Common Stamp Faults

Dave Chupp leads a dog-breeding company in Nappanee, Indiana, as manager and owner. Providing a loving environment for dogs, he ensures they are properly socialized and healthy. Outside of his professional responsibilities, Dave Chupp collects stamps.

Stamp faults include such mistakes as bad printing and misplaced colors. While these may decrease the value of a stamp, certain rare and appealing mistakes may actually increase the value. Following are a few common stamp faults that collectors may encounter:

- Missing color: Sometimes, one or more colors are missing from a stamp. More often seen among modern stamps due to the minimal amount of color used in older designs, this fault results from a stage being skipped in the coloring process.

- Color shift: One of the most widely seen stamp faults, color shifts result in a double impression due to misalignment of the printing plates. This type of fault, which may be either subtle or easily noticeable, does not often increase value because of its commonality.

- Invert error: Most often seen in stamps with multicolored impressions, invert errors occur when at least one design element prints upside-down. Inverted center stamps have the center design inverted, while inverted frame stamps have the frame upside-down.

- Perforation shift: Perforation shifts, typically seen in older stamps, result in the stamp design being slightly off-center. Major shifts that cause a stamp design to be nearly cut in half may increase value, since these stamps are often destroyed after printing.

Goldendoodles - Friendly Dogs for Owners with Allergies

 

Dave Chupp is a Nappanee, Indiana, business owner who raises several breeds of dogs, from French bulldogs to Siberian huskies. Dave Chupp also raises Goldendoodles, a breed that originated in Australia two decades ago as guide dogs for people with impaired vision.

The golden retriever and poodle mix has the standard poodle’s hypoallergenic, minimally shedding coat, so it is ideal for people with allergies. Goldendoodles are known for their intelligence and friendliness, and they enjoy the companionship of their owners.

Consummate "inside dogs," Goldendoodles are nonaggressive and thrive on social interaction. At the same time, they are athletic animals that appreciate the opportunity to run outdoors.

When left alone for extended periods, Goldendoodles' intelligence may get them into mischief. With training, however, the dogs can find inventive ways of entertaining themselves.

One aspect to consider when selecting a Goldendoodle is pedigree. First-generation Goldendoodles tend to have either a golden retriever's or a poodle’s personality traits, while multigenerational Goldendoodles have more of a mix of traits.

The Akita - a Complex and Devoted Breed of Dog

Maintaining an established Indiana dog-breeding business, Dave Chupp raises puppies of a variety of breeds, including Havaneses and French bulldogs. Dave Chupp also breeds Akitas, which are originally from a mountainous region of Honshu in Japan.

A complex breed of dog, Akitas were initially bred from hunting dogs in the 19th century and used as guard dogs. The first Akita registry was created in 1929, and a standard was introduced in 1937.

Unfortunately, the ravages of World War II brought the Akita lineage close to extinction. After the war, the few surviving pure-bred Akitas were identified, and breeding continued.

Calm and dignified, the Akita has a personality that many characterize as determined and courageous. Reserved among strangers, Akitas are protective without displaying aggressive traits, unless they are provoked.

The Akita can be aggressive with other animals, however, and with other Akitas of the same sex. As a result, one Akita is often kept as the sole family pet. Akitas require a firm owner who maintains status as the alpha in the "pack," and in return, the dog will provide unstinting devotion.

The Coast Redwood - a Uniquely Large, Long-Lived Tree Species

A respected Indiana dog breeder, Dave Chupp offers families a full range of well-socialized puppies, from Morkies to Alaskan malamutes. With an enthusiasm for the outdoors, Dave Chupp particularly enjoys traveling to US national parks.

One of Mr. Chupp’s most memorable destinations was Redwood National & State Parks, situated along the fog-laden Northern California coast in Humboldt County. For many visitors, the highlight of this unique park system is the coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens), which is the only surviving tree of its genus.

Common throughout the western United States during the Jurassic Period, coast redwoods are now relegated to a narrow coastal band that is perpetually damp. The trees also cannot live at high elevations or in areas with persistent frost and snow conditions during winter.

Within its ecosystem, the coast redwood is king, with mature trees reaching heights of more than 350 feet and a lifespan extending 2,000 years. The uniquely large size of the tree and its shade-giving properties create sparse underbrush that is ideal for ferns, mushrooms, and certain types of berries.

With high tannin content in its bark, coast redwoods are highly resistant to fire and insect infestations, and diseases are almost unknown to the trees. Logging poses the most serious threat to this majestic reminder of the prehistoric achievements of nature.