Scott #222 Used As...

I wish that this had been left on the entire envelope but I haven't been able to find any pricing on a 222 used this way. Any info would be appreciated

Thanks
Richard

Interesting. I've never seen one of those.

Is the timeframe right for the usage of this particular issue?

issued 1890-1893

Richard,

The period of use is correct. Yes, too bad you don't have the entire cover. Officially authorized use of bisects are known, but I am not aware of authorized use for this issue.

While I've seen bisects of other 4c stamps, this is the first I've seen for this issue. If you want to sell it, it will either have to be certified or through a major auction house.

Thanks for the scan!

Below is a scan of a very unusual and unique FDC of a 611 bisect that covers the 1c drop rate. It recently sold at auction for over $1000.

k

Here's an example of a US 280 bisect that someone was trying to sell. However, in my opinion, it is a forgery. Which is probably why they couldn't sell it (as far as I know).


Your stamp is a bit "dirty". It would have to be physically examined to make sure no "old cancel" was removed.

But based on my preliminary examination of the scan, I don't see anything visually that would suggest it was not genuine.

Thanks again for sharing the scan!

This is the first bisects cover I have seen . I have been collecting since 1974 . Is there a period of time these occurred? It seems to me that this practice would make post office book keeping tough as the half stamps might not be accounted for.

Very cool stuff!

Bisects have been used since the very first US stamp issue. There were general guidelines/rules, but I don't want to go into the postal history. But basically, bisects were used when the post office ran out of the lower denomination stamp. Therefore, the first US general issue bisect was with the 10c Washington (US#2), to take the place of the 5c Franklin (US#1).

Bisects are not always diagonal. In fact, US#2 exists as both horizontal and vertical bisects on cover, in additional to diagonal. Sorry, I do not have scans of those covers. They are quite valuable $10K+ and are very rare.

In general, bisects are NOT common, and even the basic ones on full cover can command $100+. Bisects cut from cover have much lower value, because they are easier to forge.

My memory is fading, but the last issue that I recall seeing existing as a bisect on cover was either from the Presidential Series or the Liberty Series.

Just wanted to point out the original thread post was a question concerning #222 as a bisect. Didn't want the original post to get lost in this discussion. I am not aware of any bisect info in particular on that stamp.