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My mind isn't working well today. Is there a name for a stamp (19th century) with tiny stamped initials on the back of it?

www.hipstamp.com/sto ...

This is my diabetic cat OBI! I think, therefore I am - I think! Descartes, sort of!
23 Nov 2022
02:58:56pm

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re: Stamped initials on back of stamps

Making a guess here - the initials of a previous owner or someone who expertized the stamp!!

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re: Stamped initials on back of stamps

Thoughts?

www.hipstamp.com/sto ...

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re: Stamped initials on back of stamps

Looks more like a Dealers mark

www.hipstamp.com/sto ...

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re: Stamped initials on back of stamps

I think we assumed this was what you were referring to.

I have seen this type of marking before and been told that it referenced who the (previous) owner was....or previous dealer who had it in his/her posession at the time.
I have no idea what/who it stands for.
I have heard reference to a dealer/collector listing of markings, but have never seen it.

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re: Stamped initials on back of stamps

Two things by way of reply to your latest query:

1. The letters on the front of the stamp appear to be part a postmark (cancellation) giving the name of the town and the date. I do not know what town, but part of the name appears to be MSDA. The date underneath includes NO which is the usual abbreviation for November.

2. The letters on the back are likely an identifier for the dealer or collector who once either owned or attested the stamp as genuine. I recall reading that in early years of philately, there were some who applied such marks to the back of stamps either to signify ownership (and thus prevent theft) or to signal that the stamp was certified as being genuine (as opposed to a forgery). This practice although not widespread was discontinued, as by leaving a permanent mark on the stamp its value was decreased. I do not recall where I read about this, but it was an article that crossed my attention many years ago.

I hope some of this helps.

J. T. Hurd.

This is my diabetic cat OBI! I think, therefore I am - I think! Descartes, sort of!
27 Nov 2022
08:19:47am

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re: Stamped initials on back of stamps

I'm just curious how many of would pass up a stamp, or expect the value to be decreased, for a stamp marked like this. To me it adds to the "character" of the stamp and gives it more interest to me. To me I would be more interested in the stamp. Would you really pass up the British Guiana 1856 1 Cent Magenta because of it's owner's marks? I think it shows the history of the stamp and if it turns out to be a certifier's mark we now know the stamp is not a fake! Just curious.

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re: Stamped initials on back of stamps

Similar marks are also put on the backs by experts to prove authentication. Next step is to see if it is one. I remember seeing a illustrated list of hundreds along with those which were faked. I can't to find it though.

Tad