1 Cent Franklin Sells On Ebay For $32,300 !

This is probably old news to many of you U.S. collectors..but having just read the Feb 14 Linns last night I just saw it....The stamp was listed with the title Scott #9 CV $160.00...long story short a number of observers contended it might be a type 1 scott 5...a rarity valued in the scott specialized at $85,000 used...the lister said he knew something was up when the price jumped to $3 thosand on the 3rd day of the auction...he said he was happy with the results but would have been happy with a hundred dollars ! the person who bought the stamp asked not to be named...the man who listed the stamp has already been paid..as far I know the identity of the stamp remains unsolved....if someone knows of updates to this saga..please let us know ! Collecting U.S. stamps can be strange !!

Thanks Smauggie...can we assume the buyer overpaid a bit ? Uhhhh..if you spent that kind of money on a stamp..would you buy it on ebay or have it expertized first ?

i bet Bill Gross would not take that kind of a gamble !!

My guess is it was purchased by an expertiser. One who could be sure of its rarity and value.

That would be an optimistic view..he better know his onions !!

There is another one on ebay or someone trying to sell a stamp as one
But to me it looks like it is a 5 or a 5a but I strugle with these stamps

http://cgi.ebay.com/40-Var-IMPERF-S..._4205wt_1258

That stamp in the listing above looks to be a proof - perhaps 40P3?


Matt

Definitely a 40 proof. The 40 is easily distinguished by the dot between the inner and outer portrait oval at the 9:00 position.

The "#9" was positively identified as a #5 and plated to boot. Both Dick Cellar and Deporto identified it. On another stamp forum.

btw.. My high bid on that stamp was 10,000
at 32,400 it was an excellent deal.