The 1st May 1840 cover franked with 1d Black cancelled with a red Maltese cross.

The Forensic evidence behind it.

The information on this cover and the two images herein have been extracted from a pdf posted on the following link

http://documents.davidfeldman.com/uploads/catalogues/33_6_99_FEB.pdf

This will be compared with the forensic evidence behind the 1865 Plate '77' cover.

 

The Cover

The cover illustrated below formed the subject of a detailed report by Patrick Pearson, Chairman of the Expert Committee at The Royal Philatelic Society London.

The report was a major feature in the auction catalogue describing the cover which was offered for sale by auction on the 17th February 1999.

The cover was supported by a letter dated 28th May 1991 from Mr. Michael G. Hall BSc,

a Forensic Handwriting Expert, Examiner of Questioned Documents.

It has certificates of genuineness from The BPA (31/7/1992),

from Peter Holcombe (19/3/1992) and from The RPSL (14/5/97).

http://documents.davidfeldman.com/uploads/catalogues/33_6_99_FEB.pdf

The 1st of May 1840 cover franked with 1d black cancelled with red Maltese cross.

The cover illustrated here is in its 'cleaned' form which involved the removal of stains, fox marks, traces of re-enforcing tape and the strengthening of the inking on the envelope.

 

The Forensic evidence

A letter dated 28th May 1991 issued by Mr. M G Hall, Forensic Handwriting Expert,

Examiner of Questioned Documents.

The Forensic report issued by Mr. M G Hall, Forensic Handwriting Expert,

Examiner of Questioned Documents.

 

 

The 1865 'Plate 77' cover and the Forensic evidence behind it

which in this case included the use of Raman spectroscopy, EDXRF, elemental mapping scanning electron microscopy, light microscopy as well as UV and IR investigations,

plus an 18 page report produced by the longest established private independent laboratory in Great Britain dealing solely with the forensic examination

of handwriting and documents.

 

The Cover

Both the inks and the paper have been examined at elemental and single fibre levels.

The cover has a number of positive forensic science reports and forensic scientists all of whom find the stamps untanpered with and the printing ink the same between the two '7's.

It is unfortunate however that both the RPSL and the Philatelic Foundation of New York find the cover faked. The former suggesting a 'cut and paste' faking method and the latter suggesting 'abrading and painting' faking method. Both opinions have been discredited by the scientific experts and the analytical science that was carried out. Details can be found on this link.

http://www.1dplate77.com/1dplate77/IsthisthephilatelicJusticeaworldclassphilatelicgemdeserves.htm
The 1865 cover franked with three 1d rose red showing a plate number 77

 

The two 'fake/altered, certificates issued by

The Royal Philatelic Society London and

The Philatelic Foundation New York,

both of which have not been substantiated with any conclusive evidence and both of which have been scientifically

proven to be unfounded.

 

The 'fake' certificate based on a 'cut and paste' opinion which has been scientifically proven to be unfounded
The 'altered' certificate based on an 'abrading and painting' opinion which has been scientifically proven to be unfounded

 

The Forensic and scientific evidence

which in this case included the use of Raman spectroscopy, EDXRF, Elemental mapping Scanning electron microscopy, light microscopy as well as UV and IR investigations

 

Robert W Radley M.Sc., C.Chem., F.R.S.C., F.S.Soc.Dip., F.A.E., R.F.P.

The Forensic Document Laboratory

 

The Report was produced "FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF THE COURT IN THE HEARING OF THE ABOVE MATTER"

 

" SUMMARY OF OPINION
4. Further to my examination of the documents in question, a more detailed outline of which follows, my findings and opinions are summarised below.
5. (i) The stamps in question have not been modified by some form of inlaying process utilising elements of another stamp or stamps and such a possibility has clearly not occurred. This proposition is, I understand, the basis of the RPSL rejection of this item as being genuine. I this statement find to be demonstrably incorrect and therefore I consider the ground for issuing of the certificate is wholly unwarranted and incorrect factually.
6. (ii) Similarly, I do not consider that the scientific evidence supports the comments of the Philatelic Foundation concerning the reasons given for their rejection of the cover in question.
7. (iii) I find no evidence of substance to significantly support the proposition that the stamps in question have been modified by an obliteration of a numeral ‘3’ from a ‘plate 73’ stamp and subsequent alteration of the ‘3’ to a numeral ‘7’. The technical difficulties in modifying a ‘plate 73’ stamp to a ‘plate 77’ stamp are immense and from a detailed examination of the cover in question, I find the combined evidence is inconsistent with such a procedure having been adopted."

The Robert W Radley Report (18 page report)

 

 

Professor Gene S. Hall, Ph.D. ,

Professor of Analytical Chemistry, Rutgers The State University of New Jersey, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology

 

Professor Gene Hall was asked to authenticate the cover and the three plate 77 stamps. The forensic examination was carried out his laboratory using Raman spectroscopy and EDXRF. His detailed report is summarised in this letter that he issued.

Professor Hall's letter

 

The Reading Scientific Services Limited

The Reading Scientific Laboratories were commissioned to examine the three stamps on cover.  This letter confirms the RSSL findings as far as the paper fibres are concerned.

RSSL letter.