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Europe/Other : Switzerland - Grilled Gum

 

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purrfin2
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17 Sep 2015
06:59:30pm
Hi all,

I need a quick lesson.

I'm playing in Switzerland and came across the phrase grilled gum.

This is a first for me. Wiki'ed grilled gum and found out it is a light grill applied along the gum to counteract the tendency for gummed stamps to curl. Most obvious on mint, but is faintly visible on used.

My question is how do I tell if the stamp is/has/had grilled gum? I have a 15x magnifier and an LED lamp, looked at the back of the stamp and it doesn't seem to have any lumps or bumps. But I don't know exactly what I'm looking for. I also felt the back of the stamp and it seems smooth, I can't feel anything.

Am I supposed to see or feel anything?

Thanks for your help.
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"Appreciate the beauty of nature. You never know when life will deal you an unplanned twist of fate. Enjoy things while you can, because you just never know."
BobbyBarnhart
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They who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. -Benjamin Franklin

17 Sep 2015
07:16:41pm
re: Switzerland - Grilled Gum

Kind of hard to describe except to say, "you'll know it when you see it." (sounds kind of trite, huh?) The first time I encountered those stamps, I scratched my head and thought "what idiot expects you to observe grills on gum when the gum is gone!" When I did eventually come across a used "grill," I immediately saw the grilled pattern on the reverse under quite ordinary magnification (4x I believe). Lighting is more important than magnification here. A bright, white light is very helpful.

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"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. -Edmund Burke"

www.bobbybarnhart.net
purrfin2
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17 Sep 2015
07:42:29pm
re: Switzerland - Grilled Gum

Thanks Bobby. My Ott-lite blew the bulb and I'm waiting for the replacement so I'm forced to use the LED gooseneck.

I didn't think I had a grill gum stamp(s), but it had to be asked.

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"Appreciate the beauty of nature. You never know when life will deal you an unplanned twist of fate. Enjoy things while you can, because you just never know."
michael78651
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17 Sep 2015
09:15:31pm
re: Switzerland - Grilled Gum

Also try tilting the stamp at an angle to the light. It may help to show the grills with lighter impressions. The grill will cover the entire back of the stamp. Remember that not all the stamps had grilled gum, so if you don't see a grill, it will most likely be an un-grilled stamp.

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bobstew617
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17 Sep 2015
09:55:53pm
re: Switzerland - Grilled Gum

On certain Swiss stamp sets, such as the Tree and Crossbow, the stamps will be on either paper that has grilled gum (the minor "a" listings in Scott 256a-267a, or granite fiber (the major 256-267 listings) paper where you can see different color fibers. So if I don't see the fibers, that's when I'll start looking for the grill pattern on the back.

BOB

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purrfin2
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18 Sep 2015
09:04:40am
re: Switzerland - Grilled Gum

Michael and Bob, thanks for the added info. I was tilting the stamp to see if I could see anything, but no go. I do have some stamps with the fiber, so I'll be looking again.

Oh goodie, another project for the day. Silly

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"Appreciate the beauty of nature. You never know when life will deal you an unplanned twist of fate. Enjoy things while you can, because you just never know."
bobstew617
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18 Sep 2015
10:40:38am
re: Switzerland - Grilled Gum

I would get your magnifier and use that to see the grills. I'm probably going to Hobby Lobby later in the day to get one. BOB

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purrfin2
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18 Sep 2015
03:03:24pm
re: Switzerland - Grilled Gum

Does that mean you are going to get me one too????


Laughing Laughing Laughing


Hobby Lobby is a dangerous place for me. I always find something stamp related I just have to have.

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"Appreciate the beauty of nature. You never know when life will deal you an unplanned twist of fate. Enjoy things while you can, because you just never know."
HungaryForStamps
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18 Sep 2015
04:37:21pm
re: Switzerland - Grilled Gum

I've found that the grills are not that hard to detect. I see them with 3x-5x magnification in good lighting (mainly because I need glasses). Rotate the stamps in good lighting at an angle. If you can see the paper surface well enough and you see no discernible pattern then not grilled.

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purrfin2
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18 Sep 2015
05:44:12pm
re: Switzerland - Grilled Gum

Thank you for the insight. I'll be checking those stamps again. If I find any grills, I'll be doing the happy dance for all of you!

Day Dreaming

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"Appreciate the beauty of nature. You never know when life will deal you an unplanned twist of fate. Enjoy things while you can, because you just never know."
michael78651
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18 Sep 2015
06:14:16pm
re: Switzerland - Grilled Gum

When I think of finding a grill, I think of BBQ!

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purrfin2
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18 Sep 2015
06:22:32pm
re: Switzerland - Grilled Gum

We went out for our Anniversary late lunch and had shrimp on the Barbie ... yummy good



And I think I have one, it didn't change the value of the stamp! One stamp I have has uneven gum but it was before the grilled gum was started. Just my luck ... still looking.

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"Appreciate the beauty of nature. You never know when life will deal you an unplanned twist of fate. Enjoy things while you can, because you just never know."
CapeStampMan
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Mike

19 Sep 2015
11:57:04am
re: Switzerland - Grilled Gum

I think you will be shocked when you finally find a stamp with grilled gum, without gum, at how easy it will be to spot them next time. I'm sure most collector's had the same problem when they first encountered this type of issue, so hang in there, this too will pass.
Mike

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"It's been three years now, since I joined a support group for procrastinators. We haven't met yet..."
bobstew617
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20 Sep 2015
06:05:45pm
re: Switzerland - Grilled Gum

I was showing Blair my Swiss collection yesterday and he saw my page of Grilled Gum varieties. We took a look together and showed what looked like little pock marks on the back of the stamp.

Once you put the back of a "granite paper" and a "grilled gum" paper back to back for the same design stamp, it is easy to tell the difference. BUT, it can make a HUGE difference value-wise. BOB

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Author/Postings
Members Picture
purrfin2

17 Sep 2015
06:59:30pm

Hi all,

I need a quick lesson.

I'm playing in Switzerland and came across the phrase grilled gum.

This is a first for me. Wiki'ed grilled gum and found out it is a light grill applied along the gum to counteract the tendency for gummed stamps to curl. Most obvious on mint, but is faintly visible on used.

My question is how do I tell if the stamp is/has/had grilled gum? I have a 15x magnifier and an LED lamp, looked at the back of the stamp and it doesn't seem to have any lumps or bumps. But I don't know exactly what I'm looking for. I also felt the back of the stamp and it seems smooth, I can't feel anything.

Am I supposed to see or feel anything?

Thanks for your help.

Like
Login to Like
this post

"Appreciate the beauty of nature. You never know when life will deal you an unplanned twist of fate. Enjoy things while you can, because you just never know."

They who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. -Benjamin Franklin
17 Sep 2015
07:16:41pm

re: Switzerland - Grilled Gum

Kind of hard to describe except to say, "you'll know it when you see it." (sounds kind of trite, huh?) The first time I encountered those stamps, I scratched my head and thought "what idiot expects you to observe grills on gum when the gum is gone!" When I did eventually come across a used "grill," I immediately saw the grilled pattern on the reverse under quite ordinary magnification (4x I believe). Lighting is more important than magnification here. A bright, white light is very helpful.

Like
Login to Like
this post

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. -Edmund Burke"

www.bobbybarnhart.ne ...
Members Picture
purrfin2

17 Sep 2015
07:42:29pm

re: Switzerland - Grilled Gum

Thanks Bobby. My Ott-lite blew the bulb and I'm waiting for the replacement so I'm forced to use the LED gooseneck.

I didn't think I had a grill gum stamp(s), but it had to be asked.

Like
Login to Like
this post

"Appreciate the beauty of nature. You never know when life will deal you an unplanned twist of fate. Enjoy things while you can, because you just never know."
Members Picture
michael78651

17 Sep 2015
09:15:31pm

re: Switzerland - Grilled Gum

Also try tilting the stamp at an angle to the light. It may help to show the grills with lighter impressions. The grill will cover the entire back of the stamp. Remember that not all the stamps had grilled gum, so if you don't see a grill, it will most likely be an un-grilled stamp.

Like
Login to Like
this post

www.hipstamp.com/sto ...
Members Picture
bobstew617

17 Sep 2015
09:55:53pm

re: Switzerland - Grilled Gum

On certain Swiss stamp sets, such as the Tree and Crossbow, the stamps will be on either paper that has grilled gum (the minor "a" listings in Scott 256a-267a, or granite fiber (the major 256-267 listings) paper where you can see different color fibers. So if I don't see the fibers, that's when I'll start looking for the grill pattern on the back.

BOB

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Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
purrfin2

18 Sep 2015
09:04:40am

re: Switzerland - Grilled Gum

Michael and Bob, thanks for the added info. I was tilting the stamp to see if I could see anything, but no go. I do have some stamps with the fiber, so I'll be looking again.

Oh goodie, another project for the day. Silly

Like
Login to Like
this post

"Appreciate the beauty of nature. You never know when life will deal you an unplanned twist of fate. Enjoy things while you can, because you just never know."
Members Picture
bobstew617

18 Sep 2015
10:40:38am

re: Switzerland - Grilled Gum

I would get your magnifier and use that to see the grills. I'm probably going to Hobby Lobby later in the day to get one. BOB

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
purrfin2

18 Sep 2015
03:03:24pm

re: Switzerland - Grilled Gum

Does that mean you are going to get me one too????


Laughing Laughing Laughing


Hobby Lobby is a dangerous place for me. I always find something stamp related I just have to have.

Like
Login to Like
this post

"Appreciate the beauty of nature. You never know when life will deal you an unplanned twist of fate. Enjoy things while you can, because you just never know."
Members Picture
HungaryForStamps

18 Sep 2015
04:37:21pm

re: Switzerland - Grilled Gum

I've found that the grills are not that hard to detect. I see them with 3x-5x magnification in good lighting (mainly because I need glasses). Rotate the stamps in good lighting at an angle. If you can see the paper surface well enough and you see no discernible pattern then not grilled.

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
purrfin2

18 Sep 2015
05:44:12pm

re: Switzerland - Grilled Gum

Thank you for the insight. I'll be checking those stamps again. If I find any grills, I'll be doing the happy dance for all of you!

Day Dreaming

Like
Login to Like
this post

"Appreciate the beauty of nature. You never know when life will deal you an unplanned twist of fate. Enjoy things while you can, because you just never know."
Members Picture
michael78651

18 Sep 2015
06:14:16pm

re: Switzerland - Grilled Gum

When I think of finding a grill, I think of BBQ!

Like
Login to Like
this post

www.hipstamp.com/sto ...
Members Picture
purrfin2

18 Sep 2015
06:22:32pm

re: Switzerland - Grilled Gum

We went out for our Anniversary late lunch and had shrimp on the Barbie ... yummy good



And I think I have one, it didn't change the value of the stamp! One stamp I have has uneven gum but it was before the grilled gum was started. Just my luck ... still looking.

Like
Login to Like
this post

"Appreciate the beauty of nature. You never know when life will deal you an unplanned twist of fate. Enjoy things while you can, because you just never know."
Members Picture
CapeStampMan

Mike
19 Sep 2015
11:57:04am

re: Switzerland - Grilled Gum

I think you will be shocked when you finally find a stamp with grilled gum, without gum, at how easy it will be to spot them next time. I'm sure most collector's had the same problem when they first encountered this type of issue, so hang in there, this too will pass.
Mike

Like
Login to Like
this post

"It's been three years now, since I joined a support group for procrastinators. We haven't met yet..."
Members Picture
bobstew617

20 Sep 2015
06:05:45pm

re: Switzerland - Grilled Gum

I was showing Blair my Swiss collection yesterday and he saw my page of Grilled Gum varieties. We took a look together and showed what looked like little pock marks on the back of the stamp.

Once you put the back of a "granite paper" and a "grilled gum" paper back to back for the same design stamp, it is easy to tell the difference. BUT, it can make a HUGE difference value-wise. BOB

Like
Login to Like
this post
        

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