Opportunity To Show What You Know.

I just got this email for auction outside the forum.

http://us.mg201.mail.yahoo.com/neo/launch

I'm not in a position to buy regardless...

but I need someone to explain why the posted #112 can command $450...+ or the sheet of #462 Washingtons a $1000 minimum. Am I thinking this is too much, or am I missing something. Either way, Feel free to educate me.

Some of us Barb, do not belong to Yahoo,
so cannot view the item.

It just takes me to my mail home.

I can't get in either!

Can you do a copy and pste of some of the info perhaps?

MAYBE this will be better.


http://stampwants-stamps.bidstart.c...orts-Cards--


USA #O112 1879 TREASURY 30¢ BROWN SOFT PAPER
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Seller
RegencySuperior (207)
20942
Member Since: Jan '07
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LocationMO
United States
This Seller is a reputable Dealer, and has been been carefully screened.
This Public Auction is subject to the Terms and Condtions listed below.
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Current Bid$450.00 Estimate Only
Your Max Bid USD Place Bid
You must bid AT LEAST $475.00
Plus a 17.00% Buyer's Premium (See Description)
Time Left14 days, 10h (Sat Nov-19-11 09:00:00 EST)
Suggested$600.00
Sale90
Lot Number1161
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USA #O112 1879 TREASURY 30¢ BROWN SOFT PAPER
Attractiv...
Bidder or seller of this item? Log in for your status.
Seller
RegencySuperior (207)
20942
Member Since: Jan '07
Ask Seller a Question
Add to My Favorite Sellers
View this Seller's Other Items
LocationMO
United States
This Seller is a reputable Dealer, and has been been carefully screened.
This Public Auction is subject to the Terms and Condtions listed below.
Convert
Currency
Current Bid$450.00 Estimate Only
Your Max Bid USD Place Bid
You must bid AT LEAST $475.00
Plus a 17.00% Buyer's Premium (See Description)
Time Left14 days, 10h (Sat Nov-19-11 09:00:00 EST)
Suggested$600.00
Sale90
Lot Number1161
You Can AlsoWatch this item
Will Ship To
Internationally (Worldwide)
Shipping & Payment Notes
Shipping and Ha

Well, normally I would say, Regency Superior -- enough said.

However, in this case, the O112 is a high catalog value item ($2400 in the 2011 Scott). Perhaps you missed the "O" and thought it was "112"? Even though it is repaired, the stamp is decently centered and has a pretty good surface appearance. Would I bid the $600 estimate + 17% buyer's premium? NO. But it's Regency Superior. They are one of several auction houses that have the habit of giving high estimates and gratuitous descriptions to make even a crumpled piece of scratch paper seem like a must-have rarity. They do offer a few very excellent stamps in their auctions -- I'm just turned off by the salesmanship. I stopped bidding in their auctions long ago (well before they jacked up their buyer's premium to the current ridiculous 17%). You know, they take a cut from the seller too -- so their final take is much more than the "paltry" 17%.

I cannot find any Washington sheets in their listings. Perhaps you meant this #469 PB listing of theirs?

http://stampwants-stamps.bidstart.c...43926/a.html

The 2010 Scott catalog has the MNH PB at $2500. So a $1000 starting bid is actually not bad for that plate block.

Barb, A little about the O112. The first official stamps were printed in 1873 by the Continental Bank Note Co. The CBNC 30 cent Treasury was printed on hard paper as Scott O81 with about 460,600 issued. In 1879 American Bank Note Co. took over the stamp production contract and printed about 80,000 of the 30 cent Treasury on soft paper (Scott O112). ABNC used the old CBNC plates for these stamps and the only difference is the paper type. On July 5, 1884 the use of the official departmental stamps was discontinued. On January 14, 1885 the Post Office Department issued orders to American Bank Note to destroy the plates, dies, transfer rolls and all official stamps in their vaults. About 20,600 of the 30 cent stamps were destroyed by ABNC.

Additionally, all unused stock of official stamps within the government departments were retured to the Post Office Department in mid July 1884 for destruction. Since only 80,000 were printed and at least 20,600 were destroyed there would only be a maximum of 59,400 available. This would make unused stamps pretty rare.

As for the 462 pane http://stampwants-stamps.bidstart.c...44050/a.html Complete panes without perf separations are more uncommon. I don't have my Durland with me right now to see if plate 7663 is a rare number. Two things I noted was the dry print of the lower plate number and the wide lower margin on the bottom with the extra approx 1mm on the lower perfs.

Edit: fixed link

Thanks Russ, now I see it!

And yes, 7663 is a scarce plate number. Durland marks it with an "*".

Wow, just sit back and soak up the education. Thanks Barb, and to all the people that replied.

Yes indeed... thanks all.