1939, New York World's Fair Poster Stamps......a Dilemma!

I need some help/advice on what to do with the following item.
OK, I could easily make a decision by myself, but it would be interesting to hear from others, should they ever be in the same [or similar] situation.

I have just won this item on an Internet auction.



The envelope contains the full sheet, here is a part sheet scanned in part, because of it's size.



When it arrived, I opened it eagerly as I had been after this a long time. I know the seller for many years and won it a very good price of $10. No funny business would have been intended.
But the sheet is stuck together, 12 labels x 2 plus most of the margins/selvedge are inseperable. I could soak it, try to steam it open or try other ways.
This apart, the sheet is very clean, minor marginal scuffing but it looks good...except it's stuck !

I have checked the price of this item from other sources and most times it's not cheap $25-$60. One or two are cheap but still running auctions.
The seller has offered to refund of course, that goes without saying, but I was thinking of keeping it because of the very reasonable price.

What wouldyou do if it happened to you ?
Send it back and put the money towards a better copy ?
Keep it and try to seperate it [into singles maybe] and still look for a whole sheet ?
Or something else ?

I'd be interested in your thoughts and what you would do if it happened to you.

Londonbus1

I can see the problem, but I would return for a refund.

Reason why-
1. I have purchased 3 of these by waiting for a deal and all of them were $18 or less.
2. We are a fickle lot and yes we can see value in separating them and selling down the road. But, I find the more I collect that I have many items I would accept but others would not.
3. Did you ask if the dealer has more than one? A swap would be in order then.

Just my view as I would have kept them a while back but now I would probably return them.

I'd return them, too.

A quick internet search suggests they are quite easily available, although prices do fluctuate from dealer to dealer. In fact, just as a comparison, Rigastamps has them MNH for a direct buy price of $25 at this link, so since they are typically on the high end of the market, it suggests they probably do become available at a reasonable price from time to time:

http://www.rigastamps.biz/servlet/t...ettes/Detail

In fact, I suggest these were made in such large quantities for an event like the NY World's Fair that even some 72 years later, they are still quite common, even though some auction sites may have you think otherwise.

Of course, a lot depends on how bad you want these poster stamps and whether you're willing to wait for the item to come up again at a better price/condition than what may be available today.

Just my opinion, of course.

Thanks guys.
I have been looking for these for a few years now and can wait a little longer.

The price ranges on ebay alone are quite something....but then they usually are !

Londonbus1

I wouldn't recommend this as a rule for the rest of you to follow but if I have anything then it is common. I have these by the way.

FYI
I'd be happy to take these off your hands at $10 Lb1.

Contrary to what has been said here, I do not think these are common.
There are a few sheets available [Hardly any with issued envelope] and most are expensive. Indeed, wt1's $25 find at Rigastamps is amongst the cheapest !
I gave the price range earlier after extensive searching. The two cheaper ones I found are in the early auction stage and may rise.

I'll get back to you, I am watching them all !

Rod,

email sent.

Londonbus1

Here in New York you can't go to an Antique Shop or Flea Market without seeing dozens them with the envelope. Price ranges normally come in between $10-$30.

I guess I should wait until I visit the USA !
Why don't these sellers list them up instead of leaving them to rot at Flea Markets !

Thanks for the heads up.

Londonbus1....planning a US Holiday !

We do forget sometimes what may be easy to get in the US might be hard to acquire in other countries and vice versa. Also, Londonbus will hunt up my sheets but the more uncommon one is the one with the overprint on each stamp. I had lucked out when I won a regular one off a auction and they were sending the overprint ones because they ran out of the regular ones. They asked if this would be acceptable and I of course had no problems with it. I do have a mnh sheet but it has been separated at the perfs into blocks. I do have a Christmas pack for you this year so if wanted I'll put it in.