Once In A Life Time Find?

I bought some mint modern stamps, the price was right at about face value for some blocks and sheets. When I got home I found this one. A whole sheet of, well should I say errors?

lets try again.

For whatever reason, that particular issue was noted for printing errors. I have examples without the lettering which is yet another error for that issue.

The thing about EFOs (errors, freaks and oddities) in general is that there may or may not be any more than one of a specific error. In your example, it's not really an "error" as the stamps are correct, it's just that the inking was off resulting in the smeared appearance shown. Since they are all "unique" to themselves, values can be hard to ascertain, unless, of course, one is able to find "realized" prices at auction that shows previous sales of such items. Beyond that, it usually comes down to what a collector is willing to buy it for versus what a seller is willing to accept.

There is simply no "catalog value" to go by when it comes to these things.

It's certainly a nice find, though -- and a keeper -- but the jury is still out as to whether or not you can define it as the "find of a lifetime".

You might want to view these examples of Scott 1597 "errors" as currently available on ebay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/US-Stamps-1...em1c341d1a33

http://www.ebay.com/itm/US-ERRORS-E...em2581bcf21a

As you can see, prices are "all over the place" -- and no bids in either example.

Nice find alright and definitely a keeper.

It would certainly fit in to an EFO collection.

Chimo

Bujutsu

When checking ebay for value, look at completed, sold lots, not open postings. A seller I can slap any reasonable or ridiculous start bid on any lot. What counts is what buyers are willing to pay.

Technically it would be called a freak not an error. Not something to retire on, but still a nice find.