Scott 10A

Here it is folks. Please keep in mind I know nothing about stamps whatsoever. What I have learned is that it is a small Boston cancel, 1851, and I guess 10A? What determines 10 Vs. 10A?

I'm no expert, but I believe the difference has to do with the lines running around the stamp design. There are actually two lines ... an outer line & an inner line. On Scott #10, the inner line is usually faint. On Scott #10A, the inner line has been recut and appears significantly stronger. This would seem to be the case with your stamp.

I see. Thanx for the knowledge!

riffsta,

Nice stamp! I collect #10 and #11, and have about 600 of them, but have managed to acquire less than five imprint copies. Yours has a full, untrimmed sheet margin, and since it is a confirmed #10a, it is a very desirable item despite the top and bottom of the stamp being cut off! As JLLebbert stated, #10a has inner frame lines at left and right, while #10 does not. I would love to see an image of the full cover (or is it on a cut piece?). If on cover, are there any contents?

Here is a web page (written by me) with info about the small Boston Paid cancel:

http://www.uspcs.org/the-1851-1860-...-10-and-10a/

Here is a diagram showing the location of the inner lines:

Here's an image of an 11a (inner frame lines), for comparison with the above diagram:

Classic, that was some super informative write up. Thanx a bunch. Here is the back story of this stamp. In the early 1600's one of the gentlemen involved in the Taunton Purchase was John Richmond from England. He is listed as #35 on the list of people to purchase what isnow known as Taunton Ma. The family settled in an area now known as Richmond street. They had many children the family were here for many generations. Just off of Richmond st is the Richmond family cemetery, which is sadly very overgrown and lots of stones knocked over.
My passion is metal detecting and was driving around this old area of town and noticed demo taking place at an old farmhouse that has been abandoned for years. I asked permission to detect the front yard and was granted. This place was old! The crew had been throwing stuff out the windows into a large dumpster. I noticed alot of old china, books, magazines, etc... When I looked closer this stuff was Old! I asked why they would throw away such neat pieces of history and if I could have some of the "junk". He said take whatever you want. What I ended up with was some very old stuff. When I arrived at home and looked through it all I realized I was holding stuff from the 1800's! I see this folded paper envelope with a George Washington stamp, a red wax blob, and it says Jonathan Richmond, Taunton Ma. In some really nice fancy old lettering. Inside was a hand written letter to Mr. Richmond dated 1851 from Boston Ma. Jonathan Richmond is buried in the Richmond Cemetery 1,000 feet away!! I believe this may have been the original Richmond home! I also found detecting several flat buttons, a couple of indian head pennies, a C.C. seated liberty dime, and a whole bunch of relics. A great day it was! I came hear fir advice as I know nothi g about stamps or old letters. I dont even know where to start as far as selling goes. How do you put a $ on something like this ya know. To me, it's priceless..

Sorry for the bad spelling. Doing this from a smart phone and tough to type. When I get back on pc I will upload some pics of back of folded envelope and the letter if you all would like?

That's amazing riffsta. Congrats on the great finds. You never know what you will come across from day to day

Ty Mike.

Just for the record- do not ever remove the stamp from those old envelopes unless it is endangering the stamp, assuming the stamp is worth it and even then it should be done by a professional. Now I'm not talking stuff from the 50's onwards but the classic period. Sometimes it's a case of the whole envelope because of who it's related to (addressee. corner-card advert, etc..)can make it valuable. Great story, awesome luck and thank you for the read! Welcome to the forum! I wish I could find stuff like that!

I love stamps has a great point.

Look at the "Ice House" cover.... Worth over $400,000 yet off cover the stamps on it aren't worth even $1,000.