Collecting Issue Varieties

Hello everyone.....

Collecting the varieties of issues can enhance your collecting experience and can be well worth the effort. This stamp from the "flag over" series is one such issue that provides something extra for the collector that explores varieties.

In this group, "Flag Over Rushmore"

#2523 is worth 65 cents mint, 20 cents used.
#2523b imperf pair is worth $20.00, mint ones are abundant, used scarce. (no value given)
#2523c Toledo Brown (color error) is worth $10.00 per pair, mint are abundant, used extremely scarce. (no value given)
#2523d lenz paper is worth $5.00 mint, used scarce. (no value given)
#2523A Photogravure is worth 65 cents mint, used 20 cents.

Scott Cat makes no mention of a value for any of these on cover, but I have been searching for these issues on cover since they were issued in 1991 and I have seen exactly two Toledo Browns on cover, 18 years and I've seen two, and I have never seen a used single offered anywhere. I believe the Imperf, lenz paper and Toledo Brown on cover will be 'sleeper issues' that in time will turn out to be worth a fair amount. If you find them on cover hang on to them.




Under Ultra-violet light varieties of taggants are revealed.


Toledo Brown on cover.....estimated value $50.00+

Excellent information and this earned a bookmark in my archives.
This is one of the advantages of participating in a Stamp Forum!

May I ask a really really noob question? If you get mint Toledo Browns, can you address them to yourself and make it even more valuable by cancelling it?

quote:

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2523b imperf pair is worth $20.00, mint ones are abundant, used scarce. (no value given)
#2523c Toledo Brown (color error) is worth $10.00 per pair, mint are abundant, used extremely scarce. (no value given)
#2523d lenz paper is worth $5.00 mint, used scarce. (no value given)

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If used ones are scarce, is it acceptable to post them to yourself to get used copies?

Steve

Wow, I have a lot of flag stamps--holy, moley! I have got to get them out and check them over! Thanks for the info!

Gussyboy1

This forum is great!

Hello everyone.....

Actually creating your own used stamps is not acceptable, if it were there would be no shortages. Any stamp used outside of it's normal time of use is/can be considered suspect.

For example in 1909 there were issues released that were printed on rag stock paper rather than wood stock paper and they have a bluish tint... #362 mint $1,500.00....used $15,000.00.......#366 mint $1,500.00....used $11,000.00 I'm sure you can see the temptation for unscrupulous people to create used stamps.

The key is the time period that the cancel was applied. These same stamps with cancels from outside that time period are almost worthless.

Regardless of the value or time period, the same principles apply.

It may seem like it would really make no difference, but to collectors of postal history having stamps canceled within the proper time period is crucial to showing postal rates from any time period, they MUST be authentic.

There are many collectors that see nothing wrong with buying commeratives from the post office and using them on mail to themselves to acquire used stamps for their collection. If all you care about is a canceled stamp for your album, there is nothing that can stop you from doing that. However, if your intent is to defraud another collector by misrepresenting any stamp eventually, in all probability, someone will discover your actions and every Philatelic thing you ever had contact with will fall under suspicion.

I would never take that chance, would you ?

I thought you might like a closer look at these issues. Dates at the bottom of my tag is first day of issue. The lenz paper is very difficult to identify and should be certified.

"Under Ultra-violet light varieties of taggants are revealed."

What does this mean?

Charles

So, this concept relates closely to the dislike of CTO's?

Charles


Actually creating your own used stamps is not acceptable, if it were there would be no shortages. Any stamp used outside of it's normal time of use is/can be considered suspect.

For example in 1909 there were issues released that were printed on rag stock paper rather that wood stock paper and they have a bluish tint... #362 mint $1,500.00....used $15,000.00.......#366 mint $1,500.00....used $11,000.00 I'm sure you can see the temptation for unscrupulous people to create used stamps.

The key is the time period that the cancel was applied. These same stamps with cancels from outside that time period are almost worthless.

Regardless of the value or time period, the same principles apply.

It may seem like it would really make no difference, but to collectors of postal history having stamps canceled within the proper time period is crucial to showing postal rates from any time period, they MUST be authentic.

There are many collectors that see nothing wrong with buying commeratives from the post office and using them on mail to themselves to acquire used stamps for their collection. If all you care about is a canceled stamp for your album, there is nothing that can stop you from doing that. However, if your intent is to defraud another collector by misrepresenting any stamp eventually, in all probability, someone will discover your actions and every Philatelic thing you ever had contact with will fall under suspicion.

quote:

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I would never take that chance, would you ?

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No, I never would. I just wondered what others thought.

Funny you mention this Tom

I've been finding a lot of variations in my American and Canadian stamps and wondered what to do with them.

You guys are so brilliant

Don't know what I'd do withought ya!!

Hello everyone....

Charles....taggants are a florescent material applied either during the paper making process or to the surface before or after printing that triggers the electric-eye canceling machines. I'll post some photo's of samples later today. (I need to take some pictures)

CTO's are created by postal agencies using stamps that are created especially for this purpose or stamps that are leftovers/outdated by the release of new issues.

My statements above refer to stamps issued for public use that are altered by a collectors' activity. As I stated, in some ways there are acceptable alterations.....getting canceled stamps for your own purposes vs an intention to defraud.

For example using Toledo Browns to create canceled stamps to sell and using new commeratives on personal mail to create a used set for yourself. Here's an example of something that I created by getting a courtesy cancel (having an item canceled and immediately handed back rather than having it sent through the mail).....there are restrictions to this process....but it is legitimate) I created this to document the time period of possession of the color shades.

There are collectors that create many similar items and there are many that frown upon this activity. Neither can be said to be absolutely right or proper. As with many aspects of the hobby it is up to each individual to decide for themselves. I always try to look at an individuals seeming intention, if the items were created singularly or in a set within period use vs if there are dozens of a single item from a later period that would seem to have been created specificly for sale. The first is acceptable, the second is not.

Also, the value of a used Toledo Brown with a cancel from the period of use would be worth much more than one with a recent cancel. One with a recent cancel would have a minimal value of 20-50cents, a period use cancel could carry a value of $5.00-$10.00 now, in the future the recent cancel would stay about same, but the period use cancel could increase by a great deal.

A lot of this type of thing is debatable. If I were to send something to you, that cover would be seen as a collector made item even though it would be just a case of me using the postal system. Collector made items are worth less than just a happenstance of everyday use of the mails.


Dianne..... Almost all stamps have a variety of shades. Many stamps are issued in different formats, sheet, booklet, coil, and imperf. Some have true color varieties.

Color shades usually don't get a separate catalog listing number, color varieties generally do. As do the different formats.
examples of shades...




example of color errors The Bronx Blue is listed as an error but the magenta Douglass is not...
#2466 65cents mint, 20cents used. #2466b $6.00 mint, $4.50 used



#1290 rose lake 55cents mint, used 20cents & #1290b magenta $25.00 mint, no value listed used.

Thanks again Tom

I assumed differences in colour shades are always due to fading. From what I understand from you is that this is not always the case.

I'm going to have a closer look at some of mine.

Off subject a bit Tom do you have preferences as to what stamp I get with cancellations on them for you.

dianne

Dianne.......

I have no preference.......whatever you send will be gratefully accepted and added to my collection.

Wow, what a lesson for this newbie! And I thought this was going to be easier than coin collecting--right now, I'm in that stage where I just want to collect what is cool, has an interesting history, and yes, even sometimes-pretty. Hopefully what I find is within my financial reach. Man, oh man, I cannot wait for that "Stamp Collecting for Dummies" book to get here! Please don't anyone give me a test anytime soon!

Gussyboy1
50th post

I do't really follow the US issues so I didn't know the Jamestown triangles even existed. I'll have to try to find some for my triangle collection! Thanks for the post Tom!