Should I Buy It - Panama Lindberg Stamp Cover

I collect Panama . . assiduously. This is the first ever example of more than one on cover or a commercially used cover, or one with an imprint on cover. I suspect I am going to have to bid around 40-50 dollars to win this one.

Is it worth it? Or am I just crazy?

Opinions welcome (of the cover, not me ).

It's certainly a nice cover. As a comparison, here's a similar cover that's currently for sale on Jim Forte's Postal History website. Not as nice, and a bit more ragged, but at only half the price at $25:



Whether or not it's worth up to $50 to buy the example you originally scanned is up to you to decide. If it makes you happy (and fits your budget) go for it. If you expect to re-sell it later on at a profit, I'd be much more cautious, as I doubt that the demand is there right now at that pricetag.

I see that the sender and the recipient were both CZ collectors, and are mentioned in the same paragraph of an article in the CZ Philatelist:

http://www.canalzonestudygroup.com/Issue125.pdf

(page 42 of the journal, which is page 5 of the pdf file.)

It is sharp.

Thanks for your insights wt1. I have decided to let it go. One of my criteria for these covers is to have a reasonably good cancel impression (there are many with partial cancel information, such as the example you showed). Of value to me was the "imprint" in the margin. Seeing the imprint, though did teach me a few things I didn't know about this issue:

1 - 300,000 of the stamp were issued.
2 - The stamps were printed by the Panama Canal Press (owned by the Canal Zone Government).
3 - The Printing date of 01/06/1928

Thanks Cjd. Whoever is bidding is probably more emotionally invested than I am.

Not related . . . just noticed a glaring error on Pg 43 (referred to France Field as Frame Field). Gave me a chuckle.

If you're really interested in some details of the stamps in question, checkout the story in these publications (started in Issue 107 and continues into Issue 108):

http://www.canalzonestudygroup.com/Issue107.pdf

http://www.canalzonestudygroup.com/Issue108.pdf

It's certainly a looker. If you like it, what difference does $20 -$30 make ? Do these come up often ? not really. I've seen single solo use covers going for $20. Is it a philatelic cover ?
But all that matters is , Do you want it ? I say grab it !

Do you know the seller Stallzer?
They had a similar cover with cachet and only one stamp that fit my budget and requirements.

Who is the seller ?

wolfestamp, based in MN

I've only purchased 1 Official US Proof from him, price was fine and delivery was good so that's all I have on them.

So this is the one I picked up (from the same seller incidentally).

I have seen the cachet only once before. The cover is a bit toned, but the cancel is great (far better than average for these types of covers) and it has both of the stamps issued to commemorate Air Mail delivery to and from Panama by Lindbergh himself.

A nice piece for your collection ! I picked this Argentine airmail up for $16 dollars at Orapex. Since I bought it I don't think I paid too much. I like to take home something half way decent when I travel to a show !