K.E   I'm a silly little man - whoopee!!

timewasted-raff

eshaw225 - first you will have to get a catalog. A Scott Specialized lists UN as well as some commercial catalogs such as Brookman or Harris. A used catalog from the past 2 years should do fine.

With a few exceptions there is little relationship between "catalog value" and market value. Peruse the UN stamps on eBay for real life examples. Ads in the back of Linns Stamp News used to offer to purchase accumulations of UN mint OG NH for 75 - 80 percent of face value.

The first souvenir sheet #38 is likely the most desirable item. Should you have marginal inscription blocks some of the earliers bring a premium. The 1-1/2c first issue precancel is a better item as well. Some Offices in Geneva and Vienna too.

The sad bottom line is that there is really not much demand for UN stamps, and regardless of what a catalog says a value is, it is the demand of the market which rules the roost with UN.

In yesterday's mail I received a mailing from a dealer franked with values from the first issue. He likely bought them at a huge discount from face, and is known for almost exclusively mailing from NYC with UN stamps.

If you were given the collection you are going to be ok.

Start with looking thru eBay closed auctions.

UN-raff

PayPal offers a fantastic way to get stamps and anything else absolutely free.  Buy anything from eBay, pay using PayPal but DO NOT CHOSE Registration service or any other trackable shipping service.  Chose just standard postage service.  Once you receive your goods fill a complaint at PayPal stating that you have not received your goods. PayPal will request the seller to prove that the goods have been shipped. Since no Registration or any other trackable shipping method was chosen by the buyer, the seller cannot prove shipping was done so buyer get his money refunded.  Extremely easy!!!!   Try it, it works all the time and no questions will be asked to the buyer !!!

I have lost hundreds of dollars due to this PayPal policy.  For this reason I WILL NO MORE ACCEPT PAYPAL unless Registration service is added.  Sorry but I hope you understand the reason.
Payment Instructions : After auctions end, if you want to send payment ahead, just add the total of your win(s) up to 5 lots, add $0.95 for shipping to USA, $0.75 to Canada and $1.75 for the rest of the world. Heavier letters will be quoted shipping accordingly. Missing amounts will delay the shipping of the lot(s) until full amount is remitted. I will not be responsible for lots lost or damaged in the mail. Registration service is mandatory to some countries with unsafe mail system as China PR, Indonesia, Malaysia, Russia and South America. This Shipping charge applies ONLY ONCE, regardless of the number of lots you win but heavier packages will require an additional postage charge.
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Groovy.

60s-raff

Forgery Identification Site

What is kewlest?

Re Printed Matter, that is a term for overseas mail, domestic mail of the same kind is third class.

riff-raff

As time permits I am making images of my better items as part of my inventory (better items at the moment mean up to 1940.)

As a test I imaged the same stamp on my scanner in two different manners:
1. The left stamp was imaged through a Showgard mount with the rest of the background being the white scanner cover.
2. The right stamp was imaged through a Showgard mount AND a Hagner stocksheet making the rest of the background black.

Scan Comparison [150kb]

OBSERVATIONS:
1. The resolution appears very close whether scanned through one or two transparent layers.
2. The color is quite a bit different:
-- the white background (left) results in a darker, duller image.
-- the black background (right) results in a brighter image.
When compared to the real stamp under white light NEITHER scan accurately depicts the correct color.
The left stamp (white background) is much closer to the real thing, but has a bit too much red in it.

In your opinion does it matter?
If I were ever to sell, the buyer would look at the real item anyway.

Block of R5a

It's downright ugly, but I had to have it.
It demonstrates one aspect of early imperf stamps.
Scissors were as prominent at the time (1864 in this case), so stamps were often separated in any way possible.

1. Registered or parcel post cancellations on a stamp of that type do not significantly affect value.

2. It is probably a 355.

3. Evidence points to a reperf job, most likely on the left.

If #2 is wrong OR #3 is correct then I have to take steps to replace it.
Will it take a definitive opinion (a cert) to resolve these questions?

Just to keep this philatelic ,the statement I made also goes for liquidting ones stamp holding.The prices collectors are getting now are the best i've seen in a long time .I continue to be amazed by the high prices not only for quality items but also the common type of stamps .The percentages are higher ,years ago it was not unusal to buy dealer lots of MNH worldwide sets at 1/5 of catalog and country collections of stamps in the 20 cent to $50.00 range at a small percentage of catalog .

But the prices that a person can get on E-BAY after a little work breaking it down into salable lots has been climbing over the months .For weeks have been watching a few big sellers and many are getting what I think are fantastic prices like 1/2 catalog and higher {CAUTION --- all statements in this posting are general statements and someone could possibily find a stamp sold for less }....off to another day of working on my tan .....paul

My prediction of GOING TO CASH is a important one to preserve capital,especially when dealing with the average age of the reader here ,the stock market is showing signs of serious trouble and uncertainy.This is being confirmed with the recent weeks movement.Using wording like" fleeing"to CD's is a dumb remarke ,its smart investing in times like this .

In your posting you are using hindsight to say when a investors enters or exits the market at tops ,for a investor to pick the exact point in hindsight is just a cheap shot by you sir.

So give me your call or anybody else ,people want a call ahead of time not a back date market statement like you posted as getting in or out -----do something like this ------BUY MARCH CORN at these levels and sell into the rally next Jan. or Feb 2008 ,use a 15 cents down side stop loss and look to take 40 cents or better on the up side ......call the move ahead of time not looking at history and saying what could of happen ......today and two months ago or a month ago its PUT YOUR MONEY IN CASH.....paul

3e

1. Refer to my post of 09:55:45

If you are unable or unwilling to do as suggested, then either

1. total up the face value of all the sheets, tell how many sheets there are, and list them all by name or description as they appear on the stamps, (or break them into lots depending on the face value of the stamp, or

2. Contact a stamp dealer closest to you and sell direct to him, or

3. go back to your consignor and tell them you are returning their stamps to them because in all good conscience you don't have a clue what you are doing.

riff-raff

yip-yap

yak-yak

riff-raff

K.E   I'm a silly little man - whoopee!!

dc as primarily a cover collector others may be more qualified to answer. Your 50c looks to be Scott 421 or 422 perf 12, depending on watermark. it looks to be an average stamp and would be lucky to bring 20% cv here at ebay. Likely retail from a store or bourse dealer would be 50%.

The 5c looks to be Scott # 355 with a better CV of $130 in my 2005 version. The coil use was primarily for volume mailers, either overseas or parcels. The cancel is pretty nice for this. I would think it to be a 30-40% item here on eBay, perhaps 60% from a store/bourse dealer.

Of course I havent done a comparable search here on eBay and may be all wet.

The underlying factor in pricing used stamps to me is "how easy is it to find a better one in a reasonable amount of time" given that one priced at another 25% upward is of no financial consequence.

jeff-raff

3e - your sheets are Scott catalog #s 1434-1435, C76, and 1331-1332, left to right.

I did a quick search of completed items and these have sold in a range of $4.81 - 7.05, $3.50 - 8.50, and $6.38 - 15.00.

I did not look at descriptions to note any faults or condition.

You should likely get a used scott catalog so you can identify the stamp and do the same. (contact me as to a source if interested)

You can also search US, mint sheets and see what others charge for shipping and any suggestion as to how they package.

Selling and shipping mint sheets is a pain to me, just be patient and do your homework.

jeff-raff

At what point does a special use cancel (registered, parcel post, etc.) reduce (or increase) the value of a stamp?

High face value stamps ("high" being relative to the date of use) were never issued with the intent of paying letter rate postage.
For instance, this stamp circa 1909:

Click To Enlarge

But what about this stamp also circa 1909:

Click To Enlarge

Because of the cancel do I have to value it something less than catalogue?
And if so, by how much?
Or is it worth more because of its "different" usage?

And, a flattened priority mail box will do, (if you are foing to ship priority) just be sure the box folds and lip inside where glued don't emboss the stamps. A thin sheet of chipboard might protect there.

shorttermmemory-raff

3e - for flat shipping 2 pieces of corrugated box board cut with corrugations at 90 degrees to each other should do fine.

An alternative is a large diameter shipping tube, with emphasis on large, probably not less than 4 inches in diameter.

For interleaving ordinary waxed kitchen paper should do fine in shipment.

Likely others will have suggestions too.

jeff-raff

jimbo - instant replay reveals you are correct. First down!

half-raff

Guten morgen Botha, gruss aus Texas

The stamps overprinted PHILIPPINES, GUAM and PUERTO RICO were valid in any US or territory post office. Their use was not restricted to the country of overprint.

Thus the cover was possibly carried by a traveller from Guam to the Philippines, or was a collector-made item.

Jeff-raff

I have a few extras around here (both Kiusalas & Sonic) if anyone really needs one and can't find it through another venue. Please contact me off board for details.

David B. ---Still got them all over the desk ,got interested in a book of French Polynesia ,which have taken a huge jump up in price in the 2008 catalog ....paul

Ken - the post office would prefer you keep the entire sheet or pane and never use it.

However, for a single stamp from a multi-stamp pane or sheet of the same stamp I understand collectors sometimes remove the surrounding stamps (use on mail) and then trim the remaining backing paper neatly around the center stamp.

Or they might simply remount to any convenient backing paper from other self-adhesive stamps.

Or, do what I prefer to do, at least with commems, collect them used on envelope. Now, there's the challenge.

I have probably used 10 panes of the star wars stamps on my eBay mailings, and have received only 2 on mailed-in payments, and only one was on a small envelope.

I am amazed (bemused, perplexed, stupified, whatever the correct word) about how many COVER collectors who buy from me think nothing of sending a check in a long #10 envelope with definitive franking, or obsolete rate stamps picked up at shows at a discount.

My, how DID I get on that soapbox??

Vox-raff

JW pity, then you could have been wild-ratty-raff

PC I would suggest $25 - 40 for a single paying 3c 1st class plus 10c special delivery or registration. Likely more if of exhibitable condition.

Re the free franked 13c SD use, I got nearly $100 perhaps a year ago, it was censored and coming from a civilian contractor posted at an APO in Alaska.

alec and of course the 23c should have read 13c.

typo-raff

(Who is now off for a most welcome and uncommon afternoon nap.)

nappy-raff

While I am here, this B-I-N lot didn't last 3 hours.

happy-raff

And of course 3c first class + 10c Special delivery, or 3c first class + 10c registration.

slowontheuptake-raff

alec 13c special delivery fee on a free franked cover. And there are likely several possibilities in the non-letter mail categories. I have a 13c fourth bureau on a sack that mailed seeds at a special 4th class (or maybe 3rd) seed rate.

As to the value, it is really neither no more nor no less than any other FDC of the 23c Prexie.

rate-raff

alec- it is not, rate increments per ounce were 5c + 3c + 3c etc

rate-rat

briguy

I da ho??

You da ho!

ho-ho