Is This A 1847 US 5 Cent Stamp?

Hi,
Can some one help with this stamp. I have a 5 cent US stamp. It looks like a 1847 but not sure. Is this original stamp or replica?

Appreciate your help!

Thanks.

Prince mahesh, welcome to the Forum! A high resolution scan would be necessary to make an intelligent judgement. The phone camera pic does not work. With the blurred image, this could be a cut out image from an auction catalog.

I don't have the stamp with me right now. A lady is selling on craigs along with thousands of other stamps. Just want to make sure if this is indeed the 1847 original stamp. I have my doubts. May be it is better to let it go. Don't want to take a risk.

I have two different pics. One looks like a paper cut. But the second one looks like a real stamp. You can find the differences by looking at the edges.

Will the Craigslist Lady give you a money-back guarantee?

[crickets chirping]

I didn't think so. Stay away from Craigslist stamp offers.

On what planet...

princemahesh,
Welcome to the forum! You wouldn't happen to be an actor? Just curious.

Until you get a MUCH better image, then we cannot help you determine the condition nor if that stamp is even genuine.

I often gamble my money by buying listings with indeterminate images. As long as I don't risk too much, then I nearly always am happy with my purchases. The "risk too much" part is very important and is subjective to you and your position. Is she asking $100 for ten thousand stamps, or is she asking for $1000 for one hundred stamps? Is gambling $100 of your money and loosing going to upset you greatly? Is this the only stamp in her listing that you are interested in? There are many factors that need to be considered and we know none of the details. We can help you make better informed purchases, but ultimately it is up to you what you are willing to risk.

It seems that you are looking for a winning bargain. If so, then you have to accept that you are risking your money. If you don't care about getting that bargain, then purchase a stamp that has been certified.

Are you allowed to look at the stamps before you purchase them? I imagine that in a local Craigslist exchange that you would meet, look at the material, and then hand over money ONLY if you desire to purchase the collection.

I have not spent any time studying this issue, but many here at SCF have. Perhaps they can give you pointers as to what to look for when you meet her to examine the material.

She is asking $450 for about 2000 to 3000 stamps. This collection has mixture of US and world wide stamps. She claims that these are passed on from her mother who runs a local stamp shop. Truly speaking, this is the only stamp I am interested in. There may be few more but have to look at them. I don't want to gamble $450 on this one stamp. I can get it from a reliable source for few more bucks.

I say, "Take the safe route."

Even if it were a genuine US Scott no. 1 it would be worth at most $150-200. It's very doubtful the other stamps are worth $250.00 to $300.00. You can just go and buy a US Scott # 1 by itself for far less money. If you are only interested in this one stamp, why buy hundreds of dollars of stuff you don't want instead of just going out there and buying the one stamp you want?

edited for typo

Where can I get this stamp online? I found one on mystic stamps. Buy the price $500 for a used one. Any other reliable sites that I can buy from?

Do an ebay search for US 1847 5c or US Sc 1 or something like that.

There's one closing in 1 hour, has 28 bidders, is going for $173.00 but will be sniped and probably close at above $200, but not much above. It has four good margins but is toned (has spots) and may have other undisclosed faults. A really nice, sound 4-margin will go for $350 or more but one that looks something like your Craigslist Lady is selling is worth at most $200. Well, maybe more but the picture is so fuzzy there's no way in heck that anyone could know what it's reallly worth, hence my lowball of $150-200,assuming that it's got faults.

Here's the one that's closing in an hour.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CKStamps-US...em51d521ade0

Don't buy right away. Become familiar with what's available. Also check out Bidstart and Stamps2Go. If you want quality, go to one of the quality dealers, Gary Posner, many others. One of our SCF members, orstampman, who sells under the ebay name Paper_Antiquarian may have one from time to time. You get what you pay for.

There are always 1847 5c and 10c at any of the major and most minor auctions. Go to Stamp Auction Network and poke around. The top-line auction houses (Siegel, Kelleher etc.) will have mostly very fine quality stamps selling for $400-500-800 and up. But they'll also have some f/vf. And the other auction houses will have them. Just remember that you pay a 20% (roughly) buyer's fee plus other costs, in addition to the closing auction price. On the other hand, the auction houses are good about giving you time to get your purchase expertised.


But there are plenty of US Scott no. 1s available.


Be aware that stamps with a pen cancel usually go for 1/2 of what the same quality stamp with a regular cancel sells for.

The two pics seem to be of two different stamps.

definitely 2 different stamps.

Nothing wrong with buying on Craigslist since you'll be able to see it in person before handing over the money.

And of course, meet in a safe place

good luck - and usually collections that have a #1 in them will also have some nice other stuff in them.

Yes, the two pics are different. She gave me a weird answer for that. So, said will not be able to purchase the collection.

Hieronymus, thanks a lot for the info and the link.

Appreciate the help everyone.

With certain sellers, they do not always bother to check the worth of a collection or they received many books from a love one and do not care to learn anything about stamps. I have seen this so very often at flea markets of vendors selling stamp books, estate sales ect, which the vendors are not stamp collectors. I heard a collector even purchased a huge collection of mint stamps of the early US for less than $300.00.This occurred in NJ. What a lucky day that buyer had!