My # 573's Block Of Four

Here is a used block of four that I have had lying around for quite some time now and thought it deserved a look. I got it from a Frenchman a few years back as a bonus with an ebay purchase. What do you think?

my Block of 4 Scott# 573

That must have been quite a purchase to receive this block as a bonus!

not really. I think it was a revenue stamp that I paid .99 for and 20x that for shipping! lol

Postal clerks never change, do they?

He could have hit it once in the center to cancel all 4 stamps, but why not hit it 3 or 4 times to pound out some frustration...

At least it was before the day of Sharpies, Magic Markers (and other similar stamp crimes). Seriously though, the double oval cancellation was very common in that day and since the $20 in stamps were more likely attached to a parcel, it made sense that it would be cancelled that way.

I agree with Kirk S, that they could have done it a lot cleaner, but again, back in that day, the clerks were focused on cancelling the stamps and gave no attention to it as a future collectible.

So, basically it's worthless huh?

No no... I didn't mean to imply that.

It just seemed a little too typical to me that the clerk canceled it 3 times when one strike was sufficient.

You know me -- not happy when they hit it, not happy when they miss...

Scott #573 has a 2010 used value of $15 for a single. (My Scott Specialized from 2002 still shows a used single at $15, with a value of $90 for a block of 4), however that is in VF condition and the heavy cancel on your example would render its condition somewhat lower than VF, so the value would be proportionately diminished.

so maybe 30-35 on a good day? that would be great!

And Kirk S -yeah they do never change do they? Heck they could have hit it at least 2 or 3 more times ya know?

very cool block. I love those stamps.

Thank you very much. There seems to a fish-eye quality to the photo. I took the pic using macro mode so I could all the beautiful detailing on those wonderful and plentiful cancels..lol I maybe should have put this in the Stamp Crimes thread huh?