the Committee is managed by the secretary Mrs. Lucy Caulfield
Members of the Expert Committee Chris Harman, RDP, Hon. FRPSL, Chairman Patrick Pearson, VRD, RDP, Hon. FRPSL Stephen Holder, RDP, FRPSL Jane Moubray, RDP, Hon. FRPSL Ian Harvey, FRPSL John Shaw, MBE, FRPSL Dr. Alan Huggins, MBE, RDP, Hon. FRPSL Tomas Bjäringer, RDP, Hon. FRPSL Peter Lister, FRPSL Secretary: Lucy Caulfield Technological assistance from Prof. Paul Leonard plus team of helpers
Resources and reference material available to the Committee Photographic records of (nearly) all items certified since 1894 circa 560 albums Other reference material such as photographs of overprint settings, photographs of official Registration sheets of stamps, overlays of postmarks Moubray card index of cut-outs from auction catalogues Volumes of forgeries (over 100 mounted plus recent acquisitions) Volumes of specialist reference material, including plating studies of early GB and Gerald Davis Burma Library of handbooks on both stamps and postal history Important auction catalogues
Collections available for comparison purposes The Royal Philatelic Collection The Collections and Archives held by The British Library The Postal Museum Royal Philatelic Society London collections - including Natal, Bahamas, Nevis, Jammu & Kashmir, Canada, GB King George V Proofs, India Reprints, Greece Hermes Heads, modern GB definitives and commemoratives General collections of GB, USA, Sweden, Norway UPU Distribution - reference collection of foreign stamps, from circa 1925 to circa 1990 Shade collection of GB Queen Victoria Jubilee, King Edward VII and King George V the basis of the original SG catalogue listing
Allows examination: Technology VSC 6000 Video Spectral Comparator Under range of light wave-lengths Using a range of filters With light sources from different angles Allows overlays of one design over another Conditions stored for later repeat use
Optical Microscope Bought through the generosity of a member Permits:- Examination under high magnification Optical rather than digital image of the patient Viewing of the image on screen Technology Leica Optical Microscope
Other equipment and the Committee Magnifying glass Signoscope for watermarks Petroleum Spirit for watermarks / tears / creases - used with care Micrometer for paper thickness Sitting as a committee is an excellent format for pooling of knowledge and experience:- Brings the accumulated knowledge together in one place Different people focus on different aspects of the patient Most interesting what one person may miss and another person my spot
Specialist knowledge and consultants Certain subject specialists are regularly used:- GB line engraved plating GB departmental overprints Sub-committee for GB shades Postal history aspects such as rates, routes etc. Scans very useful Despite all the equipment, the best judge remains the human eye supported by:- Knowledge of the stamp printing and production processes Knowledge of the stamps and their use An awareness of the tricks that the faker or forger can perform A good nose for something not quite right The irreplaceable advantage of seeing and handling diverse material
References Photo Albums & Reference Albums
References U.P.U. Collection
References Gifts from King George V
The Certificate of Opinion Some advice to the submitter:- Tell us what you know Tell us what you think Make it clear if you want any particular information The wording of the Certificate actually says:- In the OPINION of The EXPERT COMMITTEE the item described as Thus the opening phrase is usually your question This is followed by our answer n.b. We may change the question if it is to your advantage
Certificate description The aim for a Certificate is to give:- An accurate description of the patient Decision as to whether or not it is genuine Statement of whether unused or used Description of material condition issues etc. Repairs, tears and thins Re-gummed Re-perforated or re-cut perforations Stains and abnormal soiling Unusual or major toning of paper or gum Hinges or hinge marks on more modern material Good certificate - one signature Bad certificate - minimum of four signatures
Good and Bad Certificates
A look at some Patients
Early forgeries mostly not difficult to tell Genuine First issue of Queensland Date 1860 Type 1 Type 2 Type 3 Forgeries by Spiro Brothers, Hamburg date circa 1865
Early bogus stamps Reprint of the first cents issue of Prince Edward Island Date 1872 10 cents 15 cents Bogus values by Samuel Allan Taylor circa 1872-75
Forgeries on genuine paper Genuine Smeets forgery Smeets forgery Genuine 1888 POSTAGE & REVENUE Genuine 1899 POSTAGE POSTAGE Forgery probably by Smeets
Sperati very fine chemist & great eye for colour Genuine 24c Green Issued 1872 Wmk. Crown CC Genuine 24c purple-brown Issued 1883 Wmk. Crown CA In 1885 onwards many values were surcharged due to shortage of low values. 24c Green was never issued with Crown CA watermark by the time that Crown CA paper was introduced, the 24c colour had changed to purple-brown However, Gibbons for many years listed a 24c Green on Crown CA paper with the FIVE CENTS surcharge The proving example was in the Percy de Worms collection of Ceylon In 1980s the de Worms stamp was sold as part of the Isleham Collection The 24 c Green proved to be a forgery made by Jean de Sperati
Sperati process photo-lithographic reproduction Sperati forgery dated 18 January 1949 proof in orange Genuine Sperati forgery
George Kirke Jeffryes hand-engraved forgeries
Jeffryes forgery circa 1890 fine craftmanship
Jeffryes forgery circa 1890 bogus postmarks
Re-perforated good or bad Certificate? Re-perforated at right otherwise a fine looking block Lower stamp re-perforated at sides
A fine used 1d black
or maybe not
Much improved block of 1840 2d Blues
Extensively repaired / re-backed Probably originally the commoner rough perf. Genuine Re-backed
A fine example of the 1860 Queensland 1 st issue
Faked variety Re-backed to create sideways watermark Sideways watermark
New discovery - missing value 1904 2½d purple & blue on blue paper Courtesy of Kelleher Auctions Inc
Missing value as seen by VSC 6000 Orange filter 545-675 nm Orange filter negative contrast
VSC at work Tasmania 4d unused block Cleaned of a fiscal obliteration Fiscal use from 1 October 1863 Postal use with manuscript obliteration
A lovely trio - would you buy them?
1841 2d with white lines painted over
Grenada surcharges on revenue stamps January 1883 March 1888
Grenada G. K. Jeffryes forgeries January 1883 March 1888 January 1883
?Rare Italian States covers Senor Balbi? Romagna 1859 Used stamps catalogue:- 6 baj @ 9,500 2 baj @ 200 Neapolitan Provinces 1861 Used stamps catalogue:- 50 gr @ 11,000 20 gr @ 2,500 5 gr @ 160 10 gr @ 190
?A scarce early cover from Grenada? Correct rate of 1s Correct accountancy mark 11
Obliteration pencilled in never went near Grenada 1863 shade 1866 shade 1869 shade 1871 shade
Modern proofs and errors Issued stamps Proofs or colour trials?
Cut-outs from a souvenir sheet
VSC at work BSA 20 fine used?
VSC at work Zanzibar 50r fine used?
Modern China is a serious problem for collectors 1962 Scientists of Ancient China SG 2055 Faked variety ebay
Modern China is a serious problem for collectors Forgery Genuine SG 2055 Issued 1962 Variety SG Cat price 13,000 un 1,800 used Genuine
Modern China is a serious problem for collectors Forged Miniature Sheet Genuine
Modern laser overprint forgeries on Ebay Ebay - Sandraa4073 Forged CANCELLED overprint
Skilled manipulation Difficult to line up the watermark All these tête-bêche pairs are fakes
Modern GB varieties?
British Guiana 1856 1 cent black on magenta Dated 4 April 1856 Signature:- E.D. Wight Ferrari trefoil struck twice Flower disguises Hind signature
CS (ex Fabergé) GHK (Smithsonian) A new discovery? Sir JW (ex Fabergé) KKS (Berlin) HCG (ex Fabergé) Patient
KKS (Berlin) A new discovery? Modern forgery Patient Modern forgery Modern forgery Modern forgery
A new discovery? Comparison of the Patient with the Kaestlin example (Smithsonian Institution) Bruker XRF The Calcium content was noticeably higher in the RPSL example than the Kaestlin example. Conclusion:- Genuine in all respects
The Work of the RPSL Ltd Expert Committee Friday 13 th October 2017