Highest Graded US Scott #226 Sells For Over 44x Catalogue

Lot description from The September 2008 Collector's Series Sale - Spink Shreves Galleries - September 11-13, 2008



Lot 1218 - #226, 10c Green, perfectly centered within much larger margins than typically encountered, deep prooflike color and impression, immaculate o.g., never hinged, superb.Collectors of gem United States mint stamps recognize that the Ten Cent value is the most difficult of all the 1890 Small Bank Notes to find in superb quality. Most are very tightly margined, poorly centered and when one finds a well centered and margined example it is invariably hinged. This particular copy, with its flawless centering, wide margins, outstanding color and pristine never hinged original gum, makes it one of the most important condition rarities in the entire auction.A stunning gem for placement in the finest mint collection. Accompanied by a 2008 PSE certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $24,100.00); this is not only the highest graded #226, it is the only example to be so graded.....CV. $675.00 ...Sold for $30,000.00

OMG! That stamp is beautiful! I couldn't afford a CV one, but you can definitely see the centering and eye popping coloring.

This is a cool stamp and one that I personally like in my top twenty. I have a few of them used because I have yet to find one in mint condition that is in my price range.

You have to love the green in this stamp

Lovely stamp. The crispness and the colour make it look like a proof. Imagine, $30 000 for that stamp! I would gather it is a one-of-a-kind, in that condition.

David

As P.T. Barnum said...

Yes, I can appreciate the near-flawless condition of the stamp, but 44x? Give me a break.


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WPG: I'm with you: 10x, maybe!.And P.T. Barnum , bullseye!

Stunning stamp but absurd realization

So, funcity, do you think the buyer asked for a cert? Just Kidding

WOW! Regardless of the price, anyone has to appreciate what a beautiful example of the cat# this specimen really is. Never seen one like it before so I may just download this image so I can remind myself how perfection looks!

I have that complete series in used condition...but that's as pretty as I've seen lately. My unused #219 Franklin is one of my favorites, too.
Allan

To Kirk s -my response to your jibe about a cert is simply this: the stamp looks like perfect specimen to me and is nh. I am not a fan of grading because I think it artficially inflates the market and makes the goal not a nice stamp for your collection which one should be able to see without a grade but rather the achievement of a number on a cert. If this stamp is perfect, why did't the grading service give it 100? And that to me is the stamp market version of the crackout coin game.

Point taken, funcitypapa.

I was just teasing because of all the deep philosophical discussion over in another thread.

KirkS

44 times? That's nothing!

A 20 cent stamp graded at 98 goes for around $105. That's 525 times CV! And lets not even go to gem 100. Insane.

Balf

ok when are we launching SCF grading services?. I sure could do with some extra cash. Who is with me?

I would like to see forum members post stamps that have been graded, or raw, to sharpen our grading skills like they do on the coin forum

I agree with some others as its hardly the highest premium over cat value for a well centered stamp. Nevertheless if I was earning 100x the income that I do now - I might consider! (and sadly that's not too hard to imagine :( )