When you saw non-chalky with a shine, how did you know it was non-chalky?
I usually try the silver test first. Take a piece of silver and lightly drag it across the edge of the stamp by the perfs. Chalky paper will sometimes react and the result it a pencil-like line. That being said, it doesn't seem to work as well on KEVII era stamps. So for those I look at them under a good strong light and look to see if there is a coating. Sometimes it will show up. Many times the coating does look shiny, so that is why I was curious about your result. In some other cases, you can see tiny bubbles that were caused by the coating. In other cases, try dragging your finger across the stamp. The chalky paper will tend to be smooth while the ordinary paper tends to drag.
Ultimately, expect to find different results. Chalk coating is not really chalk, and it is also not consistent. Dr. Miles Glazer, a chemist, researched the different coatings on Bermuda high value KGV stamps and found the actual chemical composition varied among the printings. Unfortunately, to do this you have to cut up the stamp and run an expensive chemical analysis - so it didn't catch on with the collector community. So for now the rest of us just have to rely on best effort methods.
Slingback77,
On the purple example at the very top you will see the result of a 'Chalky' test. Not so handsome when the stamp has value, sadly !!
Many thanks for your responses !
I knew it was tricky but when it comes to actual identification it’s quite frustrating.
I’ve taken all your tips and just want to thank you once again for your time in responding !
Slingback, as a uk resident you probably have an SG catalogue. If you check the notes section they have a paragraph on chalky paper.
Hi all ,
I’m having trouble with identifying chalky paper . I’ve seen non chalky with a shine and it’s got to the point where I need to ask all your tips which would be very helpful .
re: GB KEVII chalky or not chalky that is the question .
When you saw non-chalky with a shine, how did you know it was non-chalky?
I usually try the silver test first. Take a piece of silver and lightly drag it across the edge of the stamp by the perfs. Chalky paper will sometimes react and the result it a pencil-like line. That being said, it doesn't seem to work as well on KEVII era stamps. So for those I look at them under a good strong light and look to see if there is a coating. Sometimes it will show up. Many times the coating does look shiny, so that is why I was curious about your result. In some other cases, you can see tiny bubbles that were caused by the coating. In other cases, try dragging your finger across the stamp. The chalky paper will tend to be smooth while the ordinary paper tends to drag.
Ultimately, expect to find different results. Chalk coating is not really chalk, and it is also not consistent. Dr. Miles Glazer, a chemist, researched the different coatings on Bermuda high value KGV stamps and found the actual chemical composition varied among the printings. Unfortunately, to do this you have to cut up the stamp and run an expensive chemical analysis - so it didn't catch on with the collector community. So for now the rest of us just have to rely on best effort methods.
re: GB KEVII chalky or not chalky that is the question .
Slingback77,
On the purple example at the very top you will see the result of a 'Chalky' test. Not so handsome when the stamp has value, sadly !!
re: GB KEVII chalky or not chalky that is the question .
Many thanks for your responses !
I knew it was tricky but when it comes to actual identification it’s quite frustrating.
I’ve taken all your tips and just want to thank you once again for your time in responding !
re: GB KEVII chalky or not chalky that is the question .
Slingback, as a uk resident you probably have an SG catalogue. If you check the notes section they have a paragraph on chalky paper.