Is This A Plate Block?

According to Scott, no it is not it needs to have six stamps, and I assume the plate number is to be in the center. So that being said off with the selvage as this will be a nice used block of four for my collection. I have pulled a many of selvage of my used block of four collection, this will be next.

Well, we can't stop time or collectors from doing stupid things to their stamps. Just an idea but you could just fold that selvage under the block. I actually don't think it is a very nice block at all. In fact, the plate number might be the most interesting part.

I believe the selvage is what gives this block personality. I actively search for stamps with selvage attached. The majority of my collection has them. Not only that it may be worth more in the end. I know it would be to me!

The plate number single has less cancellation than anything else in the block. Almost none. What a shame to destroy it.

Its still a block of four with or without the selvage.
That being said, its your collection, do it your way.

Art

Agreed.

But if it were my block of stamps, I'm not convinced that the plate number selvage should be destroyed, either by folding over the plate number or removing the selvage altogether.

No one has mentioned the idea that the stamp with plate number could be detached from the other three stamps and you'd have a very lightly cancelled plate number single, with three separated used stamps. Of course, that's just as much (if not more) of a philatelic disaster, as you'd lose something like 22% in value as compared to leaving the block of four intact, and since two of those stamps (top row) have messy cancels to begin with, a single stamp with those sort of cancels would not be worth much to a collector individually other than to be used as a "filler" until a better example is found. On the other hand, I wonder what kind of a premium there would be for a lightly cancelled plate number single as compared to a single stamp without the plate number?

After exploring all of these possible options, it all comes back to leaving the block of stamps just as they are. Of course, the final choice is left with the owner of the stamps to do whatever they please.

Ah, not to quibble, but I believe that was the point of my post, oblique as it may be.

But we are on the same wavelength regarding keeping the block intact. What is to be gained by stripping it?

I love plate numbers, even though plate block collecting is eminently unpopular. I would leave it as is if it were my own.

I positively detest folded selvage.

FREDCDOBBS.....This is your item....do with it as you please....but...since you asked for opinions....Mine is leave the plate # attached, do not fold under....proudly display as a block of 4 w/plate selvedge attached.

There are a lot of things this block is not... and what it used to be.

It was a plate block at one time.
No way to tell if it was ever a 6 stamp plate block on cover, but who knows, maybe the cover was damaged along with the 2 right side stamps of the block, and the 4 stamp block was salvaged.

Fact it was on a first day cover as indicated by the Oct 2nd 1933 New York postmark.
Fact it is no longer a first day cover or a cover.
Fact the stamps are used.
Fact the cancellation is less than desireable on more than one stamp.
Fact the selvage has been folded.
Fact the block does not qualify as a plate block.
Fact there is no catalogue value for a partial plate block.
Fact there is no catalogue value for an off cover first day cancellation.
Fact is, this is nothing more than a used block of four, or if broken up a used plate number single and three singles.
Fact that the block still has the plate number does not add any value to the multiples.
Fact I purchased this for slightly more than the single value x 4. I paid a slight premium for an intact used block of four not a plate number or selvage.
Fact this block is a wounded warrior in it's present form, after the selvage is gone it will be a used block of four.
Fact is this block will never be what it once was.
Fact is that I collect US used blocks of four.
Fact is that I am not destroying a philatelic treasure or rarity by any means by removing the selvage and plate number.

Reminds me of the banter about floating off the Zeppelin from a damaged cover a few weeks back.

Some of your arguments are based on the Scott catalog approach to listing the stamp.

Just remember there are many occasions that the Scott catalog is inconsistent or downright wrong. I do not abide by the Scott Catalog for my collecting interests and I believe a number of others feel likewise. For example, the Scott Catalog does not recognize certain stamp varieties (especially modern ones) yet collectors still actively collect them; the Scott Catalog changed their early PNC listings to value only a PNC5 when a number of collectors already had a collection of PNC3 coils. The Scott Catalog does not value Press Sheets either, or even sheets of stamps for that matter, yet they still have value to some collectors -- and the list could go on.

Does that mean that it is wrong to collect stamps in any manner other than what the Scott Catalog editors may decide to list? Absolutely not!

In your situation, just because there is no (Scott) "catalog value" for a used plate number single or a first day cancel off cover doesn't mean it may not have any premium value to certain collectors. People have a tendency to rely too heavily on the Scott catalog. Remember, collectors don't rely on Scott catalog prices, either. It is only a guide and should be used as such.

No one can dictate to any stamp collector what they may collect or how they must collect them. The choice is entirely at the discretion of the individual. So if you so choose to break up the block shown in the original post, or tear off the plate number selvage, you're free to do it, just don't expect to post it on a stamp forum such as this and expect everyone in the stamp collecting community to necessarily agree with your decision; even though the choice is solely yours to make.

Simply put, you have a used plate block of 4. I'd keep it just as is. Don't fold the selvage under. There is no need for this. Then it just looks like a block of four, a lesser item, puts a crease in the perfs and the gum may stick to the back of your block of four depending on environment. The plate number is what makes this block of four unique, and a bit more rare.

Nice item! Shame about the heavy cancel.


-IBFS