Chalky paper

Chalky paper is one that has had its front surface coated with a chalk slurry. This was done to prevent removal of pen and revenue cancels. A shiny face is often an indicator that a stamp has chalky paper. This only applies to older stamps, where stamps of the last 50 years or so can be found on very shiny and slick surfaced paper that is not chalky, i.e., glazed paper.

For the British Empire, many mid- to high value stamps had chalky paper from the time of Edward VII to George VI.

Tests
Since certain values can be on both normal and chalky paper, several tests exist:
 * The traditional method is called the silver test. A silver coin is lightly touched and definitely NOT scraped on the face of a stamp. This will leave a gray mark on chalky paper, which must now be erased with a very soft eraser like a Mars Staedtler one. This test is made moot since we usually don't have silver coins anymore.
 * The cold test involves lightly touching the front surface to your upper lip. Needless to say, no lipstick or oiled mustaches here. A chalky paper stamp should feel quite cold. If your (washed) fingers are sensitive enough, you can feel the same effect.
 * Examination with a magnifier will show pits and craters due to bubbles drying during the chalk slurry application. The surface will be otherwise very smooth otherwise without any paper weave visible.

Used stamps on chalky paper should not be soaked to remove hinges or backing paper as the colors will run (as probably intended). Floating should be used instead.





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