Saturday, May 22, 2010

Panama Gandhi cover with 3 stamps. ( One of the Most Expensive Gandhi Used cover).



Hello Gandhi Collectors,

Today auction of 1972 Panama Gandhi stamps cover with 3 Gandhi stamps was sold for 521.85 US dollars.!!!

 Previously I saw 1 or 2 Gandhi Panama Stamp cover which were sold somewhere around $80-100 but this was unique. This cover was send to Germany where as all previous cover were either send to Mexico or Guatemala.

On ebay or delcampe Panama Gandhi stamp MNH is sold somewhere between 50-70 US dollars so this cover has higher ROI.

Already Maulik has mentioned about this Panama cover with Gandhi stamps in his blog post " 1971 - Panama's Gandhi Stamp, a Surprising Philatelic Rarity"

As per this postage to USA was 13 cents. So this cover has 30 Cents postage.!! Not sure what was postal rates for Germany, but I don't think it will be 17 cents difference.!! Also not sure how can we verify it is Genuine.!! because it's easy to make this BLUE Rubber stamp on some cover.!!



This will be one of the most expensive used cover I had seen in last 18 months other than 1948 Gandhi stamp with 10 Rupees stamps from India.

Previous one was Cameroun cover sold for 450+ US dollars.


Following is the screen shot of the bidders, which indicates last 3 bidders are  mcphila, speedbird1* and coolblue1955.



Looks like there was a great interest in buying this cover as 3 bidders were bidding 500+ US dollars.!!

This blog post is only for future reference for new collectors to know what other collectors are collecting other than MNH Gandhi Stamps & FDC or FFC, so there is no research or other information about cover or stamp (no brainer).

And one more thing that I will never buy this Panama Gandhi stamp cover along with 10 Rupees Gandhi stamp cover because it does not make sense. This is my passive resistance!!

Related Previous Blog post:-
1) 1971 - Panama's Gandhi Stamp, a Surprising Philatelic Rarity
2) Why Cameroun Commerically cover is costly?


Again thanks for reading this blog post and  Please share your thoughts in the comments section.



Friday, May 14, 2010

Possible FAKE Gandhi China Postcard ( postal stationery , Articles postaux ) Gandhi and Formula Car Postcard from China




Hello Gandhi Collectors,

Recently I saw 50+ Gandhi Postcard with different pictures from China selling on delcampe. It looks like postcard is officially issued from "The People's Republic of China" postal service because China stamp with 80 Yuan(whatever amount) is printed on this. My first look is this is official without any research. But...


After doing some research I think all this Gandhi postcards from China are possibly FAKE(Not issued officially by China Postal Service).

Reason for this conclusion is

1) How can 50+ different Gandhi postcards is issued from China. Gandhi is related to Human Rights, Peace, Non-Violence etc. Even Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other countries don't have any official stamp or stationary than how can it be from China.!!
2) Barcode & AA number is same on all China Gandhi postcards.
3) Also same Barcode & AA number on Gandhi Postcard is also on other postcards from china.(same number on 2 different theme of postcards.)

In this case Barcode & AA # is same on Gandhi & Formula Car Postcard.!!

You can see both postcards on delcampe website by clicking following link. Check for Barcode # & AA # which is same.

Formula Car Postcard:- http://stamps.delcampe.net/item.php?language=E&id=89334282
Gandhi Postcard:- http://stamps.delcampe.net/item.php?language=E&id=88161481
Gandhi Postcard:- http://stamps.delcampe.net/item.php?language=E&id=88159778

You can search on delcampe for 50+ Gandhi postcards from China and you will see same Barcode and AA # with 10+ Formula car postcards.

Also Check following screen shot from delcampe.

AA # is 451684
Barcode # is 6 938710000017





After looking all 3 points I think this are all FAKE postcard printed not by China Post but by some other greedy person.
Barcode should be different for each postcard for inventory, pricing etc.
So I think maker of this postcard don't know how to make FAKE postcard.!!


Think before buying not only GANDHI postcards from China but all postcards from China selling on delcampe.
If any one in China reads this blog please do some research on this and let us know so we can remove FAKE or remove Possible.!! Also there is one ebay seller from China who sells Gandhi stamps from all around the world he needs to look in to this postcards or he might be also FAKE seller from China.

But my personal opinion is Gandhi Postcard from China is not issued by Postal Service of China and I will called it as a FAKE. Until now I was aware of FAKE postmark cancel issued in 1969 & 2009 but now it is Postcard.!! So buyers please do your research before you think to buy this kind of item or any GANDHI philatelic material.

Only good point is that this item is selling under 3-4 US dollars which is a good part on seller. I don't understand why he try to make it looks like officially issued instead of just printing simple postcard of Gandhi if he wants to sell this cheap. I think he might get his asking price even if he did not try to make it official postcard by printing stamp on this postcards. Previous Gandhi FAKE postmark cancel are currently selling for very high price ($99)!!

Not only Gandhi Postcard from China is FAKE but also all postcards(Formula Car, Darwin, Disney Characters.......) from this seller is FAKE.

I am amazed in 18 months of my collection, that what kind of activities collectors and dealers are applying to sell Gandhi Philately material as well as other Philately material. CAN'T TRUST ANY GANDHI PHILATELIC MATERIAL. !!!

Any comments are welcome on this blog post.


Again thanks for reading this blog post and  Please share your thoughts in the comments section.


Thanks

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Gandhi Signature Special Cover

Hello Gandhi collectors,

Starting a series of posts on Gandhi Special covers that shed light on certain facets of the Mahatma and those that commemorate important events in his life.

This post features a Special Cover released in Porbandar, Gandhiji's birthplace. Though the cover is supposed to have been released on 23rd March 1996, the postmark is dated 26th February 1996. The image is shown below:


The cover has been affixed with the most common definitive Gandhi stamp (Re.1), which, to many of my non-philatelic friends, is the only Gandhi stamp to have been issued !

The cancellation features the home where Gandhi was born, and the authorities have made a nice effort to bring out the details.

The cover's catchet/artwork has Gandhiji's signature in 10 different languages. Gandhiji's ability to grasp languages was phenomenal, and I believe this was one of the reasons he was able to connect to a wide audience.

Apart from this, Gandhi was also ambidextrous (i.e.) he could write with both his hands. This was proof that he could use both his creative (right) and logical (left) brains with equal ease...


Nikhil Mundra

9th May 2010

=================


Saturday, May 1, 2010

Pricing study of Gandhi USED cover - Part 1 ( Gandhi 1970 Mauritius Souvenier Sheet Register Cover )


Hello Gandhi Collectors
As you know I am studying Gandhi stamp pricing, Gandhi FDC pricing and now I started studying about Gandhi USED covers. It looks like pricing is declining in Gandhi collection in each and every catageory whether it is Gandhi Stamp or Gandhi FDC or Gandhi commerically Used Cover etc.

In this blog post I would like to bring your attention about my study on Mauritius Used covers. In April 2009 Mauritius Gandhi Souvenir sheet Register cover was sold for $1.84( 1.24 GBP). I am surprised by the price this cover was sold.

Seller is "theobargain" from UK and buyer is "indiephila" also from UK. Following is the screen shot taken from ebay. My other hobby is to collect this kind of screen shot for future reference for my Gandhi Pricing & Bidding study.


There were 2 bids on this item and one was mine. If I had not bidded on this item than this might have sold only for $1.35(0.99 GBP)

I am not sure why this Register cover only sold for $1.84. Do any one know why?


I have following questions.
1) Is there not enough interest in Gandhi USED covers?
2) Or there is not enough interest only in Mauritus Gandhi Used covers?
3) Is $1.84 is philatelic value of this cover?
4) What was correct postage required for Register cover in 1969/1970?

Also I see lot of Gandhi Register Cover from Mauritus for sale on ebay on regular basis (as if some one got postmark cancel or someone went to Mauritus in 1969 and made it.!!) and try to sell between 30-50$, but no one is buying it. I also see wide variety of postage affixed on this register cover so that's need to be studied in future. Also I don't think Gandhi collection was that famous in 1969 and except some dealers all were not that rich that can afford it to make this kind of covers. Also communication between collector was not that easy and fast like we have it today So I am suprised how this Register cover are popping up for sale on ebay and as well as delcampe.!!


I think $.184 is philatelic value in 2009 for this Mauritius 1970 Register cover because it was sold through open market in auction. This price was low because NO Shill bidding happen in this auction and no other Gandhi Collector or dealer was interested in this cover to buy it so value did not went up. Not sure why Indian dealers are not buying this kind of Mauritius cover to resell it at higher price or they are not averaging there purchase by buying this kind of cover.


This Souvenier Sheet has very good stamps of Gandhi in his different age and other things related to Gandhi. According to me this is one of the best Gandhi sheet printed ever, but still used register cover are not appealing to collectors at all.


Strange are things in Gandhi Used covers as I saw couple of months ago Register cover from Cameroun 1969 with Gandhi stamp sold for $460 (one of the expensive Gandhi used cover) and Mauritus cover is sold under $2. I am not sure why.?


I don't own this kind of Gandhi Mauritius Register Cover and not planning to add in my collection in my life time!!


Thanks
Ketan Patel.


Other related blog post