Recent applications of Spectroscopy in Philately with Richard Judge

BESG Hosts Thursday,September 10th, 2026 6PM ET NY

Recent applications of Spectroscopy in Philately with Richard Judge

🔬 CAN SCIENCE TELL YOU WHAT YOUR STAMP REALLY IS?
Recent Applications of Spectroscopy in Philately
with Richard Judge
What is spectroscopy? Simply put, it is using specialized instruments to examine how the materials in a stamp interact with different forms of energy—such as X-rays, infrared or ultraviolet light. The resulting scientific “fingerprints” can reveal differences in inks, pigments, paper and gum that our eyes alone may not detect.
And that opens up some fascinating possibilities for philately.
Is that rare shade really a different shade?
Is an overprint genuine—or a fake?
Is the gum original?
Can the chemistry of an ink reveal a stamp's printing history?
Can science help determine whether a catalogued variety actually exists?
Join the British Empire Study Group as Richard Judge demonstrates how techniques including XRF, FTIR and fluorescence spectroscopy are being applied to actual stamps and real philatelic problems.
You'll see investigations involving catalogued color varieties, questionable overprints, gum authenticity, pigments, printing differences and elusive varieties—including studies of the famous “Prussian Blue” shades.
📅 Thursday, September 10, 2026
🕕 6:00 PM Eastern Time (New York)
🎤 Richard Judge
You don't need to be a scientist to enjoy this presentation—just a collector who has ever looked at a stamp and wondered:
“How do we actually know?”
The stamp may look the same. Its chemistry may tell a very different story.
Our post-program discussion welcomes comments and insights from different perspectives, personal experiences, and insights from different backgrounds and cadres.

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/7817808350010/WN_JVOELC-PRGObUnOqXJGD4g

ABOUT RICHARD JUDGE

Richard attained his PhD in Chemistry at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario in 1977. He did a postdoc for two years at Brock University in St.Catharines, Ontario. He then joined the Ontario Ministry of Environment for four years as head of their XRF and XRD units. He returned to Brock University as a research associate to pursue his original interest in the analysis of high resolution spectra of small polyatomic molecules. After four years, he joined the University of Wisconsin-Parkside as an assistant professor of chemistry and retired 28 years later and is now professor emeritus of that university.
An author or coauthor of nearly 40 papers on electronic spectroscopy, he now spends most of his time gardening, volunteer work and on various philatelic projects.

Join the British Empire Study Group on Thursday September 10th 2026, at 6:00 PM EDST to meet Richard Judge

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/7817808350010/WN_JVOELC-PRGObUnOqXJGD4g