Cherrystone Auction - Mnh Columbian Set

This should answer a few questions. Taken directly from the auction description and includes some grading info as well:

"Lot #31
United States 1893 Columbian Exposition Issue

1893 1c-$5 complete set of 15, all never hinged and post office fresh, well centered, many of the low values exceptionally so, 2c and 30c with sheet margin, fine-v.f., each stamp with 2002-2007 PFC or PSE certificate (1c and 3c, each graded XF 90, 4c graded VF 80J, $5 graded F 70). A good opportunity to obtain the complete set of Columbians, never hinged, with original gum, without any faults which often plague this popular issue (catalogue value without any premium for graded stamps),
**
Catalog #230-245
Catalog Value $34,250"

1. never hinged
2. original gum
3. No faults????
IMO they will only increase in value...If I had the money, I'd go---um--um-$15,193.00-just like the odd number bidding-still a nice set for those that can play in that level of stamps

Terms of auction with a 15% buyer commission.

https://www.cherrystoneauctions.com/terms.asp

Actually the Columbians have decreased in value relative to several years ago.

Could you support that, with citations to objective sources or data? Anecdotes or memory don't count.

Catalog prices went down, auction prices have gone down as well.

2010/2016 hinged prices by face value:
1 cent=16/14, 2 cent 16/14, 3 cent 45/37.50, 4 cent 65/55, 5 cent 70/55, 6 cent 65/55, 8 cent 60/52.50, 10 cent 110/100, $3 1600/1500, $4 2250/2200, $5 2700/2400. The rest are identical 6 years later. The NH prices have also gone down all across the board, some close to 25%. The dollar values: $1 3850/3750, $2 4000/3800, $3 5250/4750, $4 7250/7000, $5 10500/10000. And 2007 hinged prices were much higher still, 22.50, 21, 60, 90, 95, 90, 80, 150, 250, 300, 600, 1200, 1250, 1250, 1900, 2600, 3000. A NH $4 was $8500 in 2007 compared with $7000 today. And the 2007 dollar was worth $1.14 in today's money, so they have dropped even more then the basic numbers.

I don't see my self pay more than $ 1000 for a $5 no need for prefect centred or Gum.

here something that look nice, I don't check re perforations, because I don't care that much about them

http://www.ebay.com/itm/US-1893-Col...AOSwHoFXtsad

Very possibly regummed. It's fine not to care about perfs and gum, but they do affect the value; sometimes even $1000 might be too much.

That affect only the value when you sell them, I collect stamps, so for me it's the value I give to them. I prefer have a less perfect stamp that have nothing and dream.

I do have the Colombian serie, I will post it tomorrow. Keep in mind they was purchase more than 100 years ago by the uncle of my grand-father, PSE was not existing at the time. But what is better; non PSE certified mint with hinges mark or a near empty album pages with $ 20 worth of used lower values ?

Overpaying based on condition costs one money when a stamp is bought, too. It's not just the money lost when selling. And stamps with hinged original gum are very different from stamps that are regummed. No matter when they were purchased.

Well if the one can afford it ....

Btw, that ebay listing above... it belongs to the british cartel !

Usually they list their stuff as MNH. I am surprised to see them go for LH this time.

I bought a supposedly MNH $5 from him (dba Ten Shillings) last year for $2600. Fortunately, I immediately sent it to PSE who responded "Genuine, unused, regummed over a filled thin and reperf'd at the top". Based on the greatly reduced fee they charged, they valued the stamp at only $1200. I sent it back and to his credit, he did refund my money. I got lucky; my lesson only cost me the certification and postage fees.

uboatnut,
Thank goodness you were able to working something out and thank you for posting your experience for others to learn from. I am curious, I assume it was purchased from a remailer agent here in US, did they make you return it to Great Britain?
Don

Don -

Exactly the opposite. It was sent from England, but returned to a New York City address. Given the value, I had the person receiving it sign for it so there could be no question about its arrival. Unfortunately, I've deleted all the emails regarding this after learning about the British Cartel. I keep a close eye on this forum topic to learn his latest ebay seller names.

http://www.stampboards.com/viewtopi...b8&start=400

I should point out that I also made purchases from three other cartel seller names. Those stamps were NOT sent for certification until several months later. I'm now stuck with them, although they are all genuine but either regummed or have disturbed gum. Mea culpa!