Why Has This Straddle Margin 1868 30 Cent Franklin F Grill Scott 100 Not Sold

Got it. I understand now! So technically my stamp would be considered a straddle (albeit barely-so) that has potentially been trimmed down on the other side.

I wonder why it was trimmed if it takes away value...

Stephen-P, your example does not extend into the margin between stamps, to show whether it is a straddle-margin copy (straddling the margin between sheets), or whether just from a random position within a sheet.

Possibly could be trimmed to remove short/pulled perforations, tears. etc. from the left side of the stamp to improve appearance.

Stephen-P,
Your stamp is not the same, it is apples and oranges. Your stamp has been trimmed (not by the PO), this greatly reduces the demand and the value. Looking at previous eBay sales for trimmed #100, they sold for around $75 - $90.

This thread is about a stamp which came from the edge of the pane, it is a 'natural' straight edge. And as Roger noted, even as a straddle stamp the demand does not seem to be there. Many collectors do not like straight edges nor are they willing to spend more $$ for a straddle copy (even if it less common than a fully perforated stamp). They are trying to sell it for $475.
Don

Stephen-P:

Often, stamps were printed on sheets of paper. These printed sheets of paper were then cut into smaller pieces (panes) which then were sent to post offices to be sold. When the plan was to cut the sheets down, usually into two or four panes the design of the sheet was set up to facilitate that separation. The sheet was cut along an area set aside for such cutting. In the case of the Sc. #100 this area was left unperforated and when cut a straight edge right (as with the OP example) or left if the next stamp to the right in the uncut sheet. The OP stamp is in the right most column of the left pane with the next stamp to the right in the left most column of the right pane. The production goal was to make the cut between the columns of stamps in the unprinted area between the stamp designs. In the OP example the cut line was shifted over, out of the unprinted area into the stamp design of the next stamp to the right (the left most column of the right pane). The resulting misaligned cut straddles the intended separation area between the panes to include part of what should have been part of the pane to the right. The mate to the OP stamp would be a narrow example missing part of the design on the left with a left straight edge. As the left side does not include any of the pane to the left, it is not a straddle pane copy, but merely a stamp with a natural (production caused) straight edge.

As to your example, if in fact the left straight edge is natural (production caused) rather than being from a post production cut by a knife or scissors after being sold by the post office it is only a natural straight edge stamp and is not a straddle pane copy. If it was cut by someone after being sold from the post office, then it is not a straight edge example, but a damaged (trimmed) stamp.


Philatelic terms of art:
sheet, the full piece of paper used in the printing press
pane, the usually smaller piece of paper as delivered to the post office for sale of single or multiple stamps up to and including the entire pane's worth.

Edited for spacing issues.

As with the dollar value Columbians it is hard to believe that so few straddle margin copies of stamps such as this Scott 100 exist unless of course most that did not have the design cut into had perforations added.

The PF says this about Scott 245, the $5 Columbian:

Back in the 60's and 70's, one still saw high value Columbians and Trans-Miss stamps with straight edges. They vanished pretty completely over the next 20 years.

I would echo the general suspicion that it is due to bias against straight edges.

I might pretend that I do not have this bias myself, because I do have at least three natural straight edges in my coll including a nicely centered 291 ( the 50 cent Trans Mississippi) which one I actually like and which was quite undervalued when I bought it. But still, they do not look quite right when I leaf past them. I have a plate block of the 595 coil waste with a straight edge on the left that has become very jarring aesthetically to me.

Perhaps if they opened it up to best offers they might move it for a still pretty good price.
But they may not want to play that way and at least they'll take it for their own.

Dare we ask, Rogdc, what the other stamp is that's languishing?

Yeah, I was proud of a high value Columbian that I thought I had gotten at a good price until I sent it in to PF and eventually received the bad news.

The other stamp is a Scott 70, graded 85, with two certs and an 11 bar open grid cancel.

nice stamp.

"A jumbo stamp has four large margins, most often with very fine or better centering."

I beg to differ that they most often have vf or better centering.

Thanks for all of the insightful comments. The consensus is obviously that straight edges no matter how rare are undesirable which I guess is no secret in our hobby.

Ironically I purchased the stamp for its margins being well clear of the design which is also pretty rare for this issue. Hopefully it never gets tinkered with to create a "Jumbo".

A true specialist/scholar/exhibitor would not agree with this. Straight edges are often "position pieces" which help tell the production story.

If I were searching for a nice 100, one minor factor against this stamp is the cancel obliterates the eyes. Given the choice between this stamp and some other, I want to see eyes!

I think the #100 just has an odd combination of attributes which makes it a hard sell. The centering would appeal to a collector of high-grade stamps but those collectors typically don't want a straight-edge. The straddle pane would appeal to specialists but those collectors typically are willing to accept small faults and probably don't want to pay for a high-grade piece, so you need to wait for the right collector to come along.

I have the 100 on my eBay watch list and just received an discount offer of 10% off. So Rupp is actively working it.