Tuscany 6 Crazie Help?

First off, I apologize in advance if this is in poor taste or in the wrong area. I am also not plugging anything, in fact do not buy it!
I am looking for opinions about an old Tuscany stamp which I am selling on ebay. Its an unused Scott's #15 6 crazie, auction # 270852558129
http://www.ebay.com/itm/27085255812....m1558.l2649
I am simply wondering why I cannot seem to give away a stamp which has a book value of about $10,000? It is certainly not a perfect example which lowers the value, I understand, but it is unused, it has a cert and it is up there for only $165. I have been and will continue to lower the price until it is sold. I tried selling it at an earlier date and when it got to what I thought was too low of a price, I put it away. This time I just keep lowering it. Does anyone have an idea of why no one wants it? The economy is bad, yes, but to me, it is a very old unused example of a valuable stamp in decent condition and should certainly be worth...Something? I had a US 121a, CV $12,000, approx. 75 known copies, and apparently due to lack of interest in the stamp I had to settle for about $1,500 but $165? and there are not even any watchers! I am wondering if anyone is seeing the auction...haha, sorry for rambling, I appreciate any help or opinions...

There are a few things to consider with this stamp.

1) Italian states are a very specialized area of philately. It is possible there just aren't that many collectors looking for this stamp.

2) Even though the stamp has a certificate, it is still a question mark. The specialist might recognize the expert's name and agency, but the average collector has no information on the expert, his credentials, or the agency. It would require time to research all of the aforementioned information and a potential buyer would be wise to do so before bidding.

3) This stamp, even if authentic, is very poorly printed. The ink is VERY heavy, even for this issue. I have a number of these Tuscany lions (not the 6 Cr) and they commonly have this problem. This one is heavy enough that I would not have believed it authentic if not for the certificate.

My advice to you is to do a little research about the expert and agency who certified this stamp. Add a link to their website. If possible, research this certificate and post that information on the listing.

Just a little effort on your part will make a difference between "Giving away" this stamp and several hundred dollars. My opinion is that if authentic, this should sell for $300 to $500 based on condition and appearance.

Good luck!

Brian

Scott Classic has a note at the beginning of the Tuscany listings, referencing how the values vary tremendously by condition.

Only because you asked, I have to say that it doesn't seem quite correct to say that you can't give away a stamp with a book value of about $10,000. Scott Classic lists a book value for a stamp without gum that is about a quarter of that (as of 2008), but the stamp has to meet the catalogue's standard for grading to warrant that number.

The cuts into the frame on all four sides have to come into play to further reduce the value. This is probably where the "values vary tremendously" note comes into play.

Many of the relatively few people who need this stamp probably have deep pockets (judging by the CVs of the stamps that would accompany this stamp in those collections), and may well be holding out for an example with margins.

Best of luck with it. Hope you find a willing buyer at a price you can live with.

Hi issuarian,

I agree with Cjd & Rileysan, and I can add that it has a tear, no gum and all 4 margins are cut into frame-lines.
All these faults lowers the selling price even with a certificate.
However those who collect these stamps know that this stamp was issued with short margins and a 4 margins stamp is very exceptional.
Maybe you can try to sell it at a higher starting price with a "Best offer" option, this gives you the possibility to choose your selling price.

Good luck.

Regards.

Billys.

Nice stamp to have, but consider the following:

1. You don't know it is unused. The certificate is careful to state that it is uncancelled -- which is NOT the same as unused. To be honest, my initial reaction is that you have misinterpreted the certificate (not saying you did it on purpose, of course).

2. The 2011 Scott catalog value for Tuscany #15 as an unused OG stamp is $15,500. But the catalog value for a used stamp is $375. Your stamp could be unused no gum, or it could be a used stamp with no cancel. A used stamp with no cancel is usually worth less than the catalog value of the used stamp.

3. Since the stamp has no gum, if you are going to quote the unused price, you should be referencing the Scott Classic for the no gum price. In the 2007, the value is $1700 for unused no gum. I don't have a more recent edition, but I would guess that it is probably close to $3000 by now. Some buyers get turned off when the proper catalog price is not cited. If Scott did not provide a no gum price, then it would be acceptable to quote the unused OG price.

4. Catalog value is for a stamp with 4 complete margins (full margins are 1/4 mm). The certificate indicates you do not have a single complete margin. Also, there is a tear.

5. Sismondo is very reputable and his certificates are widely accepted. I don't think that will be any problem whatsoever.

However, given that I might be getting a used stamp with no cancel (and I'm NOT saying that it is), I would also pass on it for $165 -- that is 44% of the catalog of a VF full margin used stamp with clean cancel. If it were unused no gum, then your asking price would be about 5% of the correctly quote catalog price. Pretty big difference, huh?

Just my opinion. Best wishes on getting a sale that is favorable to you.

k

Not to say you should list on Delcampe but there are a lot of Tuscany (Toscano / Tuscane) listed and sold on Delcampe. Look at the international version or dot net.

Beyond what it is worth (I will not speculate as I do not know Tuscany at all except it looks nice in pictures!) my exception is with the way you have the title done and the description.

It is all there, yes, and all correct, but as for the title, perhaps it is too much information jammed into too small a space. It is confusing for me to look at.

I am suggesting that someone who buys this may be like me, who cannot afford a lot but wants an example. perhaps.

ITALY Italian State TUSCANY 1856 Sc #15b Imperf

is a good title.

I would prefer not to put any catalogue price in the title. People have there own catalogues and can pay what they think it is worth anyway, no matter what any catalogue says.

You could put the catalogue price in your description along with which catalogue you refer to, the year, the condition that price is suggested for, etc but it is only for reference, not to force anyone to buy at any stated price or percentage thereof.

This is only mt opinion of course. I know others do like catalog prices in titles. I prefer not to.

You could, since you have extra space nowadays, add in the Italian for some words in the title (see Delcampe listings) as some buyers will be Italian and appreciate you attempt to say what it is correctly, to their minds. So, add, ITALIA TOSCANA thus

ITALY Italian State TUSCANY, ITALIA TOSCANA 1856 Sc #15b Imperf

simple, clean, easy to read and take in and it draws people in to read your description. You get them to click.

When you mention the denomination say 6 Crazia or just 6 Cr. rather than 6 Crazie. This is how an Italian says it on Delcampe anyway and it sounds better.

Then, in your description, you get into the condition or lack thereof in words that just state the facts and do not add any opinions or emotional content. People hate being told what they think I have found.

You are being their friend, or so friendly that you are just stating what it is and that's that. If there are faults, or things that could be considered faults, it is good practice and reputation building to be as honest as you can when stating the obvious (to you).

Describe the cut on the left lower side in professional terms. Describe the close cut sides as what they are. Say that the ink is smudged somewhat. Watermark present? Let them know that you know what you are selling, they will value your opinion as not all would see everything mentioned perhaps. You will be the expert for a day.

But for your last statement in your description state something positive about the item. End on a good note. Something like 'This is from the Morzocco Leone issue of 18??'. (My borrowing from Delcampe again, hope it is correct!)

Did I say too much? This kind of listing takes some time to research and write so that it feels good to you and not many people want to do this. I enjoy it as I feel I am respecting the customers, respecting myself, and that everyone is learning something along the way. And if I do things more right than wrong, people will come back and look again at other items and perhaps buy or tell others.

Professional, subtle, respectful, friendly.

Last small not is to separate your statement of having other items from the information about this item, in your description. Spread it out a bit, looks better.

Two interrelated thoughts that occur to me. I know essentially nothing of the Italian market, but I do know my special area.

For the Indian States I collect, a Scott reference would be useless. I suspect a reference to an Italian catalogue number might spark more interest.

Equally, for the Indian States, I wouldn't accept a Sismondo certificate. I know what expertisers I trust, and Sismondo spreads himself very thin - too thin. I'd suspect Italian collectors would only really respect Italian expert certificates.

I am overwhelmed!
In regards to the title on ebay, my titles are such that as many people might happen upon my auction as possible, I use keywords, it is not really supposed to make sense...right or wrong, that is why it is like that.
There is just too many notes to respond too here but what I am getting is that there are many reasons why I am not getting what I feel it is worth or what it actually is worth. If I am only going to get $100 it just isnt worth these efforts...to me. I mentioned that I understood about the actual value and the CV in my initial question though I then shouldnt have mentioned a value that was not right for this stamp...right! Either way we are talking about an expensive stamp that no one seems to want for the $145 that it is now up there for! To me it is so low now that I just want to get rid of it, someone please take the stamp! I am sick of looking at it. I have about a total of 7,000? stars on ebay (on a few names), I know the tricks, best offer etc, but I dont want anyone thinking I would actually accept any less than that, even though I might at this point. Puzzler mentioned some things like emotional selling etc. I am not lazy and I know you didnt say I was, I just dont like someone thinking I am trying to make something out to be something it isnt. So, I show the cert and they can listen to the pros, which I am not...Anyone (myself) can buy a stamp and resell it...I know enough, thats it... I just picked through all of your helpful comments which is why this is blotchy but I do appreciate all of them and you gave me just what I needed, an understanding...I understand almost too well!! Thank you Man, it would take me a day to fully digest all this info! I keep it simple, I cant get into all of this, I would make a few more bucks...I just dont have the time...You win some and you lose some and I am definitely losing this one, I just didnt know why... Puzzler's paragraph has me particularly puzzled... Thanks, Dave

I had a group of stamps which were suspected of being valuable from many countries, I surely didnt want to investigate 15 different expertisers...Very good point though, about the 50th!