Help with Swiss Inverted Overprint

I have two copies of Switzerland Sc # 199. One has an inverted
overprint.

http://members.aol.com/pmats7/swissinvert199.jpg

The Scott catalog for this item makes no mention of an inverted
overprint. However it does refer to a "t=EAte b=EAche" pair. In the
same series of overprints, Scott does list an inverted surcharge for
the 2 1/2c on 3c (Sc # 193)

Question: Do I have parts of a t=EAte b=EAche pair (where the overprint
is inverted on one of the stamps) or do I have an inverted overprint?

Thanks to anyone who can offer any help with this.

George

Hi George,

the Michel Swiss specialised catalog says that stamps ( Mi Nr 161) with
inverted overprint are forgeries

Best Regards

Robert


"George" schrieb im Newsbeitrag
oups.com...
I have two copies of Switzerland Sc # 199. One has an inverted
overprint.

http://members.aol.com/pmats7/swissinvert199.jpg

The Scott catalog for this item makes no mention of an inverted
overprint. However it does refer to a "tête bêche" pair. In the
same series of overprints, Scott does list an inverted surcharge for
the 2 1/2c on 3c (Sc # 193)

Question: Do I have parts of a tête bêche pair (where the overprint
is inverted on one of the stamps) or do I have an inverted overprint?

Thanks to anyone who can offer any help with this.

George

In a recent message "George" wrote:

I have two copies of Switzerland Sc # 199. One has an inverted
overprint.

http://members.aol.com/pmats7/swissinvert199.jpg

The Scott catalog for this item makes no mention of an inverted
overprint. However it does refer to a "tête bêche" pair. In the
same series of overprints, Scott does list an inverted surcharge for
the 2 1/2c on 3c (Sc # 193)

Question: Do I have parts of a tête bêche pair (where the overprint
is inverted on one of the stamps) or do I have an inverted overprint?

Thanks to anyone who can offer any help with this.

George

I have had a play with your two images, turning up the
'brightness' so that the red overprint stands out.

Comparison shows that they are quite different,
particularly the shapes of the 2 and the 0, thus indicating that
at least one is likely to be a forgery

Have a look at http://www.tclayton.demon.co.uk/stamps/pics/swopt.jpg
which will remain there for no more than a week
(I am getting close to my 20 Mb webspace limit)


--
Tony Clayton
Coins of the UK : http://www.coinsoftheuk.info
Sent using RISCOS on an Acorn Strong Arm RiscPC
.... Ancient Greeks made dolphin-killing punishable by death.

George a écrit :
I have two copies of Switzerland Sc # 199. One has an inverted
overprint.

http://members.aol.com/pmats7/swissinvert199.jpg

The Scott catalog for this item makes no mention of an inverted
overprint. However it does refer to a "tête bêche" pair. In the
same series of overprints, Scott does list an inverted surcharge for
the 2 1/2c on 3c (Sc # 193)

Question: Do I have parts of a tête bêche pair (where the overprint
is inverted on one of the stamps) or do I have an inverted overprint?

My Zumstein (Swiss catalog) gives indication of a tete-beche issue with
#151 (yours), made for booklets (TB #K16),
so your stamp must be a half of a Tete-Beche... since the overprint
were printed on sheets already combining Tete-beches...

CV in 1996 : 3 swiss Francs... so it's certainly not a fortune, but at
least, you know where it comes from...

Helen

In a recent message Tony Clayton wrote:

In a recent message "George" wrote:

I have two copies of Switzerland Sc # 199. One has an inverted
overprint.

http://members.aol.com/pmats7/swissinvert199.jpg

The Scott catalog for this item makes no mention of an inverted
overprint. However it does refer to a "tête bêche" pair. In the
same series of overprints, Scott does list an inverted surcharge for
the 2 1/2c on 3c (Sc # 193)

Question: Do I have parts of a tête bêche pair (where the overprint
is inverted on one of the stamps) or do I have an inverted overprint?

Thanks to anyone who can offer any help with this.

George

I have had a play with your two images, turning up the
'brightness' so that the red overprint stands out.

Comparison shows that they are quite different,
particularly the shapes of the 2 and the 0, thus indicating that
at least one is likely to be a forgery

Have a look at http://www.tclayton.demon.co.uk/stamps/pics/swopt.jpg
which will remain there for no more than a week
(I am getting close to my 20 Mb webspace limit)

I should have added that the bars are much longer on the inverted
overprint - I shall change the image so that you can see this more clearly.



--
Tony Clayton
Coins of the UK : http://www.coinsoftheuk.info
Sent using RISCOS on an Acorn Strong Arm RiscPC
.... My hat covers my head.... Just like hair used to!!

rg, Helene and Tony,

Thanks for the research! I am going to conclude the invert is a
forgery made to fool collectors. I will make a special page for it in
my OOPS! collection / exhibit.

Tony, thanks for the effort in modifying the scan to show the
difference in the style and type font of the two overprints. Something
I should have tried. I have used the scanner and Adobe PhotoShop to
clarify cancels by dropping out the stamp color. Should have tried
that with the overprint.

Thanks,

George

Another thing you can do is look at the overprint and cancellation under a
20 power stereo scope. This will tell you if the overprint has been placed
on before or after the cancel. This technique is pretty typical for
verifying used copies of the Kansas/Nebraska US overprints. Mint copies
are verified by the gum on this issue, but the used copies having no gum are
difficult to tell. With a 20X magnification it is a simple matter.
HTH

Wolf-==-


"George" wrote in message
oups.com...
I have two copies of Switzerland Sc # 199. One has an inverted
overprint.

http://members.aol.com/pmats7/swissinvert199.jpg

The Scott catalog for this item makes no mention of an inverted
overprint. However it does refer to a "tête bêche" pair. In the
same series of overprints, Scott does list an inverted surcharge for
the 2 1/2c on 3c (Sc # 193)

Question: Do I have parts of a tête bêche pair (where the overprint
is inverted on one of the stamps) or do I have an inverted overprint?

Thanks to anyone who can offer any help with this.

George

In a recent message "George" wrote:

rg, Helene and Tony,

Thanks for the research! I am going to conclude the invert is a
forgery made to fool collectors. I will make a special page for it in
my OOPS! collection / exhibit.

Tony, thanks for the effort in modifying the scan to show the
difference in the style and type font of the two overprints. Something
I should have tried. I have used the scanner and Adobe PhotoShop to
clarify cancels by dropping out the stamp color. Should have tried
that with the overprint.

Thanks,

George


I find this technique extremely useful in trying to sort
forged overprints from genuine ones in the Italy/Trieste series.

A good example is the Trieste Philatelic Congress issue of 1922.
This is an issue where to pay good money for stamps without a
valid certificate is downright foolhardy.

A set recently came up on Ebay (Item 5590365769). Even without
a good scan this was obvious false as the overall height of the overprint
was a few mm higher than on a genuine one, and this can be seen against
the design of the stamps underneath.

I hoped I might get this at a low price because of this, but
no - someone thinks he has an expensive 'bargain' at $92.

For reference, a genuine set (Raybaudi certificate) is illustrated at

http://www.tclayton.demon.co.uk/stamps/pics/tpc.jpg

Incidentally, the 25c has the even more scarce variety with the third
line displaced to the right so that the left I is in line with the
I in the line above.

--
Tony Clayton
Coins of the UK : http://www.coinsoftheuk.info
Sent using RISCOS on an Acorn Strong Arm RiscPC
.... Street Fighter II. Four disk game of ultimate boredom.