304

28
Jun
2018

5-cents Lincoln Stamp (Scott #304)

← to 4¢ stamp

to 6¢ stamp →

Like the 2¢ 2nd Bureau stamps were to domestic mail, the 5¢ Lincoln sought similar use on international destined mail. In 1875 the Universal Postal Union (UPU) set a standardized rate equivalent to 5¢ per half an ounce for all 1st class mail traveling to foreign countries. The rate remained into effect until Oct. 1, 1907, when it changed to 5¢ per ounce and 3¢ each additional ounce. The Lincoln stamp was issued early in 1903. Varieties include imperforate and coil stamps as well as U.S. Possessions, Canal Zone and the Philippines, overprints.

Varieties (Scott catalog number):

Common Uses:

Solo Uses:

channel islands

Sent to the Channel Islands.

  • Postcard sent via the UPU letter rate
  • 2nd class (< 20 oz newspaper/magazine)
  • 3rd class (< 10 oz printed matter)
  • 4th class (< 5 oz samples/merchandise)

Favorite Covers:

Other Info:

Posted by Geoff in The Stamps, 0 comments
28
Nov
2022

Destinations: Africa

Here are some recent acquisitions of postal history destined for Africa. First off, this is my second cover to Cameroon, Africa. A first-class advertising envelope from Cincinnati, Ohio to Grand Batanga, Cameroon West Africa.

UPU letter rate to Cameroon, West Africa

My next item is a picture postcard from Milwaukee, Wisconsin to a small village in German Southwest Africa (Ontjo). The postcard passed through the port town of Swakopmund where it received a transit postmark.

Postcard to German Southwest Africa

Finally, a lovely postcard from California to Mombasa, British East Africa (modern-day Kenya). 

Postcard to British East Africa (modern day Kenya)3

Posted by Geoff in Covers, Destinations, Postcards, 0 comments
18
Jan
2021

Destinations: Ukraine, Slovenia, Nicaragua, and Liberia

Here are four more international destinations added to the map. A couple of covers to the Austro-Hungarian Empire (Slovenia and Ukraine). A beautiful cover to Bluefields, Nicaragua, and a postcard to Liberia, Africa.

Here are the links on the destinations map.

Sagor, Austria (modern-day Slovenia)

To the western edge of Ukraine.

Mistakenly sent to Bluefields, West Virginia, and subsequently forwarded to Nicaragua.

Postcard to Cape Palmas, Liberia, West Africa.

Posted by Geoff in Covers, Destinations, Postcards, 0 comments
01
Jun
2019

Destination Liechtenstein

Unusual and distant international destinations were what initially piqued my interest in postal history.  Below is a fantastic registered cover to one of Europe’s smallest countries landlocked between Austria and Switzerland, Liechtenstein declared its sovereignty in 1806.  This envelope was sent in 1903 from Kilbourn, Wisconsin to Vaduz, Switzerland.  Why the sender wrote Switzerland rather than Liechtenstein is unknown to me. Vaduz is the capital of Liechtenstein and has a population of only 5450 in 2017.

1903 registered cover to Liechtenstein.

1903 registered letter to Vaduz, Liechtenstein. Five cents letter rate + eight cents registry fee.

 

Posted by Geoff in Destinations, 0 comments
25
Jul
2018

The Five Cent Imperforate Stamp and Digital Forgery

Lincoln Imperf with large right margin.

I am frequently amazed at the prices realized for small margined 5-cent Lincoln imperforate stamps on eBay (and probably stamp bourses and other auction venues). The stamp known by its Scott Catalog number 315 is frequently traded on eBay at what appears to be bargain prices (click here for current eBay auctions of 315). The 2011 Scott price for an unused example (in very fine condition) is $210, and a used version is much more uncommon, commanding a price tag of $1250.

Legitimate certified copies of the used stamp are quite scarce, the price in the Scott catalog reflects this by italicizing the price for the used stamp. Comparing the imperf to its perforated counterpart (Scott 304), an unused previously hinged stamp, lists at $60 and used, a mere $2.25. Philatelists collect the imperforated stamp either as an imperforate pair or a single side/corner margined copy; thus ensuring authenticity. The perforated version does not exist in either of these states.


Unfortunately, over the past century forged copies of the imperforate stamp are plenty. Some created to deceive the collector others contrived to fill the void in a stamp album (and not intended for resale). Either way, the fakes come to market.

I decided to dig through my stamps and covers to find a sizeable margined copy of the perforated 5¢ stamp ready to digitally fake. The digital forgery could then be used to compare with other stamps encountered for sale online. If the margins of the stamp in question are smaller than my example, it may have been forged. Ultimately I spotted a beauty in my collection, a huge margined stamp on cover to Warsaw, Poland. The stamp is an upper right corner margin copy with rather large margins around the perforated sides.

Zoom view of the stamp from Poland cover.

Scanning, digitally cropping the perforations, and adding a black background, I now have a superb (in my opinion) digital Scott 315. Is this stamp worth 475 bucks? Or even eBay rates of ten to twenty times a used perforated variety? I don’t think so. It ultimately depends on what you are looking for a genuine stamp or space filler.

Cropped and black background added.

Posted by Geoff in The Stamps, 0 comments