US 244. The Set Is Now Finished! With Updated Photo.

A great series to complete! Until reading this brief history, I never realized that the $4 issue had less than 23,000 stamps sold:



Here's a link to download the complete story, if you're interested:

http://www.casperstamp.com/images/B...6447b26236bd

Nice article. I had no idea, either! Now I want to see the top 100 list of greatest American stamps!

Rileysan, where did you find such a great price for that absolutely beautiful #244? I've been trying for six months to find one for the right price and with the right look with no luck. Yours looks like at least an $1000 stamp compared with what I've been seeing out there in the market place. I saw one for "only" $600 that was so covered with cancellations that Isabella and Columbus were barely visible. I'm very impressed with your success. Based on what you said in your comment, you also found your gorgeous #245 for under $475 which, if true, borders on the amazing. Please tell me you inherited some of these gems. If not, tell us all where you found the "mother lode" for these Columbians.

Very nice strike that balances out the stamp. Congrats!

Here's a link to the $30 book referenced above:

http://www.whitman.com/Inventory/De...rican-Stamps

I can only guess that this was a loss-leader for the seller. I received an email from Gary Posner Stamps a few weeks ago asking if there was anything in particular I was looking for. I gave them my short list and was presented with this one a couple weeks ago. It hadn't even been listed on their website or catalogue yet. Needless to say, I didn't think twice about purchasing it.

Nothing inherited! This collection is a compilation of 12 years of ebay purchases. There are a few I'd still like to upgrade, but overall, I'm quite pleased.

The 243 is sound and was less than $400. The 245 is reperfed on top (I missed it during my fervor to bid on it) and cost less than $325. The 230 - 242 are all mint, original gum, with a few of the lower values being never hinged. The 241 has a straight edge on top.

When buying this set, I looked for visual appeal more-so than perfection due to the high cost of graded stamps.

Brian

A fantastic looking set!!

I've been working on completing a used set since I was a kid. I still need the 2, 3 and 4 dollar values. I keep on looking. Many of the dollar values have heavy registry cancels hiding most of the design.

Jealous!

that is pretty

I bow to Rileysan as that is one of the Classic sets Im working on along with the Trans-Mississippi and PanPacific sets. That is a beautiful set and it is nice to see a complete set anywhere. Congrats on getting the final piecer

Thank you for the compliment!

Brian

Nice Rileysan I know your proud and you have every right to be so! Congratulations !

This thread always makes me smile! Great looking stuff Rileysan!