High Value Finds In Low Value Lots

revenuecollector's find in this thread got me thinking -- do you have any high-value stamps that you got for a bargain price, either because it wasn't properly identified, wasn't recognized for what it was, etc.?

Two from my collection came to mind:

I bought this set of four for about $2. They are the German-occupied Serbia set issued on 22 Sep 1941 to benefit the victims of catastrophic damage to the city of Semendria. Michel catalog price for MNH, €8 (about $11 US).



As it turns out, the 2+4 Din stamp has a rare plate flaw -- the "front door" plate flaw -- not listed in Scott (which the seller was using), but listed in Michel's specialized catalog. I didn't see the plate flaw until months later when I scanned the stamp for posting to my website.



Michel catalog value with the plate flaw, €450 (about $620).

Perhaps my favorite catch... These are the 1941 Banja Luka local issues from the Independent State of Croatia (German puppet state in Croatia during WWII).



Michel catalog value for the pair is €1,500 (€750 for each). I paid about €400 for the pair. Once I got them home, I realized the 2 Din stamp had a rare plate flaw -- "Basanska" instead of "Bosanska".



Michel catalog value for the 2 Din with that plate flaw -- €3,000.

Too bad I'll never see a dime of profit off the finds. Maybe my heirs will.

i have had excellent buys on foreign stamps and covers from dealers who specialize in United States stamps and throw their foreign stamps and covers in dollar boxes..they probably picked the items up as part of a estate sale and just wanted to move them..i will take a $$$ cover for a buck anytime..its a case where I know the worth more than the dealer does !

Great finds PMGS!

I bought a US #150 VF sound SCV 850.00 mint... for 80.00, turned out to be a 187 value SCV 1200.00

the prices quoted are scott values for these stamps in MINT NO GUM condition.

I bought an old album today which had these two items in.
If they are what I think they are then it is not a bad find for what I paid.

PostmasterGS,

Not a high value stamp but what about an unlisted stamp that had cause to generate a new catalog number? BTW, they were free, given to me by a member of the Winchester, VA stamp club.

As some of you know, I also collect state revenues. Actually I'm just getting in to them. In 2007 the State Revenue Society published "The SRS State Revenue Stamps Catalog" and it was the 1st new catalog in this area in more than 50 years. Its out of print now but in 2012 the updated version will be out, I hope.

It seems that a lot of new finds are being made every few months and
Not high value but what about a new catalog number example?

I was one of those lucky to find an unlisted State Revenue Stamp. It is one of the Liquor Use Tax Stamps of Washington, DC. It is the 1/20 Gallon stamp and I found 5 copies. (Used on Alcohol,Champagne, Liquor and Wine) It will be catalog Number L20 or they will need to re-list some numbers to put this one in its proper numeric place. I gave 1 VF copy to the SRS President, retaining the other 4 copies.



I suspect there are others state revenues out there just waiting to be identified and listed in the SRS catalog.

Art

My Saturday find does appear to be an Italy #1 and looks to be mint albeit a bit rough.
Cat. value is approx. €8700 and the 40c €300 in Michel 2009 for the lowest priced varieties.

I also bought this a few months ago at the same place.
France #2 €1100 again for the lowest priced variety.
I paid approx. 0.33% of cat. prices.

Two weeks ago, I "let go" on Delcampe a pair of cinderellas when they arribed at the (for me too high) price of 45 €. Last Sunday on the Barcelona's stamp market, I found one of the two for just 0.5 €; the best thing is that I also got another skyiing cinderella of early 1900 for the same price.
Buts this only happens once in a while.

I bought a lot of five covers for a little over $30. Three had 1863 2c black Jacksons on them (Scott 73), one had a 2c black Jackson with E grill (Scott 87) and the prize had a 3c rose Washington with C grill (Scott 83) -- I doubt I'll ever be that lucky again. The details and images are in these threads:

https://goscf.com/t/14821

https://goscf.com/t/14828&SearchTerms=scott+87