Caution!
The 2¢ perf 12x10 and 10x12 stamps are candidates for
fakery, since they are relatively easy to manufacture from the
imperforate Scott 409 and less so by reperforating two sides of a Scott 424.
However, they are so rare that a fake would hardly escape detection.
*The stamps illustrated are courtesy of the Robert A. Siegel Auciton Galleries, Inc. and are from sale #877,
"The Chesapeake Collection of U.S. 1914 Compound Perforations,"
June 12, 2004.
This is the finest study of the 1914 compound perforations to date. Siegel includes an illustrated census of each variety as well.
Scott 536 is a possible candidate for fakery if the centering is
superb. It is unusual to find well-centered copies of this stamp and
they bring a huge premium over F-VF stamps. There is therefore some
incentive to add perforations to the imperforate offset stamp, Scott 531.
Normally centered examples of 536 should not present a problem, since
there is little incentive to produce a poorly centered copy from the
imperforate stock.
Scott 538 and Scott 542 are not a real problem, since adding
perforations (perf 11) to the top and bottom of the coil stamp Scott 490
or to the left and right sides of Scott 486 results in a stamp
that is a little short. There is no rotary press imperforate stock from
which to make either stamp, meaning the stamp can only be faked by
adding perforations to a coil stamp. Certifying either stamp is optional,
although as always we recommend purchasing the stamp from a reputable
seller.
