| . | |||
|
|
|
|
|
| . | |||
Iran Philatelic Study Circle (IPSC)
Is It Genuine?
Distinguishing Genuine Iranian Philatelic Material
An Introduction
| WARNING:
Forged, reprinted, and canceled-to-order material is found
in the philatelic marketplace for virtually all unoverprinted stamps issued
prior to 1925 and all overprinted and surcharged stamps issued prior to 1928
(plus some issued later). In many cases, the existence of nongenuine material
passing as genuine has completely saturated the marketplace. Most of these are
fairly easy to distinguish; others less so.
This means that no one may offer such Iranian material as genuine in good faith without first applying special knowledge in addition to what may be available in the major philatelic catalogues. |
|
| The following information presents generally accepted methods of distinguishing genuine Iranian philatelic material. It should support reasonably dependable evaluation of most material and, in most cases, allow sellers to offer such material as probably genuine in good faith if it meets the following descriptions of genuine examples. | |
|
Contents of this
Resource. How to use this
resource See also related information on the top six scams of Iranian material in the philatelic market place. |
|
|
This resource divides the philatelic material of Iran into four categories. Of these, three categories require some heightened scrutiny or examination of the material before anyone may presume the material as genuine.
| "Heightened scrutiny" means | The application of specialized or expert
philatelic knowledge, care, and skill beyond that generally available to
philatelists not having special knowledge of Iranian philately. These three levels of heightened scrutiny are described below. All other material falls into a fourth category that only requires the application of general philatelic knowledge, care, and skill before a person may presume the material as probably genuine. Here, the use of a current major philatelic catalogue will probably be enough. |
| "Authentication" in this resource means | A reliable opinion from a person with the
necessary philatelic knowledge, care, and skill to evaluate the probable
genuineness of the material in question. To qualify as sufficient for the purposes of this resource, "authentication" (1) may be verbal or written, (2) may be made by the seller or by a third person at the request of the seller prior to the offer for sale, and (3) must be presented by a seller when requested by a potential buyer or buyer and must be verifiable by persons examining the propriety of the transaction after the fact. |
| "Certification" in this resource means | A written expert opinion by a recognized
expert on Iranian philately. Items with written opinions issued more than 10 years ago may require recertification. |
| The three levels of heightened scrutiny: Each of the following three notices used in this resource indicates the requirement to apply a progressively rigorous level of specialized or expert philatelic knowledge, care, and skill before a person may presume that the material probably is genuine. |
|
| Level 1: ! Authentication required means |
Specialized knowledge is required of Iranian
philately. Careful examination of the material in question using the information provided in this resource will probably allow a person with general philatelic knowledge, care, and skill to determine whether the material is probably genuine or not. This notice is used when These tests are designed to catch the primary examples of bad material so far identified but may not catch new or subtle productions not already brought to light in the Iran Philatelic Study Circle Catalogue or Bulletin. |
| Level 2: !! Certification strongly recommended means |
Highly specialized philatelic knowledge is
required and direct comparison with known genuine material may be
necessary. Use of the information in this resource may be sufficient to allow a person to presume that the material is probably genuine if that person has well-developed philatelic examination skills. Much of the material in this category commands high prices if genuine. This fact can encourage the ongoing production of increasingly subtle forgeries not described in this resource. This means that a presumption of genuineness is both more difficult and carries a higher financial risk. A claim of genuineness for material in this category carries with
it, by necessity, the implied claims For all these reasons, sellers must never offer this material as genuine unless first they exercise such required highly specialized knowledge, care, and skill or obtain a reliable opinion from another party who does. |
| Level 3: !!! Certification required means |
The written opinion of a recognized expert
is probably essential. Here, the significant presence of bad material in the philatelic marketplace, the increased difficulty of distinguishing the genuine, and the high prices commanded by genuine material all mean that sellers should obtain written certified opinions from generally recognized experts prior to offering material as probably genuine. |
|
|
This resource uses the following definitions to describe the genuineness of material.
| Forgery means | An item (1) made by a private party, (2) made to resemble or pass as a genuine postal item, (3) not authorized by postal officials, and (4) if a stamp or postal stationary item, not produced from the same plates used to produce the original printing. Forgery is also known as counterfeit. Postal forgery means a forgery intended or used to defraud the post office by passing in the post. |
| Reprint means | A printing (1) authorized by postal officials, (2) not intended or used for postal purposes, and (3) produced from the same plates or clichés used to produce the original printing. Official reprint means a reprint sold by postal officials. Unofficial reprint means a reprint sold only by private parties and not sold by postal officials. |
| Imitation means | A printing (1) authorized by postal officials, (2) not intended or used for postal purposes, and (3) not produced from the same plates used to produce the original printing. Official imitation means a reprint sold by postal officials. Unofficial imitation means a reprint sold only by private parties and not sold by postal officials. Facsimile means a copies made to represent a genuine item (such as a catalogue illustration) but is not meant to deceive as do forgeries. Facsimiles may be produced by either postal officials or private persons. |
| Bogus means | A stamp or other postal item
that (1) appears as though it might have been issued or produced by an official postal authority but, in fact, was not and (2) does not resemble a genuine item as would a forgery. A fantasy is a production of a non-exisitant postal authority. |
| Cancelled-to-order (cto) means | A genuine item, reprint,
imitation, or forgery with an obliteration not received in the
course of passing through the post or fulfilling other legitimate postal
operations.
CTO may be the result of |
|
|
(To be added later.)
|
|