The Ronsonol isn't the worst thing. It's only "light petroleum distillate" or white gas. The same stuff Coleman lanterns used to run on, and maybe still do It's been a while.
Stuff previously sold/preferred as watermark detection fluid.
Benzine - Cancer hazard
Trichloroethane - Banned as an ozone depleting substance and also a bit unsafe.
trichlorotrifluoroethane - Not familiar with it, but adding fluorine to something generally doesn't make it safer.
Pretty much any non- water based fluid that won't leave a residue is fine. And for many foreign stamps watermark fluid is not needed. Just hold them up to the right light, or against a dark surface and it's seen fairly easily sometimes very easily.
Yes, there's quite a few common traits.
There's also a vast number of collectors who either don't care about that stuff, or who actively complain about and avoid it. (I love it when they're also part time dealers! )
The stamp term for hunting plate flaws is "flyspecking" And is usually at least a bit of a putdown.
Steve B
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