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Replies: 20 / Views: 999 |
Valued Member
United States
27 Posts |
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How much should I pay for a 70c that is certified, I will be reselling it so I need to make a profit. Also in this collection they sent some pictures - any earthly idea why they have a value of $750-$1000 on 3 #498's am I missing something?  
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Pillar Of The Community

United States
6228 Posts |
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Pillar Of The Community

5962 Posts |
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That "certificate" is worth absolutely nothing. Where are you getting this collection? You may want to take a pause right away. |
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Pillar Of The Community

United States
5124 Posts |
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Agree on the cert. Worthless. "Society of Philatelic Americans" is NOT the same as "American Philatelic Society", the latter having an established and market-accept expertizing arm (APEX). |
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Valued Member
United States
27 Posts |
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Thanks everyone, it is a local guy selling them to me via the net. I will see the stamps in person before purchasing, thanks for the cert info. |
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
2362 Posts |
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I used to know the story of the SPA - they were a real organization, but its been too long and I forget the story of their rise and fall. Some other member here likely knows. |
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
2418 Posts |
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I agree the cert is worthless... to knowledgeable collectors anyway. There is also a very good chance the stamp isn't worth much more. It may not be a 70c ya know. If you can't value the stamp for purchase how are you going to value it for resale? Are your buyers expected to have all of the knowledge? |
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
2418 Posts |
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If Ken Lawrence was a member, he could tell the story. I recall him talking about it some but I don't really remember the details. |
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Pillar Of The Community

United States
1465 Posts |
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
7375 Posts |
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The story I was told about 50 years ago is that the group was founded by collectors unhappy about who the APS was willing to give membership to. They wanted to maintain collector "purity". I don't know how accurate that was, but I heard it from a number of different sources. |
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Pillar Of The Community

United States
1093 Posts |
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
7375 Posts |
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
1883 Posts |
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Valued Member
United States
310 Posts |
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Even if the certificate was good when issued it is now more than 40 years old. So it worthless just for that reason. Especially for a stamp that is very difficult to determine color. |
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Bedrock Of The Community

Australia
31706 Posts |
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
1464 Posts |
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The SPA was still in the final stages of its existence when I first became a "serious" collector (early 1980's). It began life as the Southern Philatelic Association, driven by regional (and no doubt other) imperatives. As such it was inherently limited, and as it inexorably withered in the increasingly larger shadow of the APS it changed its name (but not its initials) to the Society of Philatelic Americans. In its heyday it was a viable organization with its own journal (The Stamp Herald, I believe), expertizing committee etc. It was eventually merged with the APS. I agree that a 1980 SPA certificate isn't worth anything today beyond its historical interest. |
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Replies: 20 / Views: 999 |
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