Introduction
In this article, we will specify how the origin of an isolated stamp, whether new or on an envelope, can be recognized.
Stamps coming from sheets
Stamps coming from sheets have edges which were manually cut, which gives filamentous perforations as can be seen on the two following images:
The stamp 0,50F Marianne de Béquet coming from sheets was produced on presses TD3 and TD6. We shall see in articles Stamps printed on TD3 presses and General information about the printings of the stamp 0,50F Marianne de Béquet on TD6 presses that presses TD3 produce "slept" stamps, while presses TD6 produce "standing" stamps. It is this difference which can be seen on a detached stamp, by looking at the lower and left edges of the stamp: if there is an ink excess on the left edge, it is a stamp produced by a TD3 press; if it is on the lower edge, it is a stamp produced by a TD6 press. We can see this fact on the four following images:
Stamps coming from booklets
Stamps coming from booklets have at least an horizontal edge which was guillotined, which gives much less filamentous perforations:
Stamps coming from coils
Finally, coil stamps have their vertical edges guillotined, thus almost without filament:
