Help Needed On Used 606A Line Pair

My Guess: it would sell for about six dollars on ebay. But, I've only been collecting stamps for 59 years what do I know??

Just as a point of reference, here's a link to a mint example of the 606a line pair (with certificate) that has a catalog value of $1000 and a realized price of only $345:

http://www.harmerschau.com/cgilocal...=1650&lang=1

Oh, I think you would definitely get more than $6 for it if properly listed on ebay. But for each 0 you add to your target selling price, you get a corresponding order of magnitude drop in the number of interested buyers.

I was hesitant to mention this when this thread first started. But I did do a google search specifically for a used line pair. If you look carefully through all those Google mis-hits, you will find one link to a blog that mentioned a listing for a 606a used line pair. Unfortunately, that section of the blog is no longer posted at that site, so there is no longer a link to that sales listing. Unless that listing was yours, that means there was another one.

As I mentioned before, I really don't think you would get more than the same order of magnitude as the MNH retail price for your used line pair, even though you may have the only certified example of a 606a used line pair. That means a net sale price of a few hundred dollars at most. I don't think any of us are going to convince you of that, simply because we don't share the exact same viewpoints regarding the relationship between RARITY and VALUE.

I can only repeat the same thing again -- if you are dead set on trying to attract the big spenders, then the major auction houses are really the ONLY way to go. In general, the big spenders don't waste their time surfing ebay. They typically have their own established auctions/sellers. Keep in mind that just because the big spenders are there, it doesn't mean they will spend big money on your line pair. I just can't imagine a reasonable possibility of someone forking out 4-5 digits bids for your line pair, even if it was proven to be the only one in existence.

So from that point of view, Chasa's quip about $6 is actually a lot closer to the likely sale price than what you are thinking.

Well, I've been wrong before...

...just my honest opinion.

This is a scan from my 2012 scotts

The other thing to consider here is, just because you're the only one to submit one for certification does not mean it's the only one in existence. Perhaps the holders of the others did not feel as if it was worth the certification cost and that would be my first warning light that started flashing. Again, read Scott's specialized regarding the absence of value.

Chasa did not beat around the bush and I see it the same way. Look at the completed listings on ebay stamps for used 606a pieces and you will see that they are going unsold at $20 and as much as people do not like to admit it, they are the market barometer. If you put a Stamp on ebay, if it's in demand and the price is reasonable to someone, it will sell.

Can anyone i.d. the slogan cancellation?

I think of this as a 1950's slogan cancel, but I'm no expert.

You will likely get more for it as a pair than for 2 singles, but you are unrealistic in your expectations in getting $25k or more as the demand it unlikely to be that high. Talk to some more auction houses.
As for the idea of listing it on ebay with a start of 99c and a huge reserve to try to find its value - it won't work - bidders just don't bid the same way on hidden reserve items because they assume you are just fishing and thus it is a waste of their time.

Agreed!

My observations -

1) Looking at my 2004 specialized catalogue I keep in my office, 606a is unlisted. I still have not read a definitive answer as to when this was a recognized variety. Until this thread, I never knew it existed. How many US collectors know about it?

2) Because this variety has only recently been recognized by Scott, there is no possible way to calculate its scarcity. It may take YEARS before a reasonable estimate can be made on how many exist.

3) It is ridiculous to compare this color variety with other major US errors (like 121b, C3a, etc). The difference between Carmine and Carmine Lake is subtle enough that it's possible, if not likely, that there is a large quantity of this stamp hiding out there in collections like mine (I'm color-blind. I will NEVER see the difference).

My opinion? You didn't win the lottery. But it appears no amount of common-sense being spoken here will convince you of that. If you separate the two stamps in the belief you'll make lots of $$, then you will have irreparably damaged this lovely line-pair.

Brian

The slogan cancel is indeed:

Fight TB // Support Your TB Association

As far as I can tell, that slogan cancel was most prevalent during the 1950s and into the mid 1960s (although it was used at times into the early 1970s in some locations). The USPOD in their Postal Bulletin authorized usage of this slogan cancel from the period of November 15 to December 31 of each year, noting that the "slug" was paid for by The TB Association and provided to "select post offices".

It would be impossible to identify the exact date of usage of this particular example since there is no CDS to identify the location where it was applied, but since I can find virtually no references to that machine cancel being used prior to 1950, it is fair to assume that the stamps may have been used during that period, meaning that the stamps could have laid in a desk drawer (or a collector's album) for sometime and only later used as postage.

If the pair was cancelled 30+ years past the normal period
of usage wouldn't that further detract from the value.

I would say it would make it virtually worthless.

I have to admit I basically have no interest in US stamps
but have been following this thread because it shows again
how non collectors think that they can hit the jack pot
or find that hidden gem which we poor dumb stamp collectors
have missed.

That cancel was used on both International and Universal machines in a large number of cities. It was first used in early 1950 and continued in use until at least 1966.

The key to used value is it must be contempory usage. The lake shades were printed about 1928-1930 for the 2 cent issue.

I love this topic and appreciate all viewpoints. If it were mine I'd call Seigals and let them deal with it be it 6 months or more down the road. Best advertising and if you are lucky enough to have this come up along with a known collection it may far exceed catalog and it may not but that is best chance in my opinion. I was fortunate to find a relatively modern canadian rarity that is listed as oly 2 known used examples and I have the 3rd. I was offered a bit more than 1/2 catalog (1250) from a very prominent Canadian dealer and turned it down . Not because I thought I could get more but simply because I like to own it . That issue is late 70s so far from a classic and any day another 20 examples could be found and price will nose dive to a few bucks. However hindsight is 20/20 - the fact the cancel is far more modern than the issue itself puts a huge damper on your sights- at this point if you can get a mortgage payment sell it . Your diamond is a perfect example of having a valuable item and no buyers so no profit so you need to put the stamp in the hands of someone with buyers to maximize any hopes.

The stamps could have been in a dealer's stock for several years and then used as postage. We see a lot of stamps 20-30 years old being used as postage by dealers today.

Issuarian, I just googled "stamp 606a lined pair used" and this thread came up as number 1. Now everyone who wants this stamp (if anyone in fact does want it) can find yours.

I cannot believe that people these days who can afford to spend big bucks on collectables do not search with Google or ebay. Of course they do, or perhaps there agents do.

Guys, for what its worth, I found an ad from Sam Houston Philatelics from Lynn's dated June 16, 2008 advertising 599b and 606a Singles, pairs, and line pairs for sale---so I'm guessing the variety was recognized sometime in between '04 and '08? He was asking $1,395.00 for a MNH Line Pair of 606a at that time, stating a CV of $1,750.00---both of which are inflated from what today's market would be in my opinion.