Blocks With Flaws Or Mint Singles

Greetings, I apologize in advance for what may be a long winded, three or four part question.




I had uploaded a cropped version of this block hoping to use it as an avatar. Kevin504 noticed the thread and posted that the scan this looks like the red brown. So pending verification, this could be a fairly rare group. That's not the point of this thread.

What I'm thinking about is: Is any mint block with faults more valuable then it's parts?
The staining on the left selvedge could be eliminated by, well, removing the shelf. Is a block more desirable with stained selvedge then without selvedge?

The disturbed gum on the top stamps is another issue. The two bottom stamps have good gum. Is it better to have a mint block with disturbed gum or a mint pair with good gum?

The vertical perf on the left side seems to be not square. Top to bottom it seems to be moving left instead of straight. Does this raise any 'red flags'?

Thanks to anyone that took the time to read this.

stampcrow.....
If I were to send for a cert I would send the entire BLOCK as is.
If turns out genuine, even with the gum skip, you can get copies of the cert....in case you decide to break at a later date.
This would be one item that should have a cert....
GOOD LUCK!

Thanks Kevin504.
My in laws live in Brooklyn so I make frequent trips. Have never been to the Philatelic Foundation in Manhattan. Been meaning to check it out. Last time I went to NYC I took a train. The Port Authority is just a few blocks away from PF, but it was a monsoon! I stayed underground and headed for Brooklyn.

My problem really is the stain on the shelving. It's the first thing that catches the eye. Maybe I can just cover it when its in my album.

Have you tried peroxide? The stain looks like smudged ink, possibly happened in printing. Try water first, lightly and carefully applied with a small artist's brush and blotted frequently.

Terry

No offense intended, but just to be clear, the paper in the margins is technically called selvage (selvedge - British spelling) by philatelists. I believe that is what you are referring to by your use of the word "shelving."

Not trying to be picky, but things are clearer when the proper terms are used, and this is a term new collectors might wish to know since you may run into it often on the blocks you acquire.

FWIW

essayk, thank you. No offense taken. I'm here to learn. I appreciate you! I am a little embarrased though

Everyone has to start somewhere....
Remember....there are no stupid questions....
Please feel free to ask about anything.....If I can help,
I gladly will.

"What I'm thinking about is: Is any mint block with faults more valuable then it's parts?"

For an issue this modern, no. On some older issues blocks are uncommon enough that someone might pay more for the block than you would get for the parts.

"The staining on the left shelf could be eliminated by, well, removing the shelf. Is a block more desirable with stained shelving then without shelving?"

Again, this one is too modern, and there is nothing special about this particular margin (selvage). If it was a plate block or if it was an older issue with any printing in the margin, it would be better to keep it intact.

"The disturbed gum on the top stamps is another issue. The two bottom stamps have good gum. Is it better to have a mint block with disturbed gum or a mint pair with good gum?"

Not clear whether you really mean disturbed gum or if you are referring to the gum skips, but it is fairly normal for older blocks to have the top 2 stamps hinged and the bottom two with unhinged gum. Except for really scarce issues where any multiple, people generally don't collect pairs other than coil pairs.

"The vertical perf on the left side seems to be not square. Top to bottom it seems to be moving left instead of straight. Does this raise any 'red flags'?"

They don't appear square because of the way they were torn (separated). A bit unattractive, but not a real red flag.

eyeonwall, thank you. excellent info.
I've decided I will leave it as is till I have it checked at the philatelic foundation. Then depending on whats reported I'll decide what to do with it.
Thanks again to everyone that responded.

stampcrow you have a good eye for asymmetry.
For that left vertical pair (as viewed from the obverse), at sight when you compare the distance from the dollar sign to the nearest perf hole left of it for the bottom stamp with the distance from the letter you in "United" to is nearest perf hole in the top stamp, the second measure is clearly smaller. That disparity does not seem to exist for the left side of the vertical pair on the right. Moreover, when you look at the reverse side image, the vertical pair of stamps nearest the selvage is clearly wider than the vertical pair away from the selvage.

I don't think that the perfs at the margins were set exactly the same as the perfs inside the pane for this one. I have no idea why, although this was standard operating procedure among the Bank Note Company printers. I don't think it is significant from a value standpoint, but it would be nice to be able to account for it as a matter of knowledge.

stampcrow....a suggestion....
for $5 Bill Weiss will look at a scan and make a determination (nothing
on this service is guaranteed, just opinion)
I think contact him directly....
Let him make a pre-cert judgement.
He can even then issue a cert thru his service.

Im going out on a limb.....(not far, because I BELIEVE IT TO BE CORRECT)
based on the scan...
#834a....

IN THIS TOPIC....

I linked to a ebay item for a #834a....
so stampcrow can see the color variety/shade.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT POST?
I DID NOT DELETE IT???

Are you possibly thinking of your link to a 834g in this other thread:
https://goscf.com/t/35520?

Kevin504 I think you posted that link in the thread where I had requested this to be my avatar. That was the first time I posted a scan of this block.

essayk, I've been searching the web for info on the printing of these stamps. Haven't had much luck. Always a passing mention of the color error but not much else. Maybe a search for left side 'jumbo margin' versions will yeild something.

https://goscf.com/t/35553
Kevin504, it's here.

I sometimes do the same thing myself.
Tom