 SPECIALIST IN FINE GREAT BRITAIN LINE-ENGRAVED |
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SPECIALIST IN FINE GREAT BRITAIN LINE-ENGRAVED |
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This page is designed to help you find your way quickly and easily around the site, and to enjoy your visit. I have also included some general information on other aspects of the hobby that may be useful, and information on other services that I provide...
FEEDBACK
We are constantly striving to make this Website user-friendly. We therefore
welcome honest and constructive Feedback, and a few moments of your time would
be greatly appreciated…
THE WEBSITE: NAVIGATION:
From the 'HOME' page, move to any other page by clicking on any of the top
buttons (e.g. 'FAIRS', 'STAMPS' etc). These are designed to provide quick and
easy access to all parts of the site. You can also of course use the 'BACK'
arrow ç on your own browser tool-bar to find your
way back to a page you wish to revisit.
THE 'STAMPS' PAGES
All stamps listed have scans attached, just click on the image in the left-hand
column. The reference number is my code for different categories, e.g. 'B' = 1d
Blacks, 'BL' = 2d Blues, 'C' = Covers, 'Ri' = 1d Reds Imperforate (cancelled
with 1844 numerals), 'RM' = 1d Reds cancelled with Maltese Cross, 'RP' = 1d Reds
Perforate (1d 'Stars'), etc. - most are self-explanatory. Each item reference is
unique, but it would shorten my search for the ordered items if you could give
additional information when ordering, e.g. C10 Plate 45 'AA' etc…
**IMPORTANT:**
Having viewed a picture, use the 'BACK' arrow ç
on your browser to return to the page you were viewing. DO NOT click on the X in the top right corner of the browser - you will close the site
completely!
GENERAL: ACCESSORIES
We do not stock accessories ourselves, though we can obtain specific items on
request. However these are readily available from the following sources:
LITERATURE
There is a vast body of literature and other related material used by both
dealers and collectors according to their needs and particular areas of interest…
PLATING
Plating is an esoteric art (some would say a science!), easy to some, utterly unfathomable to others! The following list is a brief but possibly useful list of those authorities which I use:
This is a far from exhaustive list, and I hesitate to advise on which
are more or less useful.
For example, some find the Fisher/Brown method of plating by measuring
check-letter positions difficult and unreliable. However, I use it all the time
- though invariably check options whenever possible against other aids.
My first 'cross-check' is the NPM Imprimatur photographs, though photographs of famous
collections are also helpful. The Statham books are good for confirming the
presence or otherwise of other features such as unlisted slightly double
letters, die dots, guide-lines, guide dots, corner frame-line extensions, minor
marks etc.
Similarly, some people find the half-tone photographs of the Wiggins'
collections in 'The Plating of Alphabet II' and 'The Plating of Alphabet III'
difficult to use. However, I use them all the time: continuous usage accustoms
the eyes to the minor detail that can be discerned. Having said that, I also confirm my determination by reference to the Imprimatur photographs, and to Wiggins' 'The Postage
Stamps of Great Britain Part 2' and Tonna's 'Penny Red Stars', which give
details of marks often not visible on the half-tones nor sometimes on the Imprimaturs.
PLATING AIDS
Plating Aid CDs are available for the following groups of plates at the modest cost of £35 each - but please note the change of numbers, adopted because of the availability of the latest CD1...
CD1: Plating the Penny Black and Twopenny Blue...NOW AVAILABLE...see below...
CD2: Die I Alphabet I, Plates 12 - 45 (the Maltese Cross plates)
CD3: Die I Alphabet I, Plates 46 - 90
CD4: Die I Alphabet I, Plates 91 - 131
CD5: Die I Alphabet II, Plates 132 - 177
CD6: Die I Alphabet II, (perforated C1/C2) Plates 155, 157, 162 - R6
CD7a:'The Plating of Alphabet II', A Reconstruction of Wiggins' work using stamps from Plates 1 - 21 - Wiggins' originals where available. Reduced Price: £25.00
CD7b: Die II Alphabet II (perforated C3/C6) Plates 1 - 21
These CDs are in essence reconstructions by lettering of each group of plates, and include a considerable number of scans of stamps identified from the difficult 'missing imprimatur' positions:
The above is a sample page ('TL' from CD3), correct as of 10 January 2011 - click on picture for full size version. It must be appreciated that this is an ongoing work: new stamps from the missing imprimatur positions are constantly being identified. If you have already bought a copy of one of these CDs, and wish to have the most recent update, please return the original CD, complete with its dated label, and an updated version will be supplied for £10 only. However, it is suggested to you leave it for a year or two before asking for the update! Please also note that there are PIRATED VERSIONS available on Ebay for much less - these are however several years out-of-date, so BUYER BEWARE!
This is a sample page from the NEW CD1 - click on the picture for a full size version...
Please contact me direct for further details - see link below...
The following links may also be found helpful:
Allan Oliver's site showing illustrations of the Imprimatur Sheets, with illustrations of missing imprimaturs:
PLATING AND CONSULTANCY SERVICE
I also provide a plating service for those who prefer not to go the D.I.Y. route - I charge £1.25 per stamp successfully plated (no charge for failures). I prefer to plate from the actual stamps, though in exceptional circumstances I will attempt to plate from good quality scans - please ask me for more details. I should caution however that this is not a return-of-post service! It takes approximately a month per 100 stamps, as I have to fit it in between other commitments. I also advise on issues/shades or other specialist determinations, but please note that I do not provide certificates: should I consider that a good certificate from one of the recognised expertising bodies would be advisable, or indeed likely, I will advise accordingly. Please Email me in advance if you wish to avail yourself of either of these services...see CONTACT below...
VALUATIONS
I carry out valuations of single GB Line-Engraved items, small Line-Engraved lots or GB collections with a significant Line-Engraved content. This service is free if I purchase as a result. If a purchase/sale is not involved, I charge £30 per hour, plus 40p a mile travelling, plus subsistence/overnight accommodation expenses if appropriate. If a WRITTEN VALUATION REPORT for INSURANCE or PROBATE is required, the charge is an ADDITIONAL £50.00. If you wish to avail yourself of this service, go to CONTACT below...
GIFT TOKENS
As a recent introduction, I now provide GIFT TOKENS for spending with me, valid indefinitely, for the additional price of normal First Class Postage and Packing (£0.55), in units of £25.00, £50.00 or £100.00, or any combination of these to whatever sum you wish to give. The ideal gift for Christmas, Birthday (or any other excuse you like to name!) - just let your loved ones know! Simply order and pay in the normal way through 'ORDERING' - or give me a ring...
PLATE 5: As many of my regular customers know, I am a specialist in Plate 5 of the 1d Black (and related Red-brown printings). I have recently completed a major review of the plate, which is available on this link PLATE 5 REVIEW for anybody who is interested...but this is currently undergoing a further revision as a result of recent new discoveries! Please note that all pictures are thumbnails - for larger pics, click on the thumbnail for a 'pop-up' full size picture...
POSTAL HISTORY
Those who are interested in Postal History or Cancellations have their own discrete body of relevant literature. Some publications which may be found useful (in no
particular order) are:
Dr J. T. Whitney: 'Collect British Postmarks'; a good basic priced guide...
James A. Mackay: 'Postmarks of England and Wales'; and several
other authoritative guides;
R. M. Willcocks and B. Jay: 'The Postal History of Great Britain and Ireland'; and several other authoritative guides;
R. C. Alcock and F. C. Holland: 'The Maltese Cross Cancellations
of the United Kingdom';
R. Danzig and D. Goldsmith: 'The Cancellations of the 1841 Penny Red';
John Parmenter: several useful publications, including: 'Barred Numeral Cancellations', 'London's Postal History', 'GB Used Abroad' etc;
Richard Arundel: 'Spoon Cancels 1853-1870' and 'Irish Spoon Cancels';
C. W. Meredith: 'Scots Local Cancellations';
R. C. Alcock and F. C. Holland: 'Scots Local Cancellations'….etc, etc… The list is endless!
To Obtain Literature, the following links may be found to be helpful:
To obtain Imprimatur photographs, contact: Postal Heritage Trust: Email: paul.a.stevenson@postalheritage.org.uk. They cost £31.50 each Post Paid to anywhere in the world. Ask for black and white photographs - colour photographs deteriorate in time.
In addition, much literature becomes available from time to time at various philatelic auctions. It should however be noted that many critical publications are out of print or otherwise in short supply, are hard to obtain, and often very expensive. The NPM Imprimatur photographs (see above) are not exactly cheap - but some occasionally come up at auction….
INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION
For information, chat and discussion on all matters from trivial to major,
regarding GB Line-engraved (and other issues on occasion), the Mulready group
has many members, both dealers and collectors, from beginners to expert, and
provides members with access to archives of scans, including Imprimatur photos -
and on occasion some learned and helpful discussion! Click on this link to sign
on: www.mulready@yahoogroups.com
I hope that I will be able to supply your needs. However, in the event that
you do not see what you want in my Website listings, please try my current 
listings: eBay/stamps/GB/Victoria/Other
. My eBay ID is 'sturstamps...or you can use the link at the bottom of every page of this Website...
Other Recommended Websites:
General Sites:
For information on all aspects of GB Philately, including lists of Specialist Dealers, visit the site of the
Great Britain Philatelic Society
,or that of the
Stamp Web Sites:
For other Victorian issues (with emphasis on Surface-Printed):
Investment:
If you are interested in purchasing stamps for investment purposes:
Auction Web Sites:
For help with selling your own items, try an eBay Sellers Assistant at:
Postcard Web Sites:
If you collect either old or modern postcards, try:
If you have managed to plough through all the above verbiage, and still haven't found an answer, firstly award yourself a GOLD STAR for effort and application (!), and then by all means...
Please contact me at:
Martin Jenkinson
Sturminster Stamps
PO Box 4738
Sturminster Newton
Dorset
DT10 2BN, UK
Telephone: 0044 (0)1258 472720
Email: sturstamps@aol.com
I hope that this relatively brief outline is of assistance. Although it does not set out to be an exhaustive 'HELP' menu (it would be a book!), it is based on our experience of the sort of questions most frequently asked. It will be kept under review for future additions as required. If there is anything else you would like to know, please go to 'Feedback'.
Martin Jenkinson.
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