New Walker & Taylor Revenue Cancel

This item wasn't cheap, but I was quite happy to get it.

The Walker & Taylor 10-line cancel is one of the more sought-after revenue cancels. I have several examples on R13c (2-cent Proprietary). It routinely sells for $100-150. I paid almost double the high end for this one, but IMO it's not your normal example:

1. The Walker & Taylor 10-line is considerably less common on 1-cent denominations than on 2-cent.

2. The 1870 dated version of the cancel is much scarcer than the 1866 dated version. I have been hunting for an example for quite some time. By way of comparison, Eric has this cancel on a 2-cent Proprietary that he has priced at $275.

3. This is the first multiple of any kind I have ever seen bearing a Walker & Taylor cancel.

I was one of the useful underbidders, and I know at least one other. This is the first multiple that a number of revenue collectors have seen with this cancel.

I don't collect revenue stamps, but I know the thrill of outbidding others to acquire an unusual item. Congratulations.

Good to know that it wasn't just my perception on that. I have to sometimes guard myself when implying something is uncommon, scarce, or rare, as I've only been collecting revenues for about 13 years now, which is a comparatively short period, whereas many long-time revenue collectors like yourself have been doing so for 30+ or 40+ years, and thus have a much longer timeframe and larger sample size to draw observations and conclusions from.

I also think that the revenue "landscape" with respect to auctions and availability of material is different now than in the 70s and 80s, but that may just be my perception based upon what I see offered in older auction catalogs from those eras.

Joyce, Tolman, Cunliffe, Wilkins, and several other important revenue collectors were still alive and active in those years, and there were more auction houses then as well. Plus some of the now older collectors were young and in need of far more than they might be now, and added to the marketplace. And there was no ebay to contend with and auctions were social affairs that brought dozens and sometimes 100 or more collectors and dealers into a room together. A major sale was an event.

With the availability of live online bidding, is any auction like that these days?

None that I have seen. These days if you get two agents and two or three dealers it's a big deal. Occasionally some sales might even get 10 people in the room, but it's nothing like the old days.

Dan - that's a great score- I was watching that auction with great interest. I wondered if you got it.