Great Britain Purchase: Lesson Or Bargain?

I have no stamps from this era so this purchase was a first for me. I spent around $40 - did I get an "expensive lesson" or a "bargain" or something in between? I believe that these are left to right, Scott 1, 4, 9, and 32.

You got a bargain. It's like you paid $40 for the Penny Black and got the others free.

Probably something in between is my opinion. The two right hand stamps have very little value as they are perforation damaged. Probably the three half pence stamp is plate 3 if you look level with the "c" in pence.
The two pence stamp is a two margin imperforate 1841 with a heavy cancel and probably worth around 5 pounds.
The penny black is a one margin stamp with not a good cancellation which might fetch 10 to 15 pounds from another collector.

In my opinion none of the stamps have a "cat value" as these stamps would not be in a stamp catalog due to damage and poor-ish quality.

All that is my opinion only. I'd have put the $40 towards a better quality penny black.

Does it matter whether it was a bargain or a lesson ? Do you plan to resell them? If not then all that matters is if you are happy with the purchase. Everyone has different criteria on what goes into the display. For $40 you might have got a Dinner for 2 somewhere, but with these you get to enjoy them many times over. If you would have purchased a 4 margin Black, you'd have spent much more.

I would say you did fine. I have seen worse penny blacks go for higher than $40.

Scouter said "I have no stamps from this era..."
I'm sorting out my GB collection and have duplicates from most reigns and have these... if you want them, Scouter.



Not a complete set as the 5d and 10d are missing.
E-mail an address if you want them.

Scotzm- Great jesture to help a UK collection. Scouter Just be warned once you start with UK you may need an intervention to stop.
I still don't have a penny black of any quality- I know there are tons out there but just havn't found a super bargain even if its a spacefiller.

I would have to say 'in between' because the Penny Black and Two Pence blue are cut in to the design. However, they are still nice to have.

My opinion of course.

Chimo

Bujutsu

Given that these are what a GB dealer would call spacefillers, I'd say you did OK. I have checked an 'average' priced GB dealer and the same stamps in 'filler' quality would set you back about £40=$60.

Not a bargain but not an expensive lesson either.

Enjoy

Londonbus1

If you enjoy them you did just fine. GB stamps can become somewhat of an addiction. First you start with the stamps, then you move onto plate numbers,(of which there are plenty in the 19th century), then you graduate to cancels. Then you lose your mind.

For the price of three space-fillers you can get a very decent Penny Black stamp.

"Stanley Gibbons list used examples at £200 but real market prices vary considerably depending on condition. A space filler might be in the £5 - £15 range and good, sound, fine used examples tend to be in the £45-£95 range. Those over £100 ($140) should be exceptionally nice examples or be a scarce variation."
Source... County Philatelic Auctions.