Using EzImage to find Stamp Varieties

While at the NY World Stamp Show 2016, I was looking for some German collections and I found a very obscure lot described by a British specialist as a “mixed lot of about 100 stamps with multiple German colonies: mix of used and mint hinged condition with some duplication.” So I looked a little closer. The asking price was $275, so I offered $150 & the dealer accepted. I guess he just wanted to get rid of it. He said he had it for a couple of years.

To my surprise, no one had bothered to look carefully at the lot, including the dealer selling the lot. In the lot, I saw a complete set of German Caroline Islands #1a to 6a, the much scarcer set. They were all hinged, but that did not matter to me. I have the #1-6 already in my collection & have been looking for the 1a-6a for a long time, but could never really afford them.

So what is the difference between a #1 and a #1a. It’s all on the angle. The original printing in 1899 was overprinted at an angle of about 48 degrees, while the later more common printing from 1900 was overprinted at an angle of 56 degrees. I scanned the Caroline issues to verify the angles using EzImage & I confirmed what I suspected. Watch the video below to see

Moral of the story? Most people are impatient and overlook the details. If you spend some time and empower yourself with the details, you can find some real treasures. Even dealers and auction houses make mistakes or get complacent. The treasures are out there for your finding.
And, those stamps are not for sale. I am keeping them for my collection !

Happy Hunting