Manipulated Items

Sometimes you see items which look interesting but on the second spot you notice something weird. Such items will be shown here... 

Here an apparently nice and rare cover sent 1929 from India to Iraq.

My archive revealed that ths cover had been some years ago in the collection of Art Groten. See Black/white image below. The cover as described was mailed 14 June 1929 from Bombay to Jaffa, Palestine via surface to Baghdad and "overland" from Baghdad to Haifa. Received in Haifa 25 June 1929, and delivered same day in Jaffa. 25 June 1929. Franking: 1- 6 annas, India Postage.

NOTE: For various reasons it is doubtful that the cover in fact was carried by the overland Mail from Iraq to Palestine but from India to Egypt and onwards to Palestine.

A few years later it appeared on ebay, now enhanced with an Overland Mail Label. even if the B/W mage above is of poor quality, it can be clearly seen that the cover in fact is the same, just "enhanced".

A beautiful cover on the first spot, however, the Iraq Service stamp on front (lower right side) has been added. On the other hand, on reverse one stamp is missing. Needless to say, the added Iraq stamp is described as rare two-country franking, the missing stamp on reverse is (forgotten) to mention.

Also this cover s frequently offered at a relatively high price but failed to be sold so far .The seller is ignorant enough to accept the facts.

Another manipulated item still offered at ebay, this time without mentioning the Overland Mail Route Instruction Handstamp.

A otherwise wonderful 1922 cover to Egypt, but, in 1922 the Overland Mail was not yet in operation!!! The registered cover is sent from Basrah on 6 December 1922, on reverse Baghdad Transit postmark dated 8 December 1922 and arrival postmark Cairo 11 December 1922. On front a Basrah, framed, blue registration label and, what surprises me, a "Overland Mail Basrah-Haifa" Route Instruction handstamp. However, Overland Mail Service started only in late 1922. So, either the Overland Mail handstamp was added to enhance the cover or the cover is a totals fabrication. Who can help to solve the mystery?