New Republic study

[Jesper]

This is a call for / suggestion of a study among the FICC members.
If you have stamps from New Republic (Nieuwe Republiek) (http://www.firstissues.org//ficc/details/new_republic_1.shtml) we would like you to submit to any one of the board members or the webmaster, the following information:
Scott # and quantity of all the varieties you own, used and unused.
The date on the stamp.
Is the stamp genuine or a forgery? Check the link above if you need help in that determination.
Measurements of the following:
Outer frame width and height.
Width and height of the words NIEUWE, REPUBLIEK and ZUID-AFRIKA.
If possible, inner and outer distance between the corner ornaments.
We would also appreciate a scan of the stamp(s) if at all possible.

It is difficult, at best, to get this information anywhere. Maybe the club with this study could make a contribution to the philatelic knowledge of the world

[numones]

New Republic Scott #1 (SG#2) is one of my current hot interests.  I have 10 unused, 1 used, and 2 forgeries.  One of the stamps I am calling genuine, for now, is dated 14 APL 86.  It has the splinter on the first "E" of Republiek as illustrated for all genuine New Republic stamps in the current First Issues newsletter.  Recently, while just looking at them and enjoying them, I started measuring them.  Never should have done it!   Ignorance is bliss!  Among the 10 "genuine" I found 8 that measured about 24mm across, 1 about 24 1/4mm, and my nice 14 Apl 86 measures 24 3/4mm!! across.  I could accept 1/4mm variation, but 3/4mm??  I had so many doubts that I sent the stamp to the APS for certification.  I'll keep you posted.    

[Jesper]

I have contacted a Dutch society "Poststukken & Poststempels" about some information on the N.R. stamps. The only publication I have found was listed on their site - as "sold out". I hope they can help us out. N.R. is very difficult to find information about - one "good hit" was on a Russian web site - which unfortunately is in Russian  

I suppose David has "contaminated" me with the "New Republic bug"; when I met David in November 2002 he showed me a N.R. stamp, something I had never seen before. Then I started to include it in my search for #1's - to no avail! They are quite difficult to come by. I have yet to aquire my first N.R. #1 (it is in the mail).

If you want to know about G.B. #1 your only problems are "which book" and "how much money to spend". It seems like all the money you have is not enough to buy a book on New Republic! In my opinion this qualifies the stamps of New Republic as a target for investigation. Do you want to help "write that book"  

[Tim_Balm]

I have 3 copies of Sc#1 and a copy of Sc#5.

[Jesper]

WOW. Thank you Tim. Great job.

You made me realize that I hadn't really posed all the questions and that I wasn't accurate in my first post. I guess I was sloppy because I really didn't expect such great and quick response.

I forgot to ask for perforation. We are trying to collect ALL information possible which could help in detecting forgeries / verify genuine stamps. Little is known today.

Another point that should have been made clear: all text on the stamp is usually in upper case (capital letters). I would not think you'd ever find a stamp with any letters in lower case, but... Therefore it is important to notice this if any of the text is NOT in upper case. A scan would help us double-check these things.

Here's a tip for you to consider when you submit your information: copy Tims setup for the data! Here it is:

- Scott #:
- Genuine:
- Used or mint:
- Date:
- Perforation:
- Outer frame width:
- Outer frame height:
- NIEUWE width:
- NIEUWE height:
- REPUBLIEK width:
- REPUBLIEK height:
- ZUID AFRIKA. width:
- ZUID AFRIKA. height:

I have copied it here without data so we don't have any "accidents". If you use this format you will make our work assembling all the information A LOT easier. You could easily save us hours worth of work, so please try to do it.

[Jesper]

I have contacted a Dutch society "Poststukken & Poststempels" about some information on the N.R. stamps. The only publication I have found was listed on their site - as "sold out".

I am happy to say that Hotze Wiersma of Po & Po Publicaties in Dokkum, Netherlands has promised to sell me a slightly used copy of the book. I guess I should get started with the Dutch lessons ...

The book is "De Nieuwe Republiek 1884-1888" by G.H. Jonkers. I don't want to hear about it if you have it  

[numones]

In my previous post of January 9, 2003, I mentioned the New Republic #1 dated 14 APL 86 that I sent to the APEX for certificate.  Today it came back.  Sad, sad story.  It's not a #1 at all, but a Scott #39a, with inverted, faintly embossed arms, which I can not see at all, even under an 8 x 30 microscope.  Well, it was exciting for a while!      

[Tim_Balm]

In my previous post of January 9, 2003, I mentioned the New Republic #1 dated 14 APL 86 that I sent to the APEX for certificate.

[numones]

You are right, Tim.  It must be good equipment.  Even watermark fluid did not help for me.  I wonder if the watermark detectors with a light would show it.  I have never used one of those.

[numones]

Recently acquired a New Republic #1 dated 24 APL 86.  The ink looks much more blue than any of my other examples.  When it is mounted beside the others, the blue sort of blends in and is not as pronounced, but when it was out by itself it sure looked more blue than violet.  I think it is a genuine stamp, but not sure if it is a changeling or a true color variety, or what?  Any other blue ones out there?

[Tim_Balm]

Recently acquired a New Republic #1 dated 24 APL 86.

[Jesper]

Color is a difficult animal...

The perception of color can be greatly affected by the background color. Try to look at the stamps with a red, blue and white background, for example (pieces of paper or whatever you have). You will probably see different "colors" on different backgrounds.

This is not to say that this is your "problem". It could well be that your stamp is indeed printed in a "shade" of violet. After all, these stamps were printed on numerous occasions...

[numones]

The "blue" 24 Apl 86 is in a 102 card beside a "violet" 24 Apl 86.  I am going to try to scan them and send the scan to your private e-mail addresses, Jesper and Tim, since I do not think this forum will accomodate scans.  My latest opinion is that the blue one is a changeling, (or worse).  It is doubtful that the printers would have had one violet ink pad and one blue ink pad on April 24, 1886 when these were printed, and done some with each ink pad!      

[Tim_Balm]

David,

These stamps are, indeed, very different colors.  Looking at all of the other details, however, it would be extremely difficult to believe this stamp was a forgery.  Violet to blue is a strange changeling direction, but it certainly depends on the chemistry of the inks - the red could fade out and leave it more blue.  Yet another hypothesis is that they started running out of ink during the handstamping and added more blue than red when extending their supply.  In the 1991 article you wrote for the FI newsletter, David, you provide all the printing dates and state that the Gibbons cat provides pricing based on (presumably) quantities printed.  Is the Apr 24 date have a relatively low price suggesting a large printing?

[Jesper]

This is my "interpretation" of the Dutch text in Jonkers book:

"Proofs" were made mostly on blue (granite) paper. This is not the case with your stamp. Proofs are rare.

Of the one penny 5295 copies were printed in total. It appears as if many of them were printed on January 9, 1886 since there are eight settings with this date. Most other printings (24 APL 86 is one of them) were made from one setting. A total of 55 settings were used involving the one penny on yellow paper. This does NOT mean 100 stamps per setting, but may be a hint to the size of a printing.

The only color variation I see mentioned is (apart from the black first printing): violet and red-violet. However, my Dutch leaves something to be desired ;-)

I believe the stamp is genuine, but have no explanation for the blue color.