Nevis Gandhi SPECIMEN Stamps : Germany Gandhi MUSTER Stamps : How to find Genuine SPECIMEN stamp ?

Hello Gandhi Collectors,

Recently I am seeing lot of Gandhi SPECIMEN stamps on internet auction sites.

A specimen stamp is a postage stamp or postal stationery indicium sent to postmasters and postal administrations so that they are able to identify valid stamps and to avoid forgeries. The usual method of invalidating the stamps is either overprinting in ink or perforating the word Specimen across the stamp and where English is not the common language, the words Muestra (Spanish), Monster (Dutch), Muster (German) or Образец (Russian) have been used instead. (From : Wikipedia)

Because of latest printing technology available to common people I am not sure how we can find out whether this SPECIMEN stamps are Genuine or Forgery.?

In today's technology world,  laser printers are even capable of printing currency.!!(which is prevented/disabled by printer manufacture using special chip/software) but it is easy to print just SPECIMEN on stamps, postal stationary etc.

Even sometimes just Rubber stamp is used to specify that this is SPECIMEN stamp.

As many specimen stamps are worth more than the originals, they have often been forged.!! (From Wikipedia.)

So my question is how to find Genuine SPECIMEN stamp?

Following is screenshot of recently sold Nevis Specimen stamp. Not sure whether this is Genuine. !!

Following is 1969 Gandhi  Muster (SPECIMEN) stamp from Germany.  This is even more easy to make regular stamp in to Muster stamp because it's just a rubber stamp.!!

So not sure whether following Germany Gandhi SPECIMEN stamp as well as above Nevis stamps are  Genuine or Forgery.!! It's hard to trust any Gandhi Philately material.!!

Following are my other two blog post related to Forgery Cyrpus SPECIMEN stamp and 1969 India SPECIMEN Postcard (Postal Stationary).

http://gandhiphilately.blogspot.com/2011/04/fake-gandhi-specimen-stamp-from-cyprus.html
http://gandhiphilately.blogspot.com/2011/09/gandhi-stamp-1969-india-postcard.html

Now if you like this blog post or want to know more about other FAKE Gandhi Stamps Philatelic Materials then please check out our other blog post (There are more blog posts but 8 are more interesting to read, so please read.!)

Maldives : http://gandhiphilately.blogspot.com/2011/12/maldives-gandhi-stamps-is-it-fake.html
Germany : http://gandhiphilately.blogspot.com/2011/08/its-back-again-fake-germany-2009-gandhi.html
Mauritius : http://gandhiphilately.blogspot.com/2011/06/possible-fake-postmark-cancellation.html
Madagascar : http://gandhiphilately.blogspot.com/2011/12/madagascar-gandhi-stamps-fake-fdc-of.html
Nicaragua : http://gandhiphilately.blogspot.com/2011/07/fake-fdc-made-from-nicaragua-1979-1980.html
Mauritius : http://gandhiphilately.blogspot.com/2011/11/early-usage-of-indian-pin-code-classic.html
1969 issues : http://gandhiphilately.blogspot.com/2009/04/gandhi-1969-cancels-possible-forgeries.html
Nicaragua : http://gandhiphilately.blogspot.com/2011/12/fake-nicaragua-100-years-of-cinema-fdc.html

After reading above blog post don't you think similar pattern for making FDC or Max Card in Gandhi Philately.!! (It's a whole new topical Philately !! FAKE Gandhi thematic collection.!!)

Don't you think that is there any Genuine GANDHI philatelic material ever issued.!!! Most of the Gandhi stamps were issued in 1969 and during that time there were very less collectors so it is not enough for current needs of collectors.

Also I think because of recent popularity of Gandhi stamps there is a huge demand of it  so dealers and resellers (even printers) are trying to take benefit by issuing FAKE and Forgery material of some never issued stamps, FDC or Used Covers including Register Covers so Beware before you enter in to Gandhi Philately collection.!!

Is it hobby with investment or scam in mind? !! Think before you buy any Gandhi Philately Material as it is very easy to make rubber stamp.!!! 

This is how stamp printers and stamp dealers prosper!!

I don't have any answer, How to find Genuine SPECIMEN Stamp? 


Do  You ? Then please let us know so all collectors will be benefit and will be more interested in SPECIMEN stamps.

I don't collect this because it's very risky.!!

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

Thanks

Ketankumar Patel.
Shill Bidding on Gandhi Stamps

My First year experience in Gandhi Philately.

My 100th blog post.

Gandhi Stamp Collecting is SCAM. My 3 year experience tell me Yes!!

Gandhi Stamps - 1998 from Grenada , Grenada Grenadines, Dominica, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Montserrat, Nevis, St. Vincent, Tanzania, The Gambia, Uganda , Zambia.

12/14/2011

By Ketankumar Patel.

Hello Gandhi Collectors,

1998 was 50th Death Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. (1948 -1998) and stamp dealers and printers came up with stamps on this occassion!!

Zambia, Uganda, Tanzania, Sierra Leone, St. Vincent,  Grenada, Grenada Grenadines, Guyana,  Ghana, Montserrat, Liberia, The Gambia, Dominica and others came up with Miniature sheet and stamps of Mahatma Gandhi. (Also India issued Mahatma Gandhi stamp to celebrate this)

Design and printing of all this stamps is similar and sometimes you will be confused whether this is error or what.!! (Looks like dealers and printers are lazy as they don't even want work to make it different and interesting shapes, sizes and different pictures.!!)

Following are some of 1998 miniature  sheet and stamps from African and South America countries with  Taj Mahal, Gateway of India, Emblem of India which  are currently available on delcampe.

All 1998 Gandhi sheets looks similar!!


Do you think this has any value in philatelic or it is just a album filler.!! and you will easily spent 100-150$ on this miniature sheet and stamps. Also FDC of this miniature sheets and stamps are questionable.!! 


Think why no other countries like USA, UK, Canada, Australia issued stamps of Mahatma Gandhi in 1998, because they print stamps for actual use as regular domestic postage by common people not just to make money on it.!! Do you think any of this countries people can afford this stamps. I bet 95% of this countries people did not even saw this Gandhi Miniature sheet or might made it in this countries.!! Also they print stamps which is important to their countries only and occasionally this countries issue stamp of other countries important events, leaders, etc

This is how stamp printers and stamp dealers prosper!!

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

Thanks

Ketankumar Patel.
Shill Bidding on Gandhi Stamps

My First year experience in Gandhi Philately.

My 100th blog post.

Gandhi Stamp Collecting is SCAM. My 3 year experience tell me Yes!!

Gandhi Philately 100th Blog post.!! What is Gandhi Stamp Value ? Does it make sense to Invest in Gandhi stamps.!!

Hello Gandhi Collectors,

This is 100th blog posts on Gandhi Philately Study Circle Blog since started  in Feb 2009 by Maulik Thakkar. I think this is one of the unique Blog mainly focused only on Mahatma Gandhi  thematic collection.

This Thematic Blog present research on wide varieties of Gandhi Stamps, FDC, FFC, Used Covers, Unique Philatelic Material, Pictorial Cancellation, Unique Cancellation, FAKE philatelic cancellation, Forgery of Philatelic items,  Events Covers, Shill Bidding, etc associated with Mahatma Gandhi.

We  hope that this blog posts are helping all of you to make decision what to collect,  how to avoid certain stamps, covers, FFC, FDC,  Sellers, some unique Gandhi Philatelic items, FAKE Gandhi Cancellation, Possible Forgery of Gandhi Philatelic materials etc. by sharing our experience. 

Also this blog will be a good reference material for future Mahatma Gandhi collectors who will aware of all kind of activities in Gandhi Collection before they start. By reading this they will encourage to collect Mahatma Gandhi Philatelic items and they all can proudly collect and spread the message of a Great Soul.(Mahatma).

Now let's research about Gandhi Stamp Value.

I know you all might have following Gandhi stamps in your collection but this is blog post is for future new Gandhi collectors.

Above 12 stamps are very colorful from 9 different countries which are Brazil, Hungary, Chile, Tanzania, Guyana, Senegal , Morocco, Nevis & Ireland. Most of this stamps were issued in 1969 which is almost 40+ years.

But all this stamps were UNSOLD for $12 and now it for resale again at $13.!!!   Look at following screen shot of this Gandhi stamp value and it's amazing that same stamps are sold by 2 different sellers.!!

As I mentioned before that you can find MNH Gandhi Stamps any time as there are NO RARE stamps. It is made RARE by certain dealers who try to profit out of it.

So who ever bought this stamps 40 years ago and preserve this very nicely in album can't sell for $12 from 9 different countries.

 In past we saw GANDHI DU CAMEROUN 2 STAMP 1969  sold for $2-3,  Gandhi SOMALIA 3 STAMPS 1969 sold for $3-4  and GANDHI SYRIAN TWO STAMPS 1969 sold for $1-2.

As I mentioned in my previous blog posts that Gandhi stamps are not for Investment. Now it's up to you to think whether Gandhi stamps make sense for Investment.!!!

You can also read my another blog post about Mahatma Gandhi Stamp - Is it for Investment ?

I know by writing this kind of information I am decreasing my own collection value, but it's OK to let other's new emerging  collectors what is True value of Gandhi  Stamp Collection instead of just using other technique to increase the prices.!!

Another example of same philatelic material sold by 2 different id.  Sellers are "sanu108" and "405940"

Following 3 covers from Suriname, Zambia and Costa Rica were on auction by 2 different sellers.!!!

Also Covers from Zambia and Costa Rica needs more research because CDS is unclear and not sure about postage rates at that time. So stay away from any Gandhi USED covers as it's a big scam going on.!!!

But looking all screen shot it looks like all  3 sellers id's is from same ebay seller.!!


"10saki88" , "sanu108" and  "405940" .!!


And might be more.!! 


I hope you got my point.


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

Thanks

Ketankumar Patel.
Shill Bidding on Gandhi Stamps

My First year experience in Gandhi Philately.

My 100th blog post.

Gandhi Stamp Collecting is SCAM. My 3 year experience tell me Yes!!

BTW: Want to read all 100 Blog posts in 3 click then use following 3 links.
2009 Blog Posts (19 Blog Posts)
2010 Blog Posts (32 Blog Posts)
2011 Blog Posts (49 Blog Posts & still going..)