Certificate Service - Mini-Service:
The ISJP Expertizing Committee offers two separate services as described below. All submissions must be accompanied by payment in US currency. The expert services are open to both ISJP members and non-members.
Certificate Service:
Each item examined is photographed, and a copy of the photograph is attached permanently to a signed certificate. The basic charges are US$12.00 for each stamp and US$30.00 for each cover. Examination of covers and stamps sometimes entails additional postage charges as explained in the service rules on the submission forms.
These forms can be obtained by sending a self-addressed business size envelope (stamped with US First Class postage, or accompanied by an International Reply Coupon) to Mr. M. E. Ruggiero, 132 North Pine Terrace, Staten Island NY 10312 USA. All submissions MUST be accompanied by the submission form.
-
Note: At this time, we are not accepting the following items for expertization:
- 1: Japanese occupation overprinted issues
- 2: Ryukyu Islands provisional issues from 1945-1948
The Mini-Service:
This is a high-quality, low-fee service to be used when a formal certificate is not desired. Only off-cover copies of Dragon, Cherry Blossom, Old Koban (Scott numbers 1-71) and Offices in China and Korea overprints are accepted for this service.
No special submission form is needed. Simply identify material as "for the Mini-Service" and send it by registered mail to the address indicated below. Enclose a self-addressed return envelope bearing sufficient postage for return by registered mail (participants from countries without access to US postage stamps should add at least US$11.50 to their remittances), along with payment by check or money order at the rate of US$1.00 per stamp. The service consists of a careful examination of the stamps, whereupon they are sorted into two groups, genuine and counterfeit. No opinion will be given on cancellations, paper, condition, or catalog identification. Send Mini-Service material to the following addresses:
IN EVEN-numbered months:
Ms. Lois M. Evans-de VioliniP. O. Box 5025
Oxnard, CA 93031-5025 USA
For questions or confirmation of receipt e-mail her at:
miniservice@isjp.org
IN ODD-numbered months:
Mr. M. E. Ruggiero132 North Pine Terrace
Staten Island NY 10312 USA
NEW FREE ISJP EXPERTIZING SERVICE FOR MEMBERS
For several reasons, it is impossible to determine that a stamp is genuine from a digital image. But at the same time, it is easy to recognize digital images of the common forgeries of classic Japanese stamps.
Therefore the ISJP is offering a new free expertizing service. ISJP members can e-mail digital images of their stamps to expert@isjp.org.
-
The expert will separate the images into two categories:
- 1. images of forgeries
- 2. images of stamps that need to be seen to be expertized.
Please include your name and ISJP number with your request
No stamp will be determined genuine by this method.
This service is for classic stamps only (Dragons, Cherryblossoms, and Koban)no covers.
The digital image must be in color, in focus and of sufficient resolution to see the stamp features clearly on the screen. For instance, digital images of full album pages would not acceptable. If you are not sure that your digital image is good enough, send a sample for suggestions. With technology readily available today, the scanned digital image is the most reliable way to get the desired result. Jpg color images are the best, but other formats can be handled. Please ask if you need to use some other format.