Value? "Freak" Stamp Error Scott #1480-83 "Boston Tea Party"

Hey Nitrolures,
Where at in The Great White North are you located? I have fished both ends of Ontario on the U.S. border. I've taken 20 or so trips to the Quetico/Boundary Waters. The most beautiful place I've been. The past few years I've towed my boat 7 hours north to The 1000 Islands once or twice a year. Terrain is simlar to Quetico but for the people. That is a large part of my finacial issues that I will need to sell these stamps. My tow vehicle needed paint but maybe you'll get a kick out of what I tow with. IF I can upload a pict. I haven't been able to in several tries. What am I doing wrong?
Oh well, THANKS again for everyones suggestions and I did contact Jack Nalbandian.
Karl.

Just got a responce from Jack Nalbandian. He offered me $350 and they said it is not a "major" error but a "shift" or "freak" error. I looked at stamps that he has for sale and found several with the same or less shift issues that he was asking between $20- $150 per stamp. I know places like that are always REALLY hiked up and I also know they would never offer as a first offer, anything near the value if they can take it away at a steal. At least it tells me it has value. I see he used the term "eye appeal" often and as far as I am concerned, this is a good looking stamp to start so I feel it has great eye appeal. OK, what's next? How do I contact auction places? Do they roughly appraise? Don't know anything about them. Like I said, the Phila. International Stamp Exibit is coming and it's only 10 minutes from me. Would there be any reason to tke it there?
Thanks yet again,
Karl.

Amazing how stamps and fishing go so well together (just not at same time)
I'm located just off the Detroit river between Lake erie and st.Clair pretty well walleye capital of the world!
Its pretty safe to assume if a dealer is offering $350 you can make between $500-1000 if you do all the work and take the risk and probably tear up that sheet .
Bringing it to the Philapex show should definatly get some good lookers.
Auctions are risky and can take 6 months to get your funds but also have highest chance of crazy returns. Another option that has been tossed around before is to list on ebay with a price you definatly are willing to accept and see what sort of replies you get. You can always do it buy it now at $1500 or best offer and see what happens (assuming your OK with $1500 if you get it. That is a really high crazy number but you never know.
I find uploading high res pics is best done by hosting them on photobucket- When you scroll over the pic in PB it gives you 4 options of code to copy below the pic. Choose the img code and just click it 1 time and then paste the info in your message here. You can the copy the html code into an ebay listing for really high res pics if you use that.
Philapex should have a good amount of dealers and will give you some ideas at least.
At least you know you have that 350 offer so now its up to you how much effort you want to do. You have the right lure now just a matter of setting the hook on the right fish.

Could always stick around here and post some of your other stuff and get to that 50 post and there are likely a good handful willing to pay for a block of 4 on here.

If you take the sheet to a stamp show, drag a couple of friends along, more eyes and ears never hurt. Now let's figure out how to package and display it at the show.

Here's how you get a free market-wise appraisal. Put the sheet on ebay with a hidden Reserve of, say, $2000., or wherever you WOULD be very happy to sell. If you get several bids clustered around the $1200 level, you can be reasonably sure that's where it would sell once the Reserve is removed. You must have a superb picture.

Listing fee, $2 or less. Figure 9% for the final sales commission. But there's a significant risk (others may not agree) to accepting PayPal in payment, which is more or less mandatory. We can discuss that later. You might put the "appraisal" listing on ebay and the final "selling" auction on bidStart, where you can specify postal money order (only) in payment, take it or leave it, Mr. Buyer.

You could also do an interim "appraisal" listing on bidStart, to alert bidStart clientele that you have such an item. Interested parties will note that it did not sell, and will watch for it again, with no hidden Reserve.

You have to get this right the first time.

I should add, if you decide to break the sheet up, and sell ten blocks and five pairs, you will take a different approach altogether.

Doug2222 makes great points (as always). If you do choose the ebay route with either a reserve or high buy it now approach, limit your selling area to US/Canada only and if it sells put every sort of tracking registration and insurance on it you can. To me sending this over seas would be a potential nightmare.

Knowing a reputable dealer is offering $350, makes me figure an absolute bottom line of $1000. Although this is not the "big ticket", I know I have stumbled into something worth more than I paid for it and it always seems like the other guy ALWAYS makes the profits from ME. Really, how many thousands of stamps, coins, or whatever have we searched hoping to find the "big score"? I, am into older cars. But, I am too honest to make any money from them yet I love the chase. Hopefully, IF I do this right, I can at least make the money I need to finish my car and get up to the 1000 Islands this summer. Being into older cars, I purchased a 1949 Chevy Sedan Delivery for the original owner. I had big dreams fo building a street rod but couldn't cut it up because it was soooo original. I just keep tinking, that the complete page will NEVER EVER be again, once I cut it up but may have more value like that. This sucks! I have to include a picture of my goal an hope some one can appreciate my passion.
You guys have been very helpfull.
Karl.

That looks like an old Plymouth. 1961? 1962? Just a guess.

Close Doug. It's a 1960 Plymouth. You might be old school?
I was just on ebay and noticed there might be another shift that I thought was one color? I put in "boston tea party stamp error". The last two show 2 different dark errors. One has the main center mast elevated and the other the front mast. Mine has both. Is that 2 different colors? If so, there are at least 3 colors that are shifted.

You will likely do better selling in in blocks of 4 than as a complete sheet (but of course that will involve more work)

Reading this thread and knowing what I know today about this item, I would agree that selling blocks of four sounds best. I wouldn't worry about the "extra work," as you will be paid handsomely, I believe, for your efforts. It is much less risky too.

A small side issue; all your images, from now on, should show a normal block below (not alongside) a block-sized portion of your sheet, so people (potentially buyers) can instantly compare. For the "portion," I would use the corner with the plate block; scanner at 600 to 1200dpi, not camera. Even a $40 scanner can do this very well.

The blocks of 4 may not be a good idea based on the positioning of the "8" going half way into the second block. Its almost to dramatic of a shift(s) If the block of 4 did not make up the whole image and these were typical single images it wouldn't matter but this issue is one of them not normal to begin with. (the block is 4 seperate images making up 1 all together. )Can't do 6's without losing half the next either so maybe 8's would show the whole deal and of course command alot more but half the sales. The block of 4 would still show the full bottom "8" and half the top so maybe I'm just over analyzing again. I'd b in even for a left over pair if you tear it up just because its so off. Still think putting the whole sheet on ebay with a buy it now of $2000 and make an offer option will see where you stand. If someone bites at $2000 reel fast or see what offers come in. Definatly need scans though.

"Crack the sky" that was a great band.

Hey Stampvirgin! I have been using the name for years. You are the first to notice. "ICE" is a great tune!
I won another sheet on ebay with #34225 in lower left to match my sheet of #34225 in lower right for contrast. I now believe I have found at least 3 shifts. On ebay, there are 2 with different BLACK shifts. One black shift has the center mast ONLY with a shift. Another has the bow mast ONLY with a shift. Mine has both. Does that mean that the 2 masts are printer seperately meaning 2 different shifts? Nitrolures, I believe you said that you were a printer? Are 3 or more shifts any more unusual than one? Once you have a shift, will the machine shift the rest until it is caught or? Should more shifts = more value?
Just curious, when did they start putting the different colors used on the outer edges?

I havn't been in a print shop for yrs so I'll do my best. Basically 4 colors make up everything --Black, cyan(blue) Magenta (red) and yellow. A webb press will have 4-5 units each with the different colors I believe the normal is yellow first red, blue then black. As the roll of paper is fed through the units each color is laid down one on top of the other forming the different shades and details and usually the black at the end ties everything together. When you start you have to adjust the registers (up down left right) so each color lays perfectly ontop of the others. Usually the the press will be about 1/2 speed while this is quickly done and once approved at the end it will be kicked into high gear. You mention the color marks along the side of the sheet- That is the printers guide- he doesn't have to look at the image just those dots, crosshairs or blocks and wen they are right the image should be perfect. If you can show your color guides they should be all out of wack.
Below is blue first red 2nd on top of blue, yellow on top of that and finally the black to make the image.