tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6190925726844102948.post1142954483382212460..comments2024-03-23T04:12:08.762-07:00Comments on Big Blue 1840-1940: DominicaJimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02024632082262694589noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6190925726844102948.post-57726248031379248702011-10-02T14:39:08.560-07:002011-10-02T14:39:08.560-07:00Cartoon Peril-good questions and observations!
1)...Cartoon Peril-good questions and observations!<br /><br />1) With the British Commonwealth colonial stamps, often just flipping the stamp over on a dark surface will show the watermark. As far as watermark fluid that is sold for stamps, "supposedly" the fluid is less toxic or inflammable than previous. So I just buy a commercial brand from a stamp supply internet house, and hope for the best. :-) Then again I was an undergraduate major in Chemistry, so am not too squeamish around chemical fluids. The reality is valuations are often hugely dependent on which watermarked stamp one has, so I just use the fluid if necessary in a well ventilated room.<br /><br />2)Chalky paper/ ordinary paper<br />I still struggle with the difference sometimes.<br />I believe a pic would not be all that helpful. One difference is the surface of a chalky stamp is smoother, and appears shinier in the light.<br />Another approach: I will take a stamp that I know is from chalky paper, and compare with the "unknown". But frankly, I'm still working on this area myself. :-)<br /><br />3)I have a recent Nikon coolpix 1.2 megapixel camera ( not that special), and I take a pic with the "closeup" (a flower symbol on my camera) function enabled. With good lighting one can literally take a pic an inch away of an individual stamp that is sharp. Works great! IMHO, a camera pic of a stamp looks a bit more three dimensional than a scan of the stamp. But I have also began to use my scanner for stamp pics also. The scanner works well for true color and detail, and has a more "neat" result.<br /><br />I am looking forward to your stamp blog! Please publish it here when you are up and running!Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02024632082262694589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6190925726844102948.post-42286620438243434882011-10-02T13:54:27.383-07:002011-10-02T13:54:27.383-07:00Hello again, I posted earlier on a couple of posts...Hello again, I posted earlier on a couple of posts, some comments.<br /><br />(1) Basically I have stayed away from trying to distinguish stamps by watermarks, unless they were obvious on inspection. I realize this isn't philatelically the best practice, but I did not have a very good way of detecting them, and I don't like the idea of using benzene or whatever around the house. I did get a non-liquid detector, the Morley, but I wasn't satisfied with its ability to distinguish the marks, particularly on Argentina for example. I saw a non-toxic watermark detection fluid on ebay, I wonder are these any good?<br /><br />2) I have to admit I can't tell if a given stamp is on chalky paper or plain paper. I had this exact problem with Dominica. Could you post a comparison of chalky and ordinary paper? That would be very helpful.<br /><br />3) How do you photograph your stamps on the album page? I am thinking about starting a little blog myself, using images from my collection, but I don't seem to be able to get very good images.Cartoon Perilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07688567101868426381noreply@blogger.com