Intermediate Collector With Newbie Question

I know what a CTO is and I know what used is. But is a CTO still considered used in the Scott catalog values? I have never really delt with them and I just bought some high value sheets that are $125 mint/$180 used.

Hello sharksfan.....

CTO's are not considered used........in almost every Scott country listing there is a note stating that actual used stamps will sell for more than CTO's or that CTO's will sell for less than the stated value for used.

OK, Now I get it.....thank you.

It's worth noting that Australian CTO's prior to 1970 are a whole different kettle of fish.

From 1913 to 1970 Australia issued Post Office Specimen packs, with the values up to 5/- CTO and higher values overprinted "specimen." These were broken up and are now the source of the majority of Australian CTO pre 1970.

These CTO stamps (with a few exceptions such as the 5/- Bridge) attract higher prices than used stamps. The Australian Commonwealth Specialists Catalogue lists separate prices for CTO. It depends on the issue of course, but some CTO stamps are priced higher than mint, others just over used and others everything in between.

So take care if you have any early Australian CTO stamps, they may be worth more than you think.

P.S. Used 5/- Bridge stamps are almost all CTO. Genuine postally used is very rare, hence the reason it's one of the exceptions where used is valued much higher than CTO.

Balf

Here's a direct quote from the preface of Scott catalogue:

In cases where the CTO material is far more prevalent in the marketplace than postally used examples, the catalogue value relates to the CTO examples, with postally used examples noted as premium items.

This also applies to Australian Territories. I recently sold these from Christmas Island, along with some from Nauru and Norfolk Island. They are CTO, full gum, and are official issues.





and this is the type of folder they came in

Thanks for that Jubilee.
Never knew that, I'll have to run an eye over my collection.

Balf-

I've looked high and low for that description. Thanks so much. It is so simple that I can't imagine why it is such a secret.

The gum on these is pristine...all anyone could tell me was "CTO" but never "why?".




Is there a way to date these?

Also, jubilee, thanks for the booklet scans.

Cjd -

Yes, both of these stamps are from Post Office Specimen packs. They would have come in a folder similar to the Territory ones scanned by jubilee.

For dates of issue you'll need to tell what the watermarks are. The 1d green is priced the same as mint unhinged pretty much across all watermarks, slightly more if it's single watermark. It should be either Single watermark, small multiple watermark or C of A with Crown. The Large Multiple and No watermark papers were not issued in Specimen Packs.

The 3d Blue is Die II, will be either Small Multiple or C of A watermarks. If you're not sure of the watermarks, see the thread on KGV by KGV Collector. CTO is valued at around 70% more than used for both these 3d blue watermarked issues (eg $3 used, $5 CTO.)

Balf

Balf-

They are both what Scott calls w/m #228 - small crown and C of A multiple. Since acquiring them, I've thought they were from the 1931-36 issue (1932 for the 3d), but I always feel like I'm half guessing with the Australia KGVs.

I misread your original post to say that these were issued each year, and I was hoping there might be a way to pin down a year. That probably isn't going to happen.

Would you guess that I'm on the right track?

Thanks.

Collin