Columnist Learns About Stamps, Collecting and the Crimescope CS-16

Connie Cousins, a columnist for Pennsylvania's Centre Daily Times, writes about the U.S. Classics 2009 stamp show that was held last weekend at the American Philatelic Center in Bellefonte, PA.

As a non-collector Connie pens, "I was able to browse the displays, the vendor tables, the West Virginia post office and general store on loan from the Smithsonian Institution, the rare stamps and the many collections of 19th century U.S. stamps that were part of the show."

Besides many examples of unstamped and stamped letters from the 1840s, an Inverted Jenny and a 1c Z-Grill were also on display. In addition, the society's Crimescope CS-16 was mentioned.

She writes, "The society building also houses a Crimescope CS-16, much like ones the FBI uses to help spot fraud and illegal use of stamps and to validate a rare find."

According to Ken Lawrence, "In the spring of 1997, the American Philatelic Expertizing Service (APEX) acquired state‑of‑the‑art forensic equipment, of the type used by scientists of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service to evaluate evidence in criminal investigations, as a tool to enhance the APS Expert Committee's ability to detect altered and counterfeited stamps and covers, and to determine whether or not questioned material is genuine and in its original state."

Shown above, the Crimescope CS-16 and associated equipment used to expertize stamps at the Vincent Graves Greene Philatelic Research Foundation.

To read the entire column, click here.