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Africa/All : South Africa 1961 Definitives

 

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sheepshanks
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01 Dec 2020
03:28:17pm
Decided to start on my accumulation of South Africa, working backwards from 1994. All fairly ok until I got to the 1961 set with multiple reprints and three different watermarks and unwatermarked and redrawn issues.
The latest set with larger printing of South/Suid Africa fairly ok but having great difficulty on the others especially the 1c where the printing on the dozen or so copies I have look the same. I think I have identified two as having watermarks but whether RSA or RSA tete beche is hard to ascertain.
Does anyone have any tips that may help (other than buying them certified).
Almost dreading going to the earlier issues but maybe they will be easier.
Sorting them took me back to aged about 9 when I recalled thinking the Orange tree was a Christmas tree, took me ages to realise what it really was.
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bulldog
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01 Dec 2020
05:25:12pm

Auctions
re: South Africa 1961 Definitives

These stamps can be tremendously difficult to correctly identify. The Scott watermarks (330, 348, and 359) can be difficult to identify. One way to identify along with the watermark, or lack of watermark, is to pay attention to the paper they are printed on. Scott 254-266 and 269-277 are printed on unsurfaced paper and under magnification you can see the poor printing quality. Scott 289-to 298 are printed on chalk surfaced paper and the printing is much better. You are able to see the screens quite well. Scott 319-324 are also on chalk surface paper and the designs have bee redrawn. Scott 326-342 have phosphor bands outlining the stamps. Lastly, Scott 374-385 were printed on phosphorised paer and the entire stamp reacts under UV light.
Hope this helps!
Terry

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Calstamp

01 Dec 2020
05:31:04pm
re: South Africa 1961 Definitives


Mr. Shanks...

Pursued the same journey as you earlier this year. That is, finally identifying a
growing pile of early SA stamps which had taken root on a high shelf in the closet in my
stamp room.

Started by borrowing what is supposedly the
definitive country catalogue from the APRL. Which nearly caused me to
package up the entire lot and send off for donation.

Then I came across a very informative posting on “stampboards” which was
essentially an issue-by-issue primer of the early SA issues. With very
clear explanations (and illustrations) of how to distinguish each of the print
varieties etc.

Using the SB primer, a good quality loop, some watermark
fluid, and a perf gauge was able to identify nearly the entire pile in the course
of a rainy weekend.

Am away from home at present so I do not have access to my
philatelic notes/files. Yet hopefully I’ve provided you with a good starting
point.

Cheers

Jim

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sheepshanks
Members Picture


01 Dec 2020
06:21:45pm
re: South Africa 1961 Definitives

Bulldog and Calstamp, many thanks for the input, will get the UV light out later, after supper, and see what I spy.
The watermarks do not show up very well and trying on a small stamp to distinguish between 348 and 359 it was doing my head in. (well worse than normal)
Problem is made worse because they are used rather than mint and not one has a readable date which often helps eliminate reprints.
Thanks again, will check on the SB primer shortly.

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sheepshanks
Members Picture


02 Dec 2020
12:55:28pm
re: South Africa 1961 Definitives

Slowly getting there, the stampboards post was helpful and I have also found the following which will be very helpful.
http://southafricacollector.com/Collect_Southern_Africa/21_Republic_of_South_Africa.htm
I think trying to see watermarks is going to be my biggest problem. Have managed to identify a few but some I thought were not watermarked, because I could not see anything, turn out to have not been issued unwatermarked. Anybody got any decent eyes to spare, these ones are getting a bit old and worn out!
Will persevere and work by elimination over the next few days.
Thanks again for the help.

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Author/Postings
Members Picture
sheepshanks

01 Dec 2020
03:28:17pm

Decided to start on my accumulation of South Africa, working backwards from 1994. All fairly ok until I got to the 1961 set with multiple reprints and three different watermarks and unwatermarked and redrawn issues.
The latest set with larger printing of South/Suid Africa fairly ok but having great difficulty on the others especially the 1c where the printing on the dozen or so copies I have look the same. I think I have identified two as having watermarks but whether RSA or RSA tete beche is hard to ascertain.
Does anyone have any tips that may help (other than buying them certified).
Almost dreading going to the earlier issues but maybe they will be easier.
Sorting them took me back to aged about 9 when I recalled thinking the Orange tree was a Christmas tree, took me ages to realise what it really was.

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
bulldog

01 Dec 2020
05:25:12pm

Auctions

re: South Africa 1961 Definitives

These stamps can be tremendously difficult to correctly identify. The Scott watermarks (330, 348, and 359) can be difficult to identify. One way to identify along with the watermark, or lack of watermark, is to pay attention to the paper they are printed on. Scott 254-266 and 269-277 are printed on unsurfaced paper and under magnification you can see the poor printing quality. Scott 289-to 298 are printed on chalk surfaced paper and the printing is much better. You are able to see the screens quite well. Scott 319-324 are also on chalk surface paper and the designs have bee redrawn. Scott 326-342 have phosphor bands outlining the stamps. Lastly, Scott 374-385 were printed on phosphorised paer and the entire stamp reacts under UV light.
Hope this helps!
Terry

Like
Login to Like
this post

N/A
Calstamp

01 Dec 2020
05:31:04pm

re: South Africa 1961 Definitives


Mr. Shanks...

Pursued the same journey as you earlier this year. That is, finally identifying a
growing pile of early SA stamps which had taken root on a high shelf in the closet in my
stamp room.

Started by borrowing what is supposedly the
definitive country catalogue from the APRL. Which nearly caused me to
package up the entire lot and send off for donation.

Then I came across a very informative posting on “stampboards” which was
essentially an issue-by-issue primer of the early SA issues. With very
clear explanations (and illustrations) of how to distinguish each of the print
varieties etc.

Using the SB primer, a good quality loop, some watermark
fluid, and a perf gauge was able to identify nearly the entire pile in the course
of a rainy weekend.

Am away from home at present so I do not have access to my
philatelic notes/files. Yet hopefully I’ve provided you with a good starting
point.

Cheers

Jim

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
sheepshanks

01 Dec 2020
06:21:45pm

re: South Africa 1961 Definitives

Bulldog and Calstamp, many thanks for the input, will get the UV light out later, after supper, and see what I spy.
The watermarks do not show up very well and trying on a small stamp to distinguish between 348 and 359 it was doing my head in. (well worse than normal)
Problem is made worse because they are used rather than mint and not one has a readable date which often helps eliminate reprints.
Thanks again, will check on the SB primer shortly.

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
sheepshanks

02 Dec 2020
12:55:28pm

re: South Africa 1961 Definitives

Slowly getting there, the stampboards post was helpful and I have also found the following which will be very helpful.
http://southafricacollector.com/Collect_Southern_Africa/21_Republic_of_South_Africa.htm
I think trying to see watermarks is going to be my biggest problem. Have managed to identify a few but some I thought were not watermarked, because I could not see anything, turn out to have not been issued unwatermarked. Anybody got any decent eyes to spare, these ones are getting a bit old and worn out!
Will persevere and work by elimination over the next few days.
Thanks again for the help.

Like
Login to Like
this post
        

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