Question... Damaged Stamps On Covers

Do damaged stamps on old U.S. covers make them worthless, or just worth less?

I know, the answer is probably "it depends."

But in that case, it depends upon what?

Mod........


Worth less........Damaged higher-vals might be the only option of obtaining a sample for some collectors.

Very small town cancels can be very difficult to find....any example might be the only option.

Any dated Civil War or any war item even with a damaged stamp might yield a surprising connection to a collector.


Even the names or location on the cover can entice someone to buy something regardless of condition.

Very good, Tom, thank you.

In essence, to a cover collector there can be something more important than a stamp.

I suppose this would go for someone who collected fancy cancels, as well?

For 19th century US stamps, the answer is most definitely just worth less. Small faults on a stamp which is scarcely ever seen on cover do not really detract. If the cover has a bold fancy cancel, or an interesting patriotic or advertising cachet, or special auxiliary markings, then small faults on the stamp become even less important.

Large faults in the stamp, like scissor trims, large tears or pieces missing, do take away most of the value, but not all. I think most people would consider a cover with an 1847 10c Washington with a piece missing still fairly valuable.

I was wondering along the same lines yesterday if I may..i have two Canadian first flight covers from the 1930's..someone somewhere along the line must have folded them where they have a creased appearance in the center..the stamps and cachets are nice..does it greatly diminish the value to a first flight collector ???

And thank you to our other Tom, as well!

Philb....

It does diminish value....for most covers maybe 50% or more....others would loose a lot of value. FF collectors want nice looking material (as do we all)but if it's something they've had some difficulty locating they might be willing to overlook any faults.

Tom's point is well taken. The value of the creased covers depends on what else is readily available. If a specialist can get pristine copies of the same first flight covers easily on ebay, for not too much money, then there is no reason to buy creased ones. However if the covers are scarce, and the collector might not come across them again anytime soon, then he will be interested if the price is right. It helps that the cachet and stamps are unaffected by the crease.

Part of the value equation is also "eye appeal." Are the faults really distracting? Or is the cover so rare or cool that you don't mind them. Could you use the cover in a exhibition? Could you show it off proudly to a collector friend?

Here's a cover that illustrates my answer to this question.


This is one horrid dirty little cover with a badly cut #11.......but if you look closely at the stamp you'll see that it has a plate crack at the bottom right, position 84L5(L)

How many plate crack stamps are still found on cover ?? SCV for the stamp is $160.00 no value given for on cover.

What might this bring at auction ?