Call for data concerning 1920 and 1921 Dated Lugers

Dwight Gruber · 02-26-2024, 02:01 AM

Very good. And I would like to point point something about the e/WaA4 stamps. Costanzo, in his Proof marks book, deliberately misrepresents these stamps by expressly calling them doves, and drawing them to look like doves with their beaks pointing "up." Part of the problem with the stamps as they exist is that the dies were very poorly made, and crucial detail was worn away quickly in use. It is possible to see, in your examples, that there is a very tiny, pointy beak extending to the left (the eagle's right, as the bird's body faces the viewer). It is this detail which has worn away quickly to disguise the stamp, and make it possible to casually accept Costanzo's deception.

--Dwight

02-26-2024, 02:01 AM	#5
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,908 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,330 Times in 435 Posts	Very good. And I would like to point point something about the e/WaA4 stamps. Costanzo, in his Proof marks book, deliberately misrepresents these stamps by expressly calling them doves, and drawing them to look like doves with their beaks pointing "up." Part of the problem with the stamps as they exist is that the dies were very poorly made, and crucial detail was worn away quickly in use. It is possible to see, in your examples, that there is a very tiny, pointy beak extending to the left (the eagle's right, as the bird's body faces the viewer). It is this detail which has worn away quickly to disguise the stamp, and make it possible to casually accept Costanzo's deception. --Dwight