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Cashing in on AAT's popularity? Surely not!
Uh huh. Nothing is sacred. The following items have been offered on eBay in recent times. This first one is an overprinted "Poles and Glaciers" miniature sheet for a China (2009?) Stamp Show (eBay item no. 350202234815 - seller "sydneystampcentre"). Absolutely nothing wrong with that - quite lovely actually. However, the "Kevvy Koala" postmark is a major problem. It is not, repeat NOT, an official Australia Post postmark. The very fact that this appears to be one is quite simply wrong. You could never display this in any philatelic show and advertise it for re-sale as a genuine Australia Post postmark! It was a cool US$15 "BIN". It didn't sell first time round.
To add insult to injury, this item (eBay item No. #350202234046) was also on offer from the same seller:
Absolutely nothing wrong with the cover or the postmarks cancelling the stamps (apologies for the poor quality of the graphic - best I could do). However, the cachet used was "licensed" to the Mawson's Hut Foundation (have a look at the "real thing" here): for the expedition earlier this year. Its adaptation in the case of the eBay item shown above is a direct lift of the design with just the date deleted. For it then to be advertised on eBay as "Australia Special Antarctic Cape Denison Cover" gives the impression to someone who doesn't know what is and is not genuine, the impression that indeed it must be genuine. The implication that the postmark was modified and applied to the cover as a cachet at Cape Denison is blatantly false. Australia Post did not give permission for their postmark to be adapted in this way. In fact, Australia Post says No permission was given to any other party to make any change to the cachet and use it for another purpose, or on any other cover in its amended state. So, the use of this postmark in this way is downright unethical, pure and simple. This was on offer for a cool US$9.50.
Once again we say, caveat emptor. If you've got any doubts at all about something you see on eBay or at any other location, contact us or let Australia Post know.
One of these days, these people may wake up to themselves. The pity of it is that "sydneystampcentre" has a lot of excellent genuine philatelic items on offer ... why does he/she need to do this?
18 June 2009
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This is a great-looking car series - are these OK?
Well, if you don't mind collecting items that have no philatelic value whatsoever, then perhaps they are. You certainly could not use these examples in a philatelic exhibition. There is also another important item to note — and that is the difference between a genuine Australia Post philatelic item and "Cinderella" postage. Read on.
Consider the following, advertised on eBay as : Classic Cars - 1955 Chrysler Imperial - Post Cover (Item #160335357228)
This is indeed a genuine Australia Post PSE. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the cachet. If you like cars, I'm sure it's highly desirable. What I take issue with is that the postmark is not genuine. It has never been approved by Australia Post. It could never be shown in any serious philatelic circles, nor should it have a place in any serious philatelic collection. The next one (on eBay as Classic Cars - 1964 Ford Falcon - Post Cover Item #160335367228) is also similar.
Same thing applies here. Bogus postmark. However, the next item item is purely Cinderella, and all the description does is repeat the heading, which is CARS - 1968 Mustang Shelby GT-500 - Postal Cover Item #160335334480:
There is nothing to indicate that the postage stamp is genuine or not ... well, perhaps arguable in that if it looks like a postage stamp and sticks like a postage stamp, it must, ergo, be a postage stamp! But, there is nothing to tell prospective buyers — especially philatelic neophytes — that it's not a genuine philatelic article. If people (especially those "newbies" among us) buy it knowing it's a Cinderella, all power to them.
So yes, you still need to keep your eyes peeled. A comment was made to me that these items are "part of auction lots, from reputable philatelic auction houses AND various APTA & SCDDA members". While auction houses can't vet every single item in boxes that come through their doors, the shame and blame rests with the so-called "honoured members of APTA & SCDDA" who manufacture them in the first place (if indeed it is them who are doing it), and those who continue the cycle by on-selling.
As always ... caveat emptor.
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Are there any fake postmarks from the 2008 Beijing Olympics?
Unfortunately, the answer is a resounding "yes". And while I'm not going to get into the definition of "fake", the fact that this is very definitely a postmark / cachet / call it what you will, on the Stephanie Rice stamps that is not authorised by Australia Post, that's enough for me. If you deliberately set out to buy items that you can never display in a recognised philatelic exhibition, that's up to you!
Simply be assured that the red rectangle cancelling the stamps on this item is an unauthorised postal marking appearing on a lawful Australia Post stamp. Caveat Emptor.
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What about the Aussie Tennis Open coming up? Anything there?
Again, unfortunately, you betcha! All of the following items were available on eBay through "sydneystampcentre" on 27/11/08 with 1d 17h 41m to go. Each was priced AU$9.27 and each had a descriptive "Nice item" explaining them. The following are the 15 item numbers and all are a variation on the graphic below ...
160007680067; 160007680072; 160007680082; 160007680095; 160007680103; 150009973153; 160007680117; 160007680124; 150009973793; 160007680149; 150009974212; 160007680162; 160007680210; 160007680225; 160007680237.
The problem is the "postmark". Not a postmark. It cancels an official Australia Post stamp. If you buy it knowing it's got a fake "postmark" then that's over to you. However, it is not a genuine philatelic item.
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Are there still questionable covers out there in 2008? (13-01-08)?
Well, yes and no. A quick glance at some of the offerings by "kommemorative" (in particular eBay Item #370011856332) is very clearly a "Cinderella" cover but is advertised as a "souvenir cover", which, to the uninitiated could mean it's still kosher although, philatelically speaking, it's most definitely not!
Just as a f'rinstance as far as the postmarks goes, here's the real one for Woolloongabba, and the one on the eBay cover:
 
Note the "stamp" too. Whether you like the postmark on the right or not, it's simply not philatelically acceptable and could never be shown in a properly convened exhibition.
"kommemorative" has "souvenir covers" for just about every member of the Australian team, and at $7 a pop, a lot of unsuspecting collectors could be well and truly hit in the hip pocket.
It's a very great pity because "kommemorative" offers some interesting, legitimate items! Consider this one (eBay item #370011856457):
Now while someone was obviously very busy running from one location to another on the day, this, from one marcophilist's view at least (OK, mine) is nice because it has three outstanding strikes from three locations with permanent pictorial postmarks. I mean, have a look at the work on the gates of the Royal Botanic Gardens postmark - oustanding! Surely there's enough of this type of thing around to satisfy people rather than having to invent things. Incidentally, I think you'd find that the two postmarks on the right are held at the Sydney Philatelic Sales Centre.
While I haven't checked on some of the other sellers I've previously named (but obviously haven't "shamed" in the least), you're obviously still going to have to be careful in 2008.
If in doubt . . . ask!! We're always happy to to help if you contact us and we're sure there are Stamp Clubs and Philatelic Societies near you who would be happy to help.
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Have any of these people learnt yet? (2-11-07)
myautographsandcollectables certainly hasn't. Here's just a couple of his/her latest offerings and the problem for me is that he/she's using genuine Australia Post philatelic items (PSEs) with pretty appalling fake postmarks. Hopefully, very few people would be fooled by the "postmark" which doesn't even have a place name. It still begs the question though . . . especially when you read the description where the words souvenir cover are used.
Incidentally, a rather large chunk of his/her offering are really fine.
I feel strongly that these marks should be called "fake" or "phoney" postmarks rather than "cachets" given they are used to cancel the stamp area on each PSE. Equally, even though there's no date in the case of the Beatles PSEs, shouldn't there be a minimum postage rate attached? Different story with the Warney PSEs. Seeing as they're dated 2007, the postage on them should be 50c. Whether or not these are contravening any laws is up to the Federal Police and Australia Post to decide.
Here we go.
#1 at tinyurl.com/2ullfg the description is:
THE BEATLES GREATEST HITS OF 60s HARD DAYS NIGHT COV. Souvenir cover (envelope) commemorating the classic Beatles hits of the 1960s. A great collectors item for the Beatles fan, in excellent condition.
Asking price? GB£3.20
#2 at tinyurl.com/2tpfjf and the description is similar to #1:
THE BEATLES GREATEST HITS OF 60s HARD DAYS NIGHT COV. Souvenir cover (envelope) commemorating the classic Beatles hits of the 1960s. A great collectors item for the Beatles fan, in excellent condition.
Same asking price as #1.
Finally, #3 at tinyurl.com/2jjufk and these are perhaps a little more insidious given the popularity of the subject. There's nine of 'em. Description is:
SPIN DYNASTY SHANE WARNE TEST CRICKET COV THAT BALL. In excellent condition souvenir cover (envelope) commemorating the landmark moments in Shane Warne's test cricket career.
Notice again "Souvenir cover"? Asking price is AU$7.
I reiterate that this seller has some very nice genuine philatelic items for sale, and you'd think he'd make enough money from them not to have to generate all this spurious stuff. Should eBay perhaps force them to use a "Cinderalla" type listing and make it abundantly clear they're not genuine? Ahhhh - but then again, they'd also have to stop using genuine Australia Post philatelic items. Conundrum?!
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How do I know a fake postmark from a genuine one?
This Fraser Gehrig cover is a beauty for footie fans (eBay item #200160773280–seller kommemorative). And it’s absolutely legitimate. Fair dinkum Aussie Post stamp; fair dinkum Aussie Post pictorially commemorative postmark for that hallowed of Aussie turf, the ’G (Australian PictorMarks catalogue number APM23600).
Then there’s this one of Alastair Lynch (eBay item #200160119077):
Note the ‘stamp’ and the ‘postmark’. It’s also ‘No. 9/24’. Wow!! Now have a look at these important areas of philatelic covers in closer detail.
 
The postmark on the left dated ‘-7 SEP 2004’ has Australian PictorMarks catalogue number APM23600 …. a genuine, official Australia Post pictorially commemorative postmark, properly recorded and authenticated. Someone has dreamt up the other one. Illegal? Maybe, maybe not. Unscrupulous? Most definitely.
15 October 2004
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What other examples do you have?
Here’s another from kommemorative, and it’s worrying when genuine Australia Post items are part of the item on offer. This one shown below is PSE.142 which was released in 1988. It was eBay item #200154612198. The postmark? Phony.
Here are some more genuine Australia Post philatelic items (early PSEs … pre-stamped envelopes). The one on the left was eBay item #200159841835 while the one on the right was eBay item #200159841571 (just two of many items with these spurious ‘postmarks’).
 
12 October 2007
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I've heard about some AFL ones. Is that true?
Here’s yet another example of a genuine Australia Post philatelic item (eBay item #2200151856349). Yet another fake ‘postmark’.
Perhaps the most damning example of all are these for the Collingwood Football Club. The passion of Magpie fans is legendary and perhaps for some of them it doesn’t matter if something is a take-off of the real thing. This one was eBay item #200156602225 and sold for $10.50. A similar one for Nathan Buckley (eBay item #2001153618828) sold for $20.50 while a ‘Collingwood Team of the Century’ cover signed by Billy Picken (eBay item #200153619047) sold for $31.00!
Looks great, yes? The ‘Local Post’ stamp wouldn't fool any but the most gullible. The postmark on the left below appears as though it could be APM29076 while the one on the right is definitely APM29075. However, the one on the left lacks ‘Vic 3067’ after ‘Abbotsford’ so it, too, is another phoney pictorial postmark.* So where does this leave the cover? Certainly not in the category of being regarded as ‘genuinely philatelic’, that’s for sure!
 
*Info about Collingwood postmark updated 20 October 2007
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I see they're all dated a few years ago. Has the practice stopped now?
You would think so, but unfortunately not. eBay item #200151224232 shown below is indicative of the fact that ‘kommemorative’ is still at it.
This item gives all the appearance of being a philatelic one, but there is, sadly, absolutely nothing philatelic about it, except for the fact that it was once an envelope designed to send items through the post. The stamp is a ‘Cinderella’, the ‘postmark’ an outright fake, although it’s not a bad action shot of young Ablett.
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Surely these sellers don't do anything really stupid?
Well, you’d think not, but here’s another eBay seller to watch out for … ‘collectableclearout’. Everthing I’ve said in answer to the other questions applies here, but these are the type of covers being sold. Again, in each case these are genuine Australia Post philatelic items but the postmarks are dead-set fake!
This one is/was eBay item #150171458813:
‘Radios of the Past’ is eBay item #150172094945:
Connie Francis had a bid at $5.50 with nearly 20 hours to go. It is/was eBay item #150169966661:
Yet again . . . caveat emptor! As we find more of these sellers, we’ll bring them to your attention.
15 October 2007
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Are these more phoneys?
Unfortunately yes. ‘myautographsandcollectables’ had this item up for sale on 16 October. Genuine stamp. Fake postmark. eBay item #140167018450. No bids but starting price of $25.00.
Another genuine stamp. Another fake postmark. eBay item #140167018429. Starting bid of $40.00.
Then there’s this … eBay item $140167018411. Starting bid of $25.00. At time of adding this, bid up to $31.00. This time there’s a fake stamp to go with the fake postmark. Does that make it better or worse?
At the risk of boring you, I intend to keep ‘highlighting’ these sellers simply because of the harm they can do to our hobby.
16 October 2007
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Is this Sydney Harbour Bridge pictorial postmark genuine?
Absolutely not. The PSE is a genuine Australia Post philatelic item—albeit an old one. The seller this time is ‘sydneystampcentre' and the eBay item number is #150172472720. It has a "Buy It Now" price tag of US$6.00. Not bad for something so philatelically fake.
I hasten to add that ‘sydneystampcentre’ has a lot of genuine philatelic items for sale, but when the odd phoney creeps in, it’s a worry.
26 October 2007
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These Sydney Harbour Ferry ones look OK. Are they? (6-11-07)
This time it's collectableclearout and even though he states:
"FERRIES OF SYDNEY HARBOUR, KOREE FERRY COVER THIS IS A 'SCARCE' PRIVATELY ILLUSTRATED SOUVENIR ENVELOPE WHICH COMMEMORATES THE PAST FERRIES OF SYDNEY HARBOUR & THIS COVER FEATURES THE KOREE FERRY FROM 1902. COVER HAS A SPECIAL FERRY CACHET & ALSO FEATURES THE SYDNEY HARBOUR BRIDGE."
. . . it doesn't make it any less wrong. I'm astonished that this time, the place is "Sydney NSW 2000" which makes it look even more official.
You can see it here although may be finished by the time you look at it. It's had a number of bids and will most likely sell - for AU$5.50!! It's on an official Australia Post philatelic item, again without the correct amount of postage . . .33c as opposed to 50c.
Here's what it looks like:
All it would take this seller to do is to put an extra stamp on it, send it up to the Sydney Philatelic Sales Centre and get them to put a fair dinkum pictorial postmark on it. Then it would be entirely useful for philatelic purposes.
There were 14 similar Sydney Ferry covers all told on offer, all at $5.50 each. Sadly, quite a few had bids.
I am aware of at least one overseas buyer who was grateful for these warnings, admitting he would have been fooled.
Caveat emptor!
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