Revenue Devaluation On Bermuda - New Scans

Does anyone know if these with Revenue cancels are devalued from the regular issue used and by how much. One of these is Unused Hinged. But I think the rest are Revenue cancels - Thanks as always - Jeff

Revenue cancels positively kill the value of the high-value British Commonwealth stamps, according to accepted philatelic norms and traditions. (Scott Classic often lists values of revenue cancels, and they are way below normal CV.)

Many of these high-value BC items sell for more as postally used than as mint, which makes i.d. of a revenue cancel particularly important. Plus, "Mint no gum" leaves open the possibility of a washed revenue cancel. (That 10-shilling KGV looks like it might have seen water at one point.)

All this being said, I think that the influx of new collectors, coupled with the switch from bricks-and-mortar dealers to internet transactions, has brought asking prices up on a lot of these stamps. Old line dealers probably wouldn't display a Bermuda keyplate with a revenue cancel, but that stigma seems to be fading in the wild west environment of the Internet. I wonder if the new collectors, who aren't getting the same degree of traditional tutelage from dealers, are willing to pay more now than was traditionally the case?

I'm not bothered by revenue cancels, myself, as long as I haven't paid anything approximating the typical percentage of CV that I'd pay for postal usage. But then I collect revenue stamps, too...

collin the 10 shilling is mint hinged, it's still gummed, and thanks for all the other information, very helpful - Jeff

In general, revenue cancels on postage stamps "usually" reduce the value, as most collectors of used stamps seek "postally used" stamps.

Typical dealer selling prices reflect this.

However, there are always more than a few exceptions; for example, in the Scott catalog, Iceland #122-123(1920 King Christian X issue) has a higher catalog price for the "TOLLUR" revenue/tax cancel.

So it can't hurt to "check and ask"...

If the 10/- Bermuda is mint hinged, then it's a perfectly good postage stamp. It appears to be an SG 92 (green and red on pale emerald), cat. £140. There are endless flaws on these keyplate types, and they can add considerably to the value. Well worth settling down to examine it closely.

someone point me to a book that would show the plate flaws, not Scott I assume??

As usual, for British Commonwealth, try Gibbons, or if you really want to go to town on it, The postal history and stamps of Bermuda, by MH Ludington

Gibbons has detailed pictures of the major head plate flaws. The flaws are the kind of thing where there might be a break in the crown, or in the scrollwork, etc. It adds another layer to the investigation of these stamps. The value jumps are significant per the catalogue.

I do love the 10-shilling KGV...does no one else think it looks a little soaked? If not, I'll retract my concern. (I'd still happily keep it in my album.)

The lower left corner area looks funky.

In the scan, it does look pretty iffy to me - but then, scans can sometimes do less than justice to stamps.

If the scan is accurate, I'd be checking it for signs of regumming.

Just to put some numbers to it...

A revenue cancel puts this at $10-15 (in all likelihood). A good job washing off a revenue cancel probably puts a MNG at $50. Regumming it ($5 plus postage to Germany) probably puts it back up to $75-100. Adding a fake cancel (which is the real risk for these) and it goes well above $100, probably $150-200.

These are rough guesses of retail, not to be relied on. But they illustrate the money on the table for the evildoers.

My 2d.

C.

the book is at work, I will get a good scan of both sides tomorrow for everyone. In the meantime can anyone remember what two stamps I was going to send Rod, oh boy do I love this forget your name medication. :)

Barefoot provides prices for the Bermuda high-values used as fiscals. They are significantly lower than postally used values.

Punch cancels further discount values by 25% to 50%.

KGVI 12s. 6d. is worth £10-£15 (including discount)
KGVI £1 is worth £3.75-£5.50 (including discount)

The KGV 10s. does look a little blurred or maybe washed out. One of the 2s. 6d. printings is typified by blurred printing, but I don't know about the 10s. There are 21 head plate flaws with the 1924-32 Bermuda high-values.

My theory about the increasing saleability of revenue cancels doesn't extend to punch cancels. I think the hole will still generally scare off buyers.

Here are those close ups, if people need more let me know. Front and back are at 600 corner at 1200

Are there any other countries that use/used the punch cancel?