Confederate Stamp Alliance RapidScan Program

CSA Rapid Scan
ID Program

Here is how the CSA
Rapid Scan ID Program Works:

The ability to scan your item (stamp or cover) is required. Be sure to remove the item from the glassine, mount, or holder prior to scanning as these materials will distort the image.
The scan should be in color at a density at least 150 dpi. Format should be .jpeg but .gif is also acceptable.
E-mail the scan as an attachment directly to Dr. John L. Kimbrough at JLKCSA@aol.com. Be sure and include in your e-mail message exactly what questions you have about the item in the scan.
An e-mail message concerning the analysis of the scan will be returned very quickly (usually within 24 hours) providing that payment has been submitted (see below for payment options).

This service is open to anyone who wishes to use it. Membership in the Confederate Stamp Alliance is not required. But there is a charge for the service. The charge is a simple $3.00 per scan for everyone. Paying for the service is easy --

On-line payment through PayPal is the quickest and easiest way to pay. Submit your payment of $3.00 per scan through PayPal (www.paypal.com) to this e-mail address: rbrtfrailey@yahoo.com
The alternative would be to pay by check or money order (please no cash) made out to "The Confederate Stamp Alliance" and mailed to John L. Kimbrough, 10140 Wandering Way, Benbrook TX 76126.
The return e-mail analysis of the scan will not be sent until payment by one of those two methods is confirmed.

CSA Rapid Scan
ID Program

The Confederate Stamp Alliance Authentication Service has instituted a simplified program whereby a scan of your Confederate stamp or cover can be submitted

for a rapid identification analysis. This is an opportunity to have your questions quickly answered about the proper identification of your CSA philatelic item without having to go through the sometimes lengthy formal certification process. The cost is also substantially less.

This rapid identification service is especially suited for e-Bay buyers and sellers who need a quick time-sensitive reply. Collectors with limited knowledge of Confederate material will also find this service helpful in identifying dangerous forgeries and reprints.
The scans should be submitted directly to John L. Kimbrough MD for interpretation at (JLKCSA@aol.com). Dr. Kimbrough is a Life Member of the Confederate Stamp Alliance and a well-known and respected specialty dealer/collector/exhibitor of CSA stamps and postal history as well as the co-author of the APS 2003 Literature Grand Award winning book Collector's Guide to Confederate Philately.

DISCLAIMER: The following limitations apply:

Please be advised that the Rapid Scan ID Program is NOT a substitute for formal certification and should not be construed as a formal authentication service. The main purpose is to informally answer questions and provide as much information as the scan allows.
Scans submitted for Rapid Scan ID must be owned by the person submitting the scan. Third party evaluations without the knowledge and consent of the owner are not permitted.
Scan interpretation cannot assess the overall condition. That can only be done with a hands-on examination.
This is not a valuation or an appraisal service. No value estimate will be given for any item submitted for a Rapid Scan ID. But if the item is truly significant, or if all the questions cannot be adequately answered by scan interpretation, or if there is a serious question as to genuineness, then submitting the item for formal certification by the CSA Authentication Service may be recommended.
A scan analysis cannot distinguish between the various stones of CSA #1 and CSA #4. Distinguishing between the stones can only be done with accuracy by plating the stamp. Stamp plating is not available with this service.
Distinguishing between certain color shades based on a scan alone may not be accurate. For example, it would be very difficult to tell a CSA #5 Deep Rose from a CSA #5 Carmine based solely on a scan. This is an example of something that would be recommended for formal certification.