Check Watermark Release For Free

To see if your stamp has a watermark, place it face down in a watermark tray, and pour enough watermark fluid over it to cover completely. (Never use water.) The watermark should be visible; how well it shows varies with the stamp. You may not see a whole letter or design, but only part of one.

Many watermarks that have been firmly impressed into the stamp paper can be viewed by simply turning the stamp face down and placing it on a dark background, such as the watermark tray, without any fluid on the stamp. This is the fastest way to find a watermark, and it should be the first method you try.

1) Not always reliable, but certainly the simplest way, is to hold the stamp up to a bright light with the back of the stamp facing you. In some instances bright light will show through the thinner areas of the paper and reveal a watermark. You can also try laying the stamp face side down on a black surface.

All U.S. Treasury checks are printed on watermarked paper. The watermark reads U.S. TREASURY and can be seen from both the front and back of the check when held up to a light. The watermark is light and cannot be reproduced by a copier.

Not all stamps have watermarks. Many foreign stamps do, but most U.S. stamps manufactured in this century do not. Identical stamps that have different watermarks are considered different stamps. For that reason, collectors must be able to see and identify the watermarks on the stamps they collect.

Re: What is the best watermark detector for stamps? Watermark fluid is what almost every dealer I know uses - fast and accurate and does more than just show watermarks. Holding up to a window or lamp works well in many cases and costs little. The 'Signoscope' types are expensive for things that don't really work.More items...?

It sounds like your refund was offset by the Bureau of Fiscal Services for a debt you owed--either back taxes, child support or delinquent student loans.