Gandhi Specimen Stamp : Is it real or !!

Hello Gandhi Stamp Collectors,

A specimen stamp is a postage stamp or postal stationery indicium sent to postmasters and postal administrations so that they are able to identify valid stamps and to avoid forgeries. The usual method of invalidating the stamps is either overprinting in ink or perforating the word Specimen across the stamp. (From Wikipedia)

Not sure how postmaster or postal administrators will validate stamp or identify forgery using following Specimen stamp with all kind of missing information such as issuing country, value of stamp etc....!!!

Do you think you can validate stamp using following Specimen stamp.?

When I saw above Gandhi Specimen stamp I was surprised because it has no country name, no value of stamp and even looks like specimen is printed on the stamp instead of overprinting or perforating.!!

I have following questions for this Specimen Stamp before we can consider this a Genuine stamp as well as Specimen stamp.

 If anyone has more info then please let me know so I can add to this blog post so it will be helpful for all gandhi stamp collectors.

1) Is this a real stamp or just a label.?
2) If real stamp (SPECIMEN) then how it is available in blocks or sheets.!! ? Not sure whether they were sending one stamp or whole sheet to postmasters.!!?
3) Is this error stamp? ( missing lot of printing before it is made SPECIMEN)?
4) Which country issued this stamp? (Only Great Britain don't have country name on the stamp).
5) What is face value of this stamp ? (no info at all!!)
6) Which year it was issued or government planning to issue this stamp?
7) If stamp was officially printed but not issued then how it is available to general public? (Don't you think it should be government property)

Currently 59 stamps is selling on ebay for $7000 - 9900!!

Will you pay this amount to add this in collection.!!?

Ashoka Watermark paper means this stamp should be printed in INDIA ?

Is this official usage of Emblem of India on stamp sheet paper ?

If you like this blog post then please read my other blog post related to SPECIMEN Gandhi stamps.

1) Nevis & Germany Specimen Gandhi stamps
2) FAKE Gandhi Specimen stamp from Cyprus
3) FAKE Gandhi Postcard Stationary from India

Let me know if any information is incorrect about this blog post or any other information so it will be helpful to all Gandhi Stamps Collectors.

I don't have this in my collection because it does not make any sense without knowing details of this stamps.

Thanks
Gandhi Stamps Club

(My favorite blog posts)
Gandhi Stamps are false hopes of RICHES - Part II ?
1948 Indian Gandhi stamps used in Tibet 
Nepal Indian Embassy Cancellation on 1948 Gandhi Stamps
Early usage of 1948 Gandhi stamps
FAKE 1948 Gandhi stamp FDC from India.
Gandhi SERVICE stamp is it REAL or FAKE?

Update : 3/17/2014

400 stamps were for sale for $10,000.

I will not even pay that much in 10000 rupees or 10000 cents.!!

I will pay 400 Rupee or $4 for 400 stamps.!!

Update : 9/10/2014

No one wants to even buy this 100 stamps for 500 Euros.!!

Tibet 1949 Gandhi Stamp Registered Cover with 1948 Gandhi stamps - One of the RARE 1948 Gandhi stamp used cover. Do you think 1948 Gandhi stamps cover is for Investment.??

Hello Gandhi Collectors,

Following are different ways to make money by selling stamps on Internet.

1) Make money by selling SPECIMEN postcard 

2) Make money by making RUBBER stamp

3) Make money by selling TRIAL PROOF waste by stealing it or by art using Photoshop.

4) Make money by selling FORGERY stamps

5) Make money by selling FORGED special cancellation from different cities.

6) Make money by selling FORGERY stamps as GENUINE.

7) Make money by selling BOGUS - never exist special cancellation

8) Make money by selling LABELS - forgery or bogus

9) Make money by selling FAKE or BOGUS First Flight Cover FFC

On November 5th,  I was surprised when a Register Cover from Pharijong (Tibet) to USA was sold for $2146.!! It is one of the RARE usage of Gandhi from Tibet. Very hard to find.!! and also it is one of the expensive used cover with just lower value(without 10 Rupees) 1948 Gandhi stamps.!!

Looks like very good quality is maintained after 60+ years even though it travelled through highest region and  toughest region in the world and all political uncertainty during that time. Also it has very clear cancellation from both ends compare to others covers from Tibet.!!

Want to see more Phari Jong Tibet cancellation  cover then please look TIBETANPOST.com at following website before you read this blog post and understand more about Tibet used.  Look closely on cancellations and compare.

http://www.tibetanpost.com/tpost.php?op=subsection&id=10

It was mailed on 12th May, 1949 and delivered  to New Jersey, USA on Jun 27, 1949. It took about  45 days to reach from Tibet to New Jersey.

This cover has receiving CDS June 26, 1949 (Sunday) from Registration division of US post office  New York, NY and CDS June 27, 1949 (Monday) from town post office Elizabeth, New Jersey where this cover was delivered.

 It has two 1948 Gandhi stamps total of 5 Annas stamps. (3.5 + 1.5 Annas).

As per Maulik's research in his exhibit 4 annas will required for Registered mail on top of regular charges, 12 annas  (12 + 4) for airmail registration, 3.5 Annas (3.5 +4)  for surface mail registration to USA.

http://www.japhila.cz/hof/0465/index0465_012.htm

Seller : richwho1 (USA)

Buyer : airmail1929 (India)

I have following concerns about this cover and instead of doing my own research( it takes lot of time) I decide to get help from others philatelist around the world and  I hope some one with enough knowledge and experience about Indian Philately or  Indo-Tibetian Philately will help us to find correct answer for one of the rare Gandhi used cover.

1) Which category this cover will fit in? Surface Mail(Sea Mail) or Airmail?

2) If Surface mail then Registration mailed was allowed?

3) What will be total postage required for this register cover from Tibet(India) to USA.?

4) Can anyone guess which post offices(cities or ports) it travelled through while reaching to New Jersey.? Following are some examples which might be used

By Tibetan YAK(animal) or horse, to Sikkim and then by road to Calcutta and then by sea/air to New York. (Is it a YAK Mail, Offically carried on YAK!! like camel, bullock cart, pony express etc.!!)

(check this photo of Pharijong in 1933 and you decide how tough it was.!!)

By postal truck/bus from Tibet to nearest Indian main post office (Simla or Delhi or Darjeeling) and then by air to New York.

By direct air from Tibet to New York. ( I don't think so. Not sure about airport in Tibet, but guess!!)

By postal truck/bus to nearest main Indian Post Office (Simla or Delhi or Calcutta) and then again truck/bus/train to nearest harbor(guess Bombay or Calcutta port) for steamer and then to New York harbor.

Read following link about Tibet mail in 2011 and now think what will be the case in 1949.!!

http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90776/90883/7379806.html

http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90776/90883/7379806.html

5) If travel through India then why no CDS from any other cities of India as this is Register cover which needs special care by every post office it travels through about receiving it (same way like New York and New Jersey) !!?

6) Do you think New York Registration Division was open on Sunday? and it was delivered to Elizabeth post office on Monday.!! Do you think USA postal department  in 1949 were very efficient.!!

7) If postage is insufficient then it should have  postage due marking on the cover from US post office or else it should not have insufficient postage from the start (from Tibet) with as it is register cover, which is processed manually by post office as postal employee (or any official) will make sure before it travels!!!!!!!

8) Not sure whether this is valid postal transaction as India was independent country not ruled by British and Tibet was different country. So how come it has India Gandhi 1948 Stamps.!! Is this a special mail like "PAQUEBOT".!!

9) Where is Tibet Stamps??

Let me know if you have more details about any of the above questions so all collectors will be aware of this cover and in future they can use it as reference material.

Do you think 1948 Gandhi stamps cover is for Investment.?

Following is bidding details. Most important thing in collecting is to see how bidding is done.!! who is bidding, who is increasing bid etc.

Want to know more about FAKE and FORGERY stamps then checkout other blog post click one of the following link and you will be surprised.!!!

1) Philatelic FAKE and FORGERIES.
2) FAKE AERO PHILATELY Covers.
3) Stamp collection CHEATING.
4) Stamp Collection Value
5) Stamp Collecting Facts
6) China stamp collection value.
7) First AirMail Post
8) World First Flight Cover
9) Greatest Stamp Collection Scandal 
10) Biggest stamp collection SCAM
11) SCANDAL in stamp collection 
12) How to increase stamp collection value

Now does it make sense to collect stamps ?

But now you know my 15 steps to make money on internet.!! and following four blog post will make you expert in making money.!!

http://gandhistampsclub.blogspot.com/2013/12/india-1948-commercial-used-cover-how-to.html

http://gandhistampsclub.blogspot.com/2013/12/king-george-stamps-post-card-kgv-stamps.html

http://gandhistampsclub.blogspot.com/2013/12/rarities-india-1854-stamp-queen.html

Straits Settlements stamps B/172 India stamps - Do you really think it's worth $34,500.!!?

So now what do you think CAN YOU MAKE MONEY ?

Thanks
Gandhi Stamps Club.