Rare Liberty Series United States Precancel Inglewood California 1034 - 71 MNH

What am I missing here with the current bid and 6 days to go?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/265497963124

Bob

I don't know if that item is genuine or not but precancel 1034-71 was sold in an HR Harmer auction collection lot and was described as rare, so somebody knows something.

There are quite rare and expensive precancels.

There is also a precancel catalog. Start with the Precancel Stamp Society on Google.

Ok... I don't have that catalog. I was looking at Durland. Sorry for the dumb question.

Not at all a dumb question. I am just sorry that no one gives a good answer - I would like to know also


Peter

Indeed Peter. The beatings will continue until morale improves.

Bob

What is a good answer?

The Bureau Precancel is difficult to find and with most things scarcity drives the price (in combination with demand). Additionally it has full gum, 3-NH, 1-VLH. Gum if wanted, is difficult to find on most precancels as it was normally soaked off as precanceled stamps are considered used. Plate blocks carry interest as well for some collectors. Bureau Precancels have varieties, "Styles" assigned numbers by the PSS. The "-71" indicates in which style the precancel was produced.

Now there also precancels which are quite expensive because the underlying stamp is quite rare and valuable. That is not the case here. (Image from eBay listing)



From the H.R. Harmer's lot 5097, sale 3021, October 13-15, 2016 description:

A NEARLY COMPLETE BUREAU PRECANCELS COLLECTION. neatly arranged in three volumes, many many 100s and missing most of the rare bureaus but does include many high values such as Inglewood, CA 1034-71, Ventura, CA 804-71a (error block of 25), Fort Lauderdale, FL 804-73, New Orleans, LA J59-32, Oklahoma, OK 581-43, Wayne, PA 1615C-81, Columbia, SC 600-61 and Rock Hill, SC 1305-71 to name a few, incl copies of PSS Bureau and Town & Type catalogs....

Went unsold at at a start of $3000.00

From the PSS website, "With few exceptions (mainly rare US stamps such as Scott #596, or #544), the value of a precancel depends first on the town it comes from AND on the style of TYPE. Therefore one must learn how to identify types to be able to get started in the evaluation. This can take a LOT of study! In some cases (bureaus and classics mainly) the specific stamp enters into the evaluation process, but usually the stamp has nothing to do with the value."

See also:

https://www.stampcommunity.org/topi...PIC_ID=34665
http://goscf.com/t/46158
https://www.stampcommunity.org/topi...PIC_ID=27599

The "Precancel Stamp Society Catalog of United States Bureau Precancels" (3rd ed, 1990, yes I need to get a much newer edition), lists a value for singles and blocks of each Bureau precancel. 32 years ago the Inglewood precancel on the 2-1/2 cent listed at $20 for a single and $125 for a block. They do not list plate blocks, but it would naturally be more. Definitely at the high end of Bureau precancels.

Thanks Parcel Post Guy. That's not a good answer, that's a great answer. Also appreciate your as always insightful input, John and Rogdcam.

Looks like it is time to buy some more catalogs!

Bob

ps Not to nitpick, but in plate block land, NH means the whole shebang is NH including the selvedge. Can't say how many listings I have seen where disclosure in this regard, to be kind, is somewhat lacking.