Madagascar Gandhi Stamps - Fake FDC of Mahatma Gandhi Stamps sheet.!! - Is it Stamp Investment or Scam.?

12/16/2011

By Ketankumar Patel.

Hello Gandhi Collectors,

This is our 200th blog post on Gandhi Philately Study Circle.!! Thanks to all our blog readers and special thanks to Mrs. Jeevan Jyoti of RAINBOW STAMP CLUB for referring our blog to all her blog readers by adding us in "favorite sites and blog". This is a great honored for us to be on her famous philatelic blog.

Today I am happy to announce that 1000 readers (and growing)  were referred from her blog   rainbowstampclub.blogspot.com. which is  3rd most referreing sites to our blog after google.in and google.com.

 But I think it is #1 site as we are on her favorite blog since last 8-9 months only, while google is referring since starting of this blog.!!

The Republic of Madagascar  is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa. The nation comprises the island of Madagascar (at 587,041 square kilometres (226,658 sq mi), the fourth-largest island in the world).

In 1998 along with other African and South American Countries (click link to see 1998 Gandhi stamps) issued two Mahatma Gandhi Stamp sheet. Don't you think this Madagascar stamp and sheets are similar to other countries which issued Gandhi Stamps in 1998!!

 Now look at following screen shot from ebay india auction site and you will be amazed if you are new to Gandhi stamp collection. If you are experience collector then you know all kind of FAKE material available on ebay and delcampe.

Even though stamp sheet were issued in 1998 FDC has CDS of 10-Aug-1999.!!!


I verified this on 2 most famous Gandhi Stamps and Philately website of Dr. Rajan and Nikhil Mundra and it is indeed 1998. http://gandhistamps.com/Madagascar.htm      http://topicalphilately.com/gandhi/

Yes there was another miniature sheet  issued in 1999 with other 7 famous people and Mahatma Gandhi. This sheet also has Diana, Jacqueline Kennedy, General Pershing, General Moshe Dayan and others.

Following is the 1999 Miniature sheet with Mahatma Gandhi stamp.

Now if you compare this stamp with FDC it's different. So now think what's going on in Gandhi Philately. If you think this is not right information then please let me know so I can modify this blog post.

I think all 1998 Gandhi FDC are questionable so do your research before you buy it. It's ugly out there.!!

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.!!)


After reading both blog post don't you think similar pattern for making FDC or Max Card in Gandhi Philately.!!

Is it investment or scam ? !! 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!!

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

Thanks

Ketankumar Patel.
http://gandhistampsclub.blogspot.com

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!!

Grenada Gandhi Stamps : Which Gandhi Stamps you need to avoid.?

12/9/2011

By Ketankumar Patel.

Hello Gandhi Collectors,

Grenada is an island country consisting of the island of Grenada and six smaller islands at the southern end of the Grenadines in the southeastern Caribbean Sea. Grenada is located northwest of Trinidad and Tobago, northeast of Venezuela, and southwest of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.  

It is 203rd in world by size of  344 square kilometres (133 sq mi), with an estimated population of 110,000. Its capital is St. George's. 

In 1969 Grenada issued four color full Gandhi Stamps of 6 cents,15 cents, 25 cents and 1$ (East Caribbean dollar) in a miniature sheet. I think (not sure) this stamps are still valid as currency was never revalued or discontinued. 

This stamps and miniature sheet is widely available under $2. (US dollar).

In 1986, Grenada issued another Gandhi stamp along with MLK stamps to celebrate Disarmament week and International Year of Peace.

This stamp is also available under $2.!!

In 1998 Gandhi Miniature Sheets were issued. Don't know why this many stamps sheet from such a small country.

FDC of above miniature sheet are also available on internet public auction sites which are questionable. Needs to do more research before you buy it. To me it don't look like officially used FDC.

As miniature sheet having 4 Gandhi stamps did not fit on envelope so they affix it inverted.!!!

To me it looks that 1998 miniature sheet were just issued to make money like other Gandhi material available to collectors as popularity in Gandhi thematic collection increased after 1990 and printers and dealers never missed this chance.!!

This stamp sheet are available somewhere between 10-12$, but I don't think it will increasevalue of your collection. So now it's upto you what you need to do.


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!!

Sierra Leone Gandhi Stamps sheets : How stamp printers and stamp dealers make money!!

Hello Gandhi Collectors,

In 1998, Sierra Leone honored Mahatma Gandhi by issuing 2 stamp sheet of him.

Sierra Leone is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest.

After researching more about Sierra Leone I was surprised that even though Civil war was going on they came out with Mahatma Gandhi Stamp and Miniature sheet.!!

Between 1991 and 2002 the Sierra Leone Civil War devastated the country leaving more than 50,000 people dead, much of the country's infrastructure destroyed, and over two million people displaced in neighbouring countries; mainly to Guinea, which was home to more than six hundred thousand Sierra Leonean refugees.

The war was resolved in 2002 and restored the civilian government elected in 1996. On January 18, 2002 President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah declared the civil war officially over. Since then the country has re-established a functioning democracy.

So not sure who printed this stamp sheet. As there was no official goverment between 1996 - 2002 who gave permission to print this stamp.!!!!

I am also surprised after looking FDC of this sheet.!! To me this FDC looks like nothing but DIY (Do It Yourself).

Seller of this FDC is "Phillindia01" and selling for $14.!!

Now after all this stuff you can find OVPT stamp sheet of this.!!! Same way like Cameroun and  Togo stamps.!!

According to me this stamp sheets never made it through Sierra Leone.!! It is printed outside Sierra Leone and started selling on ebay and delcampe.!!!

Buyer beware of this kind of activity and before you  buy think that this stamps and sheets have any value in Philately.?  I don't think so. It only looks good in your album.!!  (BTW : I have in my album!!)

To me it looks like printers/dealers/reseller are making money on this.!!!  because printer and dealer knows Who from Sierra Leone is going to complain about this and if they want to then where they will complain.!!

Sierra Leone is the poorest country in the world, now you think do they need this stamp sheet ?

Do you think how many people can afford this stamp sheet?

Do you think this is specially printed for collectors like me and you.!!!?

Now do you think this will be value in philatelic collection.?

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!!

Ghana Gandhi Stamps - Does value of Gandhi FDC makes sense.!!

Hello Gandhi Collectors,

Ghana is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south.

The Gold Coast achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1957 and the name Ghana was chosen for the new nation to reflect the ancient Empire of Ghana, which once extended throughout much of west Africa.

On December 24, 1998 Ghana issued 4 stamps(each 2000 Ghana Cedi) Miniature sheet  of Mahatma Gandhi with pictures of his famous Dandi March (Salt Satyagraha) and various age portrait. Also this sheet has quotes of Mahatma Gandhi.  (Not sure why they issued in  December instead of October 2nd !!). Also Ghana  issued another Miniature sheet of Mahatma Gandhi value 5500 Ghana Cedi. 

So total 5 stamps (2 Miniature sheet) were  issued in 1998 by Ghana.

In September 2011, FDC of this Miniature sheet was sold for only $1.29.!! 

Seller : stamp_bay (USA)

Buyer : adityamootha (India)

Date : Sep 3, 2011

Price Sold :- $ 1.29 (less than a $2!!)

To me all 1998 Gandhi FDC from African and South American countries looks like questionable (more than 10-15 countires.!!!!)

It's surprising to see this kind of price for Gandhi Philatelic material.

I am not sure how much catalog value of this FDC but I think $1.29 is under stamp catalog value.!!

But I am sure it is selling under face value, as in 1998 $1=2300C. So above miniature sheet, in 1998 was somewhere between $4-5 when it was sold in Ghana.!!

What a decline.!!

 The Ghana cedi was introduced on 3 July 2007 and is equal to 10,000 old cedis. It was the highest-valued currency unit issued by sovereign countries in Africa in 2007

1 US Dollar = 1.62689 Ghanaian New Cedi   (16000 Old Cedi)

Following is another miniature sheet. Not sure about current pricing but I will update in future.

So looking to all this, it seems to me that Gandhi Stamps are not for investment as $4 invested in 1998 is currently getting only $1.!! which is 300% decline in value.

Thanks

Ketankumar Patel.
http://gandhistampsclub.blogspot.com