Scott 239 Centering Question

Would it be safe to list this stamp as XF ?

It's a bit to the top and a bit to the right; I would call it very fine. This is part of why I hate grading, it's a very nice example that a lot of collectors would enjoy owning, but people get hung up now on on more precise terminology.

I'm not too worried about things like this when buying, but when selling a wrong description can sometimes get a seller scrutinized. I am putting together some of my better duplicates to see what I can garnish and use the proceeds to go after a couple of items high on the want list. So when I do list an item I just want to ensure my title is accurate. I suppose I could just list it as "nicely centered" ?

To me it's better to say very fine centering and let the buyers decide how they feel about it. As I said, I can't imagine that there aren't collectors out there who would enjoy having this.

I would consider this to be XF centering, per the Scott and PSE centering criteria. This is clearly a premium centered item better than VF to me. Of course, noting the heavier cancel, and if there are any faults, they should be called out for valuation.

Stallzer, I've seen a lot of listings at XF that weren't anywhere near this one..... :).

You could consider VF-XF.......
Nice stamp!

Ray

Stamp is gorgeous... positively XF...

I wouldn't call it VF-XF *ever*...

It has great margins other than a teeny slight shift
to the top and right...

I don't personally sell stamps, but if I were to
list it on ebay, I wouldn't auction it... there's
too much of a risk of it going too cheaply... I'd
want to appeal to a serious collector whom would
be looking for a quality copy as this, and I'd list
it at 'full pop' at $100 in a Buy It Now, with the
Make Offer option enabled...

Stallzer, if this is one of your duplicates I would hate (love?) to see the one in your collection! I think this copy is fantastic, and second disi123's opinion.

Peter

Question really for me would be is it sound no faults when dipped. Given that is a yes, I would bid up to a solid VF since the cancel, though nicer than most, is not light. If the cancel were less conspicuous I would bid it a goodly amount above the VF value. It is pretty. Any faults whatsoever and it should not be described, in my opinion, as even meeting VF. Or VF, with noted fault.

stallzer - Your stamp is correctly graded as Extremely Fine (XF). I would refer anyone in disagreement to their Scott Specialized Catalogue, page 10A.



The centering is "perfect" under a Mark-I Eyeball test. Save the micrometers for determining Superb and Gem, which the cancellation excludes for this stamp. I do not even consider this as a "heavy" cancellation, although some would. It is a common type of cancellation, appropriate to expected normal period usage of the 30-cent Columbian.

Now, as for its condition? There are some minor perf issues, but judging from previous responses here, many/most of us would not mind them at all (same for the cancel).

I have to agree with Petert4522 - Your duplicate material is better than much of my collection.

Agreed... and worth more than 50% of Scott...

Listing at $100 OBO shows you have respect for your stamp
and its condition... discerning collectors would view that
respect, and IMO would submit respectable offers in turn...

Thanks for all the responses. The only reason for me to part with this particular stamp is my other copy of a 239 is MNH but not as nicely centered with the margins of this used stamp, but still a nice piece.

I want a high grade top value Zeppelin to complete my zeps.Im not going to get it through selling $1-$5 duplicate plate blocks so it will require parting with a few of my nicer duplicates.

this is a very attractive stamp. I personally do not see the point in quibbling over whether it is VF/XF or XF as the concept of grading as PSE defined it sounds mathematical and scientific when in practice and reality we have all seen stamps that have been overgraded and undergraded by one organization or the other and all we can do is shake our heads.

The only point I would make is that assuming no faults, a serious collector would know that this is a quality stamp without having to be told so and would offer accordingly.

It's not about grading it with a number. I never asked what the numerical grade might be, not interested in that. When I look for stamps on an auction site I usually include the letters XF in my query.

I have taken 2 and 3 years before to find a particular stamp to add to my collection. Centering is important to some collectors and a well centered stamp in sound shape will almost always bring back a premium.

The terms VF, XF, etc. Have been used long before PSE started giving numerical grades.

Definitely an XF stamp in regard to centering. A prospective buyer of this stamp will need to be assured it is sound, as lack of soundness will take its value down dramatically. So I think your listing should address that issue directly. For example, there is something in the margin above the first "S" in "STATES" that resembles a tear. That needs to be addressed in the listing.

Looks like ink to (me)...

Waiting for Stallzer's confirmation...