postage stamp photo prints - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 55-200mm f/4.5-5.6 II USM

02/04/2005 11:37:55 AM · #1

Hello,

I have been offered an opportunity by a stamp collector to take photos of some really old postage stamps that are part of his collection. He thinks that if I made photography art prints of them, people might be interested in buying them. (I'm teaching him some basic digital photography skills, and he made this offer to me as a form of payment for my service.)

My question is: Is it illegal to reproduce postage stamps in photography art prints? I believe that the US Postal Service copyrights their images. I'm sure that Canada Post does too. However, this guy has stamps that date back to the turn of the century, issued by postal authorities in European countries that no longer exist. It would be those early stamps I would be interested in photographing.

orussell

Canon EOS Rebel T6s

02/04/2005 11:43:46 AM · #2

Why not just scan them, assuming that you plan on photographing them flat.

edit: scanned at 2400dpi, a 1" square stamp would yield a 5.76MP image. No worries about barrel or pin distortion, less anti-alias/less sharpening issues, as much control over colour output as a camera, ect.

Message edited by author 2005-02-04 11:49:08.

jmsetzler

Sony Alpha a6000

Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 E-mount

02/04/2005 11:45:16 AM · #3

I believe you would ultimately run into legal issues trying to sell images of stamps.

02/04/2005 11:51:11 AM · #4

Originally posted by orussell:

That's a great idea! I'll definitely consider that!

Canon EF 55-200mm f/4.5-5.6 II USM

02/04/2005 11:53:56 AM · #5

Originally posted by jmsetzler:

I believe you would ultimately run into legal issues trying to sell images of stamps.

That's what I'm worried about. However, in my brief search on the web this morning, I haven't been able to find any information about this issue. I'm hoping that someone here would be able to share what they know.....if anything.

orussell

Canon EOS Rebel T6s

02/04/2005 12:01:30 PM · #6

Something occurred to me after I posted. Our local library has an artists' rendering of a very old Newfoundland stamp (pre-Confederation). There's a picture of it here but it's a very low res shot and the piece is obscured by a tree(to the right of the door). When I get a chance I'll get a good shot of it and try and find out who the artist was and any issues involved. May take me a couple of days. You could probably get the information yourself if you contact the library via their email. Good luck.

thatcloudthere

Canon EOS-1D

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM

02/04/2005 12:04:46 PM · #7

This is a very broad statement that you'll have to research;

I believe that most copyright laws (at least in Canada) are applied for only 50 years since the last application for copyright was made....???

I have done a little bit of research into this but I can't remember the facts anymore...it's worth looking into, though...

BrennanOB

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

02/04/2005 12:06:48 PM · #8

I don' know much about stamp collecting but I belive that stams are treated like currency ( reproduction is called forgery ) untill they are cancelled, at which point they become collectables and reproduction is legal. I belive that if your freind's collection is circulated, there should be no worries. If they are uncirculated, I know such images are used by collectors, but it is a much greyer area.

Currency or postage stamps can be photographed only for "...philatelic, numismatic, educational, historical, or newsworthy purposes in articles, books, journals, newspapers, or albums (but not for advertising purposes, except illustrations of stamps and paper money in philatelic or numismatic advertising of legitimate numismatists and dealers in stamps or publishers of or dealers in philatelic or numismatic articles, books, journals, newspapers, or albums)". (11) In addition, all full size photographs or illustrations of currency or stamps must be in black and white, while color photographs "...must be of a size less than three-fourths, or more than one and one-half, in linear dimensions..." of the original. Photographs of cancelled postage stamps or postage stamps taken in black and white may be full size. Finally, all negatives and plates used in producing the photographs must be destroyed after their final use. The dearth of cases in this area suggests that the Secret Service, the entity afflicted with enforcing this law, has better things to do than chase after photographers.