Secrets of rare stamps revealed
16 May 2012 by Evoluted New Media
Philatelists have turned to science after the authenticity of three rare Penny Red stamps was called into question.
Expert opinion suggests these stamps – which are held in a private collection – are fakes. The stamps appear to be printed on the so-called 77-plate, which was never used to mass-produce stamps. There are only a handful of authentic copies in existence – including one owned by the Queen – and any new stamp finds are automatically regarded with suspicion.
However, new evidence from scientists at the Reading Scientific Services Ltd (RSSL) challenges expert opinion. Using surface profilimetry – which employs a high powered digital microscope – researchers assessed the integrity of paper fibres and the deposition of ink around the tiny ‘7’ markings appearing in the diamond lace pattern on the vertical edge of each stamp.
[caption id="attachment_27959" align="alignright" width="200" caption="Figure 2: A suspect ‘7’"]
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If the stamps had been tampered with, scientists would have expected to see some cutting and pasting of a first ‘7’ from another ‘7-x’ Penny Red, or fabrication of a critical second ‘7’ by painting over another number.
Their report states that: “the second ‘7 diamond’ region on each stamp showed no evidence that additional layers of paint had been added or bleached away to convert a ‘3’ into a ‘7’. No evidence of fibre disruption (eg through deliberate tamper by scraping, cutting or adding fibres) was found during topographical examination of second ‘7 diamond ‘regions.”
The Royal Philatelic Society refuses to accept the 77 stamps as genuine, and believe the second ‘7’ was originally a ‘3’. Abed Najjar, owner of the stamps, says this latest evidence is unquestionable.
“The profilimetry analysis shows that the second ‘7’ on every stamp lies exactly within the depression you would expect from a genuine print run using an actual 77 plate,” he said. “The scientific evidence is all in favour of these stamps being genuine, and therefore one of the rarest finds ever to emerge.”
