U.S. single line watermarks can some times be a challenge, as can finding watermarks on stamps on cover/piece.
I find colored paper, especially red, hard to watermark using Clarity. Interestingly, I got so frustrated with a stamp on red paper that I thought of holding it up a strong light and rotating it. I found the watermark that way! Sometimes the easier solution is the cheapest. But alas, it doesn't work for all colored paper.
Another difficulty comes up with obliterator cancels, such as found on many QV issues; they can be so heavy that it is almost impossible to WM the stamp.
Thank you both - I will look up what US stamps have single line watermarks, and will take a look at your other suggestions.
I am not sure if I can fix the issues with heavily cancelled stamps nor stamps with heavy hinge marks, which I find equally hard to watermark. But I will see how the new method works.
Thanks!
Hi Suzi;
Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico as some of the definitives are rather small. So they only show a small area of the watermark. In addition some were printed using several watermarks, so not just two to pick from.
Just thinkin'....
TuskenRaider
Yellow Washington-Franklin issues can be difficult, especially the earlier issues.
Webpaper picked what I consider to be one of the toughest (yellow W-Fs). Add to that a heavy cancel, and you have the recipe for futility.
Take a look at
http://retroreveal.org/
(Modified by Moderator on 2016-01-18 21:43:35)
I think the hardest US stamp to see the watermark on is a used 381. That is a single-line watermarked 10c yellow Washington 3rd Bureau. There is a double-line watermark version (338) that is easier to spot. Fortunately there is no un-watermarked version of that stamp because sometimes I just can't see ANYTHING, especially on a used stamp, but even mint is tough.
I have a mint 381 I have attempted to find the watermark on no less than half a dozen times, always to no avail. Used copies of 381 are only $2.00, so it's not expensive to practice on.
Lars
Pedroguy,
I tried that and came up empty using maximum resolution on my scanner and exporting as TIF. Is a photo or scan better? I used a black background. Would white be better?
Lars
One year ago today, I posted the following information regarding finding watermarks. Curious to know if anyone has tried using this method, and if so did it help?
"I agree with everyone re; finding the WM on the colored W/F. Following is an idea I picked up at a seminar during the last World Stamp Show in Washington.
Try using a colored filter. If you’re really serious about this, you may want to try a photographic or scientific supply house to get filters specifically designed to remove light of a specific color. I obtained a complete set of colored filter samples from a store that sells lighting for stage shows. Alternately, colored cellophane wrapping paper, for example the kind that fruit baskets come in, often does the job. Either way, you will want to use a filter of the complimentary color of the stamp in question. For example, you would want to use a blue filter for the difficult orange stamp, a purple filter for the yellow stamp, and a red to reddish violet filter for the olive green stamp. The filter should be translucent enough to let plenty of light through and yet block the color of light reflected from the ink of the stamp.
This doesn't work every time, but I have been able to find both the single and double line WM on the Yellow, Orange, and Green W/F. Another way, but a little more expensive is to obtain a block of those stamps. The WM is easier to find. And it goes without saying if used, the lighter the postmark the better."
Mel
I've also found that Yellow stamps are the hardest to see watermarks and not just U.S. Right after the stamp is placed in fluid the watermark shows the best and tends to fade with time. When checking watermarks from countries such as Brazil that have many similar types, I use the scanner. Place some fluid on the scanner glass then put the stamp face up in the fluid and a Black plastic card on top of stamp and scan. It will often show difficult watermarks better than looking at the stamp in tray. For comparing different watermarks it is the best way I've found. I would think using a filter may add even more clarity
definately U.S. single line watermarks as sometimes only a small part of the watermark is actually on the stamp, hard to see especially on cancelled stamps
I am trying to work out a new watermark detector and so far I have it working on my Australian states stamps.
I pretty much only have British Commonwealth stamps - but what are some stamps that you guys consider hard to watermark and would use something like a signoscope for or some other special tool? or that at least would be a good test for a new watermarking tool?
I am trying to come up with something simple that would be cheaper than a signoscope and eliminate toxic, flammable chemicals.
re: Working on a new way to see watermarks- what are some hard to watermark stamps?
U.S. single line watermarks can some times be a challenge, as can finding watermarks on stamps on cover/piece.
re: Working on a new way to see watermarks- what are some hard to watermark stamps?
I find colored paper, especially red, hard to watermark using Clarity. Interestingly, I got so frustrated with a stamp on red paper that I thought of holding it up a strong light and rotating it. I found the watermark that way! Sometimes the easier solution is the cheapest. But alas, it doesn't work for all colored paper.
Another difficulty comes up with obliterator cancels, such as found on many QV issues; they can be so heavy that it is almost impossible to WM the stamp.
re: Working on a new way to see watermarks- what are some hard to watermark stamps?
Thank you both - I will look up what US stamps have single line watermarks, and will take a look at your other suggestions.
I am not sure if I can fix the issues with heavily cancelled stamps nor stamps with heavy hinge marks, which I find equally hard to watermark. But I will see how the new method works.
Thanks!
re: Working on a new way to see watermarks- what are some hard to watermark stamps?
Hi Suzi;
Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico as some of the definitives are rather small. So they only show a small area of the watermark. In addition some were printed using several watermarks, so not just two to pick from.
Just thinkin'....
TuskenRaider
re: Working on a new way to see watermarks- what are some hard to watermark stamps?
Yellow Washington-Franklin issues can be difficult, especially the earlier issues.
re: Working on a new way to see watermarks- what are some hard to watermark stamps?
Webpaper picked what I consider to be one of the toughest (yellow W-Fs). Add to that a heavy cancel, and you have the recipe for futility.
re: Working on a new way to see watermarks- what are some hard to watermark stamps?
Take a look at
http://retroreveal.org/
(Modified by Moderator on 2016-01-18 21:43:35)
re: Working on a new way to see watermarks- what are some hard to watermark stamps?
I think the hardest US stamp to see the watermark on is a used 381. That is a single-line watermarked 10c yellow Washington 3rd Bureau. There is a double-line watermark version (338) that is easier to spot. Fortunately there is no un-watermarked version of that stamp because sometimes I just can't see ANYTHING, especially on a used stamp, but even mint is tough.
I have a mint 381 I have attempted to find the watermark on no less than half a dozen times, always to no avail. Used copies of 381 are only $2.00, so it's not expensive to practice on.
Lars
re: Working on a new way to see watermarks- what are some hard to watermark stamps?
Pedroguy,
I tried that and came up empty using maximum resolution on my scanner and exporting as TIF. Is a photo or scan better? I used a black background. Would white be better?
Lars
re: Working on a new way to see watermarks- what are some hard to watermark stamps?
One year ago today, I posted the following information regarding finding watermarks. Curious to know if anyone has tried using this method, and if so did it help?
"I agree with everyone re; finding the WM on the colored W/F. Following is an idea I picked up at a seminar during the last World Stamp Show in Washington.
Try using a colored filter. If you’re really serious about this, you may want to try a photographic or scientific supply house to get filters specifically designed to remove light of a specific color. I obtained a complete set of colored filter samples from a store that sells lighting for stage shows. Alternately, colored cellophane wrapping paper, for example the kind that fruit baskets come in, often does the job. Either way, you will want to use a filter of the complimentary color of the stamp in question. For example, you would want to use a blue filter for the difficult orange stamp, a purple filter for the yellow stamp, and a red to reddish violet filter for the olive green stamp. The filter should be translucent enough to let plenty of light through and yet block the color of light reflected from the ink of the stamp.
This doesn't work every time, but I have been able to find both the single and double line WM on the Yellow, Orange, and Green W/F. Another way, but a little more expensive is to obtain a block of those stamps. The WM is easier to find. And it goes without saying if used, the lighter the postmark the better."
Mel
re: Working on a new way to see watermarks- what are some hard to watermark stamps?
I've also found that Yellow stamps are the hardest to see watermarks and not just U.S. Right after the stamp is placed in fluid the watermark shows the best and tends to fade with time. When checking watermarks from countries such as Brazil that have many similar types, I use the scanner. Place some fluid on the scanner glass then put the stamp face up in the fluid and a Black plastic card on top of stamp and scan. It will often show difficult watermarks better than looking at the stamp in tray. For comparing different watermarks it is the best way I've found. I would think using a filter may add even more clarity
re: Working on a new way to see watermarks- what are some hard to watermark stamps?
definately U.S. single line watermarks as sometimes only a small part of the watermark is actually on the stamp, hard to see especially on cancelled stamps