315 Candidate For Stamp~smarter?

The 5c 1908 imperf has a high value genuinely used simply because so few of them were available for the public to buy. The vast majority went to the private coil companies (Schermack & USAV got the majority). So of the limited amount available to the public (I think I once read only 400 sheets) not very many were postally used. The majority available were bought by philatelists and were generally saved/collected unused.

My Scott 2013 cat. says examples of used 314 and 315 must have a contemporaneous cancel. I do not see a cancel at all.

Well Glory Be! The listing has been ended! The SCF crusade worked.

And Joe, you are 100% correct. The faker of this stamp was too dumb to at least cut up a #304 with a contemporary cancel!

I love this community!

Brian

Yepper... but the "8A" sold for $200...

I wonder if it really was an 8A...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SCOTT-8A-VF...em1c5327e00c

I would swear that the writing in my catalog had changed since the first time I looked at it.

It is my error and I apologize.


-IBFS

Ditto. This is a very responsible assembly of members and all should take pride in being members here.

A more notable achievement was the salvation and resurrection of the 1847usa website, which was saved by a lot of work done by some on this website. I don't know what collectors of classic US stamps would do without that site.

This forum gets things done.


-IBFS

After following this thread I dug out my 315? After taking a real close look at it, I'm thinking it's a fake as well. Measures 20 1/2mm at top, 20 3/4 at bottom, 23 3/4 right edge and 24 left edge. Under magnification I can see at the top left edge 2 small divots that correspond to a perf 12 measurement. What's the opinion's out there?

You came to the correct conclusion, I think. It must measure 21.5mm (or more) side to side and 25mm (or more) top to bottom for expert services to be willing to certify it as genuine. The perf hole traces (if they are) are just icing on the cake. The measurements are absolutely critical on #315 and 534B but really should be on all the 20th C. Imperfs before 1930. Fake 315 cut from #304 and fake 534B cut from 528B are as common as dust......

If you want to drool over some beautiful 315s with full margins go to the Siegel Robert R. Hall Collection (sale 1096) and scroll to lot 553ff. Takes a long time to load, at least on my decrepit machine (which is one reason I save these catalogues as pdfs to my hard drive).

http://www.siegelauctions.com/2015/1096/1096.pdf

There's many beautiful 315's on ebay right now, in singles, pairs
blocks, and even a plate block, beginning with this single offered
by Stu Katz cut from a block...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/315-Mint-Su...em58c55df5e3



More 315's on ebay...

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odk...&_sacat=3461

That is a beautiful stamp! Note also the "lazy eye"? Vast majority of genuine 315s have it.

The #8A is indeed a Type IIIa (from Plate 4) but could very well be a trimmed #22.

Bill... indeed... and, if you look at the lower left 'eyelid' of
the faked 304 in the discussion, it has 3 well defined folds...

Looks like another one to add to my Fake page. Hope I don't have to start another page once I get into the classics I have! At least I'll get these bad boys off the market for good. I may become a life time member of the site at the slow rate I'm going.