Scott 389

Ok what do you think? Is it real? I am thinking about sending in for grading.

I'm not an expert, but here's my free opinion. The top edge says, "somebody trimmed a 376". Of course, I'm getting a little hard of hearing these days.

Hi Warjag and welcome to SCF!
Maybe this article will help you decide about grading:

http://www.philatelicfoundation.org...urg_coil.htm

Dan

Here's a little more info on 389's.

http://www.1847usa.com/washfrank/de...3/d33p12.htm

Dan

danstamps54,

I read this article last night after I found it. Thanks for the heads up. I am not a stamp expert by any means. I am a ebay seller that has been selling coins and paper money. I received several thousand pounds of stamp collections last week and have been trying to go through it all. It will take me years. I need all the help I can get. Believe me I will be here more than not.I am open to any suggestions other than send them all to me and I will take care of :)

I assumed that you had already checked the watermarks and perforation.

But now that I look at your stamp again, it doesn't look perf 12 to me. Seems to be roughly 1 perforation short, based on the height of the stamp frame. Can you confirm that you measured perf 12?

Here is a genuine #389.

If you compare to your stamp, you will see a noticeable difference in the NUMBER of perforations, counting from top frame line to bottom frame line (not from edge to edge).

I can confidently tell you that you do not have a #389. Sorry.

Welcome to SCF warjag:

One great thing about this place is that you'll find lots of knowledgeable collectors answering questions on about every imaginable topic.

KirkS

Hello warjag......


Welcome to the club.

Just looking at the difference between the top and bottom margins, I would not bother with grading, also looks as though there might be a few perf issues........sorry to post less than good news but grading is generally used for exceptional material.

If you don't have a perf guage and some watermark fluid, you should see about getting them if you have a lot of similar material.

Hey thanks for the replies. I knew reading last night this would be a real shot in the dark. I will keep looking though. I see the margins are off.

Hey it was hard to slept last night though

There is a rough rule to determine W/F perfs that I have used for years and it has not failed me yet. The number of horizontal perfs that do not extend beyond the design is that perf. ie 10 perf holes (or perf tabs) is a perf 10, 11 perf holes or tabs is a perf 11. Same goes for perf 12. This rule is useful when viewing on-line stamps to determine perfs irregardless of the size of the photo. For stamps in hand, one should use a perforation gauge.

To determine verticle perfs, an additional perf hole or tab can be counted within the design. ie, 11 perf holes or tabs (see warjag's stamp) is a verticle perf 10, 12 holes/tabs is perf 11, 13 perfs/tabs is perf 12 (see Kim's #389). warjag's stamp is perf 10 and therefore not a #389; I'd bet on it.

Marty

Pardon my poor manners .... welcome warjag.

Sorry about your stamp, I've looked for a 389 for years and I'm still looking.

Marty

Yeah, in my dreams...
k

Marty great answer. What I was looking for! Do you live in the Jacksonville Fl. area? I am looking for someone....BAD!!

I have a day job. If I lived to be 150 year old I would never get through this treasure. Tons of world stamps.Again I say again you are the experts. I am trying to learn this by books. They just do not have the knowledge of you folks.

Not the same as coins!! No way!

warjag, I'm a bit further south of you, ... by about a 1,000 miles.

As far as being an expert, I'm not quite there but I do know a fair amount on US and Guatemala stamps. So if you come upon Guatemala in your treasure, post them and several of us can try to help you out.

marty

My album has a space for 389. The illustration in the space is as close as I will ever get to a 389. The 389 is known as the Orangeburg (NY) coil, since all were used there for a as a mailing for a company sending out samples. Very few were saved.