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Post by philbeaux on Jan 9, 2023 1:21:09 GMT
Can someone give me some pointers on identifying different types of paper?
Specifically, Thin Laid Paper. I'm trying to identify some Polish Postage Dues from 1920.
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Post by khj on Jan 9, 2023 6:26:25 GMT
I will try to answer this in three ways:
1. quick way to have example of each paper type for that series 2. checking for thin paper 3. checking for laid paper
Note, the explanation ONLY applies to this series, not a general reply.
Not sure how many pictures I can provide, as I re-aggravated my dislocated thumb injury and have trouble handling single small stamps with my right hand.
Method 1: The 200f dark blue only exists as thin laid paper. The 2h,4h,5h,10h,30h,50h dark blue denominations only exist as the normal thicker paper.
You can use those denominations as reference.
I will try to take pictures for the other 2 methods...
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Post by khj on Jan 9, 2023 6:55:57 GMT
Method 2: In the pic below I have 2 stamps each of the 50h (only normal thicker paper) and 200f (only thin laid paper), showing front of one set and back of the other set. Disregarding laid paper and only considering thin paper, for this series the thin paper is so thin that you can easily see the stamp design through the back, even when the stamp is face down on the table (i.e., you don't have to hold to light). Please note, you can use this method for this series. Other thin paper for other stamps may not be that thin. Thin is a relative term. The thin laid paper was only used on 20h, 100h, 200h, and 500h denominations. So you can just fish those denominations out to do this test (and Method 3 as well). Remember, the 200h only exists on thin paper, so you can use that as a comparative reference.
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Post by khj on Jan 9, 2023 7:07:22 GMT
Method 3: I know some of the stamps exist in horizontal laid paper and vertical laid paper varieties. To see which one you have, simply hold the stamp up to a light and check the unprinted "white" sides of the stamp. I have selected a stamp with a wide margin as an example. Here, you can see the this stamp was printed on horizontal laid paper (note the stamp is sideways in the picture, sorry, it was the only way I could do it with the current state of my thumb). The laid lines are very roughly 1¼mm apart. I have seen these stamps printed on vertically laid paper, but didn't check the specialty catalogs to see if all 4 denominations exist on both types of laid paper. Hope that is helpful. k
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Post by khj on Jan 9, 2023 7:37:50 GMT
Looking back at my last post, it occurred to me that the laid lines might be more obvious if I reduced the pic.
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Post by philbeaux on Jan 9, 2023 12:56:09 GMT
OK, thanks for the detailed explanation. But PLEASE! Don't re-injure your thumb on my account! And that 200f stamp is exactly what I was checking out, but the "white" lines don't appear aren't as noticeable as in your example.
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Post by khj on Jan 9, 2023 16:46:23 GMT
Phil, I deliberately chose an example that had a wider margin on one side so that it showed better. But a harsh reality is that laid paper lines don't show up well on thin paper simply because the variation in thickness is not as significant -- the laid lines would normally show up much more clearly on thicker paper.
On most of the thin laid paper postage dues that I have, the laid paper lines either are barely detectable or I can't see them at all. That is why I put Method 2 ahead of Method 3 -- the thin paper is easier to spot and very reliable. I only use Method 3 to distinguish between horizontal and vertical laid paper. I did check Fischer, and they do mention both horizontal and vertical laid paper varieties, but do not separately price them.
Sometimes putting in watermark fluid helps, but not really in this case because of the parallel horizontal lines in the background of the design. So I did not mention that. I prefer holding it up to a light. I miss my light table in the lab. One of these days, I will need to get one, as my neck is starting to show its age!
You want a real headache, try to get all the different laid paper direction AND perforation varieties for the 4 basic thin paper postage dues!
k
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Post by Ted Talks Stamps on Jan 9, 2023 17:07:59 GMT
Great information, k. You’re a regular nigelpedia.
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Post by khj on Jan 9, 2023 19:19:28 GMT
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