Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Can anyone verify if any of the following are legit postage?
Liberia 2014 Mythical Creatures S/S of 4
example: http://www.ebay.com/itm/LIBERIA-2014-MYTHICAL-CREATURES-VAMPIRE-MERMAID-LEPRECHAUN-ANGEL-SHEET-MINT-NH-/380983512608?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item58b4630e20
Liberia 2014 Mythical Creatures S/S of 2
example: http://www.ebay.com/itm/LIBERIA-2014-MYTHICAL-CREATURES-MERMAID-SOUVENIR-SHEET-MINT-NH-/131279114387?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e90d85093
Republic of Guinee 2012 S/S
example: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Republic-of-Guinee-2012-Stamp-GU1213B-Mermaid-de-Alla-Pavlova-1952-/141355423876?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20e9709884
There are others, and some actually state "Private Issue", but as a U.S. collector I am not used to many stamps issued that aren't intended for postage. Of course, we have the non-invert Jenny, the Legends of the West error sheet and all those pre-Civil War reprints, but those are typically VERY expensive. If anyone collects coins as well, these seem like they may be similar to NCLT coins. Non-circulating legal tender. They are legal as coins, but they are sold for a substantial markup over FV by the government to meet demand by collectors.
Cheers!
Lars
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My 2015 Scott catalog only goes up to 2013 for Liberia, and 2004 for Guinea. I'll dig through the monthly new issue updates for Liberia. I doubt that Guinea will be listed.
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Even if listed, though, are there specific countries I should be wary of that have a habit of issuing stamps not intended for use as postage?
Lars
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Looks like Scott is running about 18 months behind on the Liberia listings, and there is nothing new at all for Guinea. Probably very difficult to get authentication from the postal agencies from those countries.
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My guess is that these are bogus issues. Over the years, there have been many complaints about such stamps, which are marketed as legitimate stamps but are often "issued" by bogus countries or countries which have virtually no postal systems and are or nearly are "failed countries". Since designing and printing decent looking stamps, or "stamps," is expensive, it's generally thought stamps such as the ones you show have been produced by criminal organizations in order to fleece us collectors. I'm not saying that people shouldn't collect such stamps, but they need to be aware that they about as far from "investments" as you can possibly get.
Bob
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Bob,
I'm not buying them as investments, but I would like to know if they are legitimate issues. In coin collecting there are certain countries to be wary of. Palau is one. I want to know if there is common knowledge among world collectors of certain countries to be wary of - either they issue junk, or a third party does so on their behalf.
Lars
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As Bob said, many countries have had their stamp programs "hijacked" by unscrupulous people. Liberia and Guinea definitely, Others include Afghanistan, Angola, Benin, Chad, Congo Republic, Mali, Tadjikistan and many of the former Soviet Republics, just to name some that I know of off the top of my head.
Scott tries to state when such "illegal" issues exist for a country as declared by a postal agency or government. They have an informational box with a list of the illegal issues. Of course there is no guarantee that the notice appears in all such affected countries. I believe Gibbons does this too.
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Michael,
That is what I was looking for - countries that warrant extra scrutiny. I realize a comprehensive answer isn't possible.
Lars
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Just curious - how do you go about finding the location of all the "mermaid" issues
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Like any topical, you need a starting point. In the US the premier list-keeper seems to be the American Topical Association. The lists are world-wide, so anyone can join, but the lists use Scott numbers.
And like any list, there will be some disputes. Would you clasify the Rheinmaidens from Wagner's Ring Cycle as Mermaids? You would need to decide for yourself since they are depicted on a German stamp.
That's really the fun part (for me). I have spent a lot of time researching Sedna, Fenja & Menja, Helugica, Havis Amanda, Den Lille Havfrue, Hans Christian Andersen, Disney's movie, and the Warsaw Mermaid (which started out as more of a Harpy). That covers the majority of Mermaid stamps, but there are stil a lot of other areas to study.
Have fun!
Lars
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OK thank you. I ran a query through my Scott pdf just for "mermaid" & 80 came up.
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"OK thank you. I ran a query through my Scott pdf just for "mermaid" & 80 came up."
You also have to decide if you are going to include tabs, selvage, postmarks, and/or cachets. It gets complicated - which it what makes it fun!
Lars
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"Looks like Scott is running about 18 months behind on the Liberia listings"
Michael,
If I want to get a newer set of catalogs that covers all of 2005, do I need to get 2008 or later? I have a 1998 set which covers most of the Disney movie issues, but I have discovered that a LOT of Mermaid stamps were issued in 2005 for the bicentennial of Hans Christian Andersen's birth, including the U.S. issue of Ariel from the Disney movie. If I can get worldwide coverage through the end of 2015 then I will only have a handful of more recent issues to investigate. What would be the earliest set that would cover all countries through the end of 2005?
Thanks!
Lars
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I'd say going at least 3 years out from the issue date will get you most of the stamps issued in a particular year. The problem is that not all the stamps issued in a year get listed timely.
The lack of timeliness is the result of stamps not being made known to the catalog publishers, and more importantly, civil unrest or other problems in the issuing country itself.
Scott mentions, for instance, that many issues from Liberia that were supposedly issued from 1998 through 2004 have not been listed as of yet, due to lack of information regarding postal validity.
One thing you might want to consider, since you mentioned Liberia is an earlier post on this thread is that 2008 may be too early for Liberian issues. I have a 2008 Gibbons catalog, and for Liberia the listings stop at 1992. Scott 2008 catalogs were issued in 2007, and Gibbons 2008 catalog were issued in 2008. You may want to go more recent than 2008 with the catalog set you want to obtain.
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I guess I'll look for 2011 or newer then, and just have to wait and see on Liberia.
Thanks, Michael!
Lars
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I am putting together a worldwide mermaid topical, but there are a few items that appear to be cinderellas and not legitimate postage issues.
Can anyone verify if any of the following are legit postage?
Liberia 2014 Mythical Creatures S/S of 4
example: http://www.ebay.com/itm/LIBERIA-2014-MYTHICAL-CREATURES-VAMPIRE-MERMAID-LEPRECHAUN-ANGEL-SHEET-MINT-NH-/380983512608?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item58b4630e20
Liberia 2014 Mythical Creatures S/S of 2
example: http://www.ebay.com/itm/LIBERIA-2014-MYTHICAL-CREATURES-MERMAID-SOUVENIR-SHEET-MINT-NH-/131279114387?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e90d85093
Republic of Guinee 2012 S/S
example: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Republic-of-Guinee-2012-Stamp-GU1213B-Mermaid-de-Alla-Pavlova-1952-/141355423876?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20e9709884
There are others, and some actually state "Private Issue", but as a U.S. collector I am not used to many stamps issued that aren't intended for postage. Of course, we have the non-invert Jenny, the Legends of the West error sheet and all those pre-Civil War reprints, but those are typically VERY expensive. If anyone collects coins as well, these seem like they may be similar to NCLT coins. Non-circulating legal tender. They are legal as coins, but they are sold for a substantial markup over FV by the government to meet demand by collectors.
Cheers!
Lars
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this post
re: Mermaid Cinderellas
My 2015 Scott catalog only goes up to 2013 for Liberia, and 2004 for Guinea. I'll dig through the monthly new issue updates for Liberia. I doubt that Guinea will be listed.
Login to Like
this post
re: Mermaid Cinderellas
Even if listed, though, are there specific countries I should be wary of that have a habit of issuing stamps not intended for use as postage?
Lars
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this post
re: Mermaid Cinderellas
Looks like Scott is running about 18 months behind on the Liberia listings, and there is nothing new at all for Guinea. Probably very difficult to get authentication from the postal agencies from those countries.
Login to Like
this post
re: Mermaid Cinderellas
My guess is that these are bogus issues. Over the years, there have been many complaints about such stamps, which are marketed as legitimate stamps but are often "issued" by bogus countries or countries which have virtually no postal systems and are or nearly are "failed countries". Since designing and printing decent looking stamps, or "stamps," is expensive, it's generally thought stamps such as the ones you show have been produced by criminal organizations in order to fleece us collectors. I'm not saying that people shouldn't collect such stamps, but they need to be aware that they about as far from "investments" as you can possibly get.
Bob
Login to Like
this post
re: Mermaid Cinderellas
Bob,
I'm not buying them as investments, but I would like to know if they are legitimate issues. In coin collecting there are certain countries to be wary of. Palau is one. I want to know if there is common knowledge among world collectors of certain countries to be wary of - either they issue junk, or a third party does so on their behalf.
Lars
Login to Like
this post
re: Mermaid Cinderellas
As Bob said, many countries have had their stamp programs "hijacked" by unscrupulous people. Liberia and Guinea definitely, Others include Afghanistan, Angola, Benin, Chad, Congo Republic, Mali, Tadjikistan and many of the former Soviet Republics, just to name some that I know of off the top of my head.
Scott tries to state when such "illegal" issues exist for a country as declared by a postal agency or government. They have an informational box with a list of the illegal issues. Of course there is no guarantee that the notice appears in all such affected countries. I believe Gibbons does this too.
Login to Like
this post
re: Mermaid Cinderellas
Michael,
That is what I was looking for - countries that warrant extra scrutiny. I realize a comprehensive answer isn't possible.
Lars
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this post
03:26:17pm
re: Mermaid Cinderellas
Just curious - how do you go about finding the location of all the "mermaid" issues
Login to Like
this post
re: Mermaid Cinderellas
Like any topical, you need a starting point. In the US the premier list-keeper seems to be the American Topical Association. The lists are world-wide, so anyone can join, but the lists use Scott numbers.
And like any list, there will be some disputes. Would you clasify the Rheinmaidens from Wagner's Ring Cycle as Mermaids? You would need to decide for yourself since they are depicted on a German stamp.
That's really the fun part (for me). I have spent a lot of time researching Sedna, Fenja & Menja, Helugica, Havis Amanda, Den Lille Havfrue, Hans Christian Andersen, Disney's movie, and the Warsaw Mermaid (which started out as more of a Harpy). That covers the majority of Mermaid stamps, but there are stil a lot of other areas to study.
Have fun!
Lars
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this post
08:14:13am
re: Mermaid Cinderellas
OK thank you. I ran a query through my Scott pdf just for "mermaid" & 80 came up.
Login to Like
this post
re: Mermaid Cinderellas
"OK thank you. I ran a query through my Scott pdf just for "mermaid" & 80 came up."
You also have to decide if you are going to include tabs, selvage, postmarks, and/or cachets. It gets complicated - which it what makes it fun!
Lars
Login to Like
this post
re: Mermaid Cinderellas
"Looks like Scott is running about 18 months behind on the Liberia listings"
Michael,
If I want to get a newer set of catalogs that covers all of 2005, do I need to get 2008 or later? I have a 1998 set which covers most of the Disney movie issues, but I have discovered that a LOT of Mermaid stamps were issued in 2005 for the bicentennial of Hans Christian Andersen's birth, including the U.S. issue of Ariel from the Disney movie. If I can get worldwide coverage through the end of 2015 then I will only have a handful of more recent issues to investigate. What would be the earliest set that would cover all countries through the end of 2005?
Thanks!
Lars
Login to Like
this post
re: Mermaid Cinderellas
I'd say going at least 3 years out from the issue date will get you most of the stamps issued in a particular year. The problem is that not all the stamps issued in a year get listed timely.
The lack of timeliness is the result of stamps not being made known to the catalog publishers, and more importantly, civil unrest or other problems in the issuing country itself.
Scott mentions, for instance, that many issues from Liberia that were supposedly issued from 1998 through 2004 have not been listed as of yet, due to lack of information regarding postal validity.
One thing you might want to consider, since you mentioned Liberia is an earlier post on this thread is that 2008 may be too early for Liberian issues. I have a 2008 Gibbons catalog, and for Liberia the listings stop at 1992. Scott 2008 catalogs were issued in 2007, and Gibbons 2008 catalog were issued in 2008. You may want to go more recent than 2008 with the catalog set you want to obtain.
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this post
re: Mermaid Cinderellas
I guess I'll look for 2011 or newer then, and just have to wait and see on Liberia.
Thanks, Michael!
Lars
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