THE VARIANT(reprinted) LEADERS OF THE WORLD ELVIS PRESLEY STAMP ISSUES
Information and Reference on the Production and Distribution of the Variant Saint Vincent 1985 Elvis Presley Stamp Issues
Because of new evidence which is in process of analysis, neutral words have replaced words like forgery or fake or reprint
with the word VARIANT until ALL the facts are in on the status of the stamps. We wish at this time to just let dealers and collectors know
that there is a very different set of the 1985 St. Vincent Elvis Presley stamp set that exists.
We are presently updating images and discovered variations
of the stamps as more intense research is being applied to them. Please check this page regularly for future updates as to the status
of the stamps themselves. Some are calling them fakes. Some are calling them legally made reprints. This will be a historic event
in the Philatelic world once the truth is known. Until all evidence is put on the table, PLEASE do nothing harmful to the stamps
themselves. It is advised at this point (and only fair) in the sale of them to let buyers know that they ARE different from the originals.
ALL THE FOLLOWING IMAGES WERE SCANNED AT 600dpi AND RESIZED IN EXACTLY THE SAME WAY WITH NO COLOR ALTERATIONS.
How to Identify the VARIANT 1985 Elvis Presley (St Vincent) Stamps and Minisheets
This guide was written with the purpose of (i) helping buyers to identify the variant stamps which have been on the market for over 20 years now;
(ii) protecting the interests of genuine dealers everywhere who don't sell fakes or forgeries or reprints without defining them as such;
and (iii) protecting the integrity and interests of the St Vincent Philatelic Bureau.
The variant stamps first appeared in 1989, but as British dealers were wary of these stamps,
they were largely sold to American Stamp dealers, who bought up the stock in bulk (together with variant St. Vincent Michael Jackson stamps
and Minisheets). The distributor, had access to the original artwork transparencies and printing plates separations, so the variants are generally of a good quality,
which are more than capable of not being detected by some dealers, stamp collectors, and now, Elvis Presley memorabilia collectors. There are however, a number
of distinguishing features on the variants (that are illustrated below), which make them easy to identify from the original stamps.
By the way, the stamps illustrated above are ALL VARIANTS!
Also these are found as IMPERFORATE and in some cases as "errors" with misperfs etc;.
They should be valued at much less than ORIGINALS. At this point it is unknown exactly how many were made but the quantity is high.
We here at Golowe's will value them at $1.00 a set of the single pairs and the Souvenir Sheet set at around $2.00 a set. Others may
try to disagree but as time will tell it will be according to what the market decides....NOT the sellers.
Those who wish to overinflate the value can just sit on them FOREVER!
(1) SG919-20 or 919a / Scott 874 10c Se-Tenant Pair
When compared side-by-side with the original stamps (for confirmation that the pair on the left are genuine, see Scott Catalogue), the variant stamps look very good
and use a richer set of colours allowing for more contrast in the photographs. However, don't let the colours fool you!
Rule Number One (and probably the only rule needed) when identifying the variants is to COUNT THE PERFORATIONS!
As most of these stamps are sold in se-tenant (joined) pairs, count the number of holes along the vertical join.
For the original stamps, there are 24 Holes (i.e. 25 Perforations), whereas the variants have 27 Holes (i.e. 28 perforations).
The holes in the variants are thus noticeably smaller, and there is a tendency for not all holes to be completely punched out.
In addition to the perforations being different, the variant stamps have narrower reddish-brown bars (compared to the original thicker brown bars)
(see above); while all the original images in the variant stamps have been enlarged, resulting in a cropping of the image to fit the same-sized frame.
This is illustrated in the example images below for the 10c stamps.
Other ways to easily recognize the variant 10c values are:
The triangle of the background is much smaller on the lower left corner under Elvis's arm holding the microphone.
Elvis's left shoulder is much closer to the right frame.
(2) SG921-2 or 921a / Scott 875 60c Se-Tenant Pair
The 60c pair of stamps in our opinion are regarded as the best of the variants, but again use RULE #1 (Count the Perforations) as above. Again, the variants
have 27 holes compared to the original pair's 24 holes.
Again in addition to the perforations being different, the variant stamps have narrower light Aqua Blue Bars (compared to the original thicker dark Aqua blue bars)
(see above); while all the original images in the variant stamps have been enlarged again, resulting in a cropping of the image to fit the same-sized frame.
This is illustrated in the example images below for the 60c stamps.
Some other subtle differences to look out for are:
1.) Slightly bolder / darker font for "St. Vincent" and "60c" in the variants;
2.) Elvis's head is closer to the top of the frames in the variants;
3.) The "Elvis" signature is clearer and greener on the original stamps, while the bottom loop of the "E" in the signature is
lower toward the "IN" in "VINCENT" and the signature is thicker in the variants.
Here is an oddity! The missing green error.
(3) SG923-4 or 923a / Scott 876 $1 Se-Tenant Pair
Again, the variant stamps are instantly recognisable by the number of perforations (27 Holes instead of 24) and demonstrate a number of
similar errors as before, including the smaller triangle of the background on the lower left corner under Elvis's arm holding the microphone;
cropping of Elvis Presley's hair in the left hand
stamp / top of Elvis's head closer to the top frame in the right hand stamp; and a bigger contrast of colours in the variants, including a lighter blue
background in the right hand stamp.
On the $1 values the variant stamps have narrower gray-green bars versus the originals thicker green bars.
(4) SG925-6 or 925a / Scott 877 $5 Se-Tenant Pair
Here again on the $5 values we have similar differences. See below for the cropping and font differences.
This sums up the demonstration on how to identify the variant 1985 Elvis Presley stamps. As you can see you do not have to be an expert philatelist
to be able to do this. You do not even have to be a collector at all! The differences between the original stamps and the variant ones are quite obvious.
Now on to the Souvenir Sheets!
CAN YOU SEE THE DIFFERENCE!?! The Elvis Presley Story …
Of Variant St. Vincent Minisheets
(1) SG MS918 / Scott 878 30c Block of 4 as two Se-Tenant Pairs on Souvenir Sheet
Top Sheet (Original): 145mm x 107mm (as per Stanley Gibbons)
Bottom Sheet (Variant): 142mm x 107mm
The Elvis Presley souvenir sheets are a bit more difficult to discern than the Michael Jackson souvenir sheets in that there is not
a lot of different things to compare as the backgrounds are more plain; No lines of LEADERS OF THE WORLD to compare etc;
Noting that the color schemes are reversed in comparison with the single pairs (the colors are much deeper on the variants).
Still there are discenable differences.
One huge difference is the originals have a flat matt finish whereas the variants have a glossy finish.
Differences: 1.) Variant has cropped top (The top of Elvis's head is much closer to the top) 2.) Variant has cropped right hand side (more of the reddish background is cut) 3.) Variant has slightly cropped bottom and the Leaders of the World Logo is a lighter gray. 4.) Variant uses a heavier font on the St. Vincent text and denomination. Parallel bars are thinner. 5.) Variant left stamps have severe cropping of Elvis's top of his head. 6.) Variant left stamps have the smaller triangle of background under Elvis's arm holding microphone. 7.) Variant right stamps have Elvis's left shoulder very close to frame. 8.) Variant the bottom loop of the "E" in signature penetrates deeply below the upper parallel bar (on originals it only touches it).
(2) SG MS918 / Scott 879 50c Block of 4 as two Se-Tenant Pairs on Souvenir Sheet
Top Sheet (Original): 145mm x 107mm (as per Stanley Gibbons)
Bottom Sheet (Variant): 142mm x 107mm
Differences: 1.) Variant has cropped right hand side (less of Elvis's shoulder is showing) 2.) Variant uses a lighter shade for the "LEADERS OF THE WORLD" logo. 3.) Variant left stamps have cropping of Elvis's hair at the top 4.) Variant right stamps top of Elvis's head very close to top frame 5.) Variant the bottom loop of the "E" in signature penetrates below the upper parallel bar (on originals it only touches it). 6.) Variant left stamps the stud on Elvis's left elbow is slightly cropped (on originals it is well above the bottom frame. 7.) Variant has a bolder typeface for "ST. VINCENT" and denomination
(3) SG MS918 / Scott 880 $1.50 Block of 4 as two Se-Tenant Pairs on Souvenir Sheet
Top Sheet (Original): 145mm x 107mm (as per Stanley Gibbons)
Bottom Sheet (Variant): 142mm x 107mm
Differences: 1.) Variant has cropped top (top of Elvis's hair is cropped) 2.) Variant uses a lighter shade for the "LEADERS OF THE WORLD" logo. 3.) Variant left stamps have cropping of Elvis's hair at the top 4.) Variant left stamps have the smaller triangle of background under Elvis's arm holding microphone. 5.) Variant right stamps top of Elvis's head very close to top frame 6.) Variant has a bolder typeface for "ST. VINCENT" and denomination 7.) Variant uses a lighter green font on the frame and parallel bars. 8.) Variant the bottom loop of the "E" in signature penetrates below the upper parallel bar (on originals it only touches it). 9.) Variant "ST. VINCENT" and denomination value ($1.50)float low between the parallel bars
(4) SG MS918 / Scott 881 $4.50 Block of 4 as two Se-Tenant Pairs on Souvenir Sheet
Top Sheet (Original): 145mm x 107mm (as per Stanley Gibbons)
Bottom Sheet (Variant): 142mm x 107mm
Differences: 1.) Variant has cropped top (top of Elvis's head much closer to the top) 2.) Variant has cropped left hand side (more of the reddish background is cut off) 3.) Variant uses a lighter shade for the "LEADERS OF THE WORLD" logo. 4.) Variant left stamps have cropping at top of which Elvis's hair almost touches at the top. 5.) Variant left stamps have cropping on the left causing white halo on Elvis's Jacket on lower left corner to be much smaller. 6.) Variant right stamps top of Elvis's head closer to top frame 7.) Variant has a bolder typeface for "ST. VINCENT" and denomination 8.) Variant the bottom loop of the "E" in signature penetrates below the upper parallel bar (on originals it only touches it).
This sums up the demonstration on how to identify the variant 1985 Elvis Presley souvenir sheets. Again we must stress the point that you do not have to be an expert philatelist
to be able to do this. You do not even have to be a collector at all! The differences between the original souvenir sheets and the variant ones are quite obvious again.
We hope that this reference page on the Saint Vincent 1985 Elvis Presley Variant stamps will assist all collectors, dealers and memorabilia
collectors in defining and chosing which sets they have or are buying.
Your friend and fellow collector and researcher,
JLowe
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