Revenue "Specimens"

A little over a week ago, our local club had an auction because a dealer came down to our show with 97 lots. One of the lots I won was three "Cigarette" stamps overprinted "SPECIMEN".

I do not have a current value on them but I couldn't lose with them for only $2.00.

Chimo

Bujutsu

Hi.

Interresting.. In my Brandom catalog, there is no "specimen" mentioned for those stamps. Can the overprint be fake?

Here is what I have, from the left to the right:

- C-281, Series of 1897, Red, P12 => $0.60
- C-304, Series of 1897, Black, inscribed "over 3 pounds per 1000", P12 => $2.00
- C-275, Series of 1897, Blue, P12 => $0.60

Those prices are the one given in the Brandom catalog when it was printed in 1976. There is no mention of grade or condition for those prices. It is said to use the prices as a rarity factor instead of a value... I can say that I do have trouble evaluating values myself because it does not seems to be a "base" value for a base rarity factor... Anyway.

Since the third one have been ripped in half, my guess is that it was used. Are the other also used? If so, then my theories that the overprints are fake could be right. But since it is not in the Brandom Catalog, we must not assume that it does not exists. The author wrote a supplement a few years later with some pieces unknown from the original catalog. So, there might be other pieces that the author missed.

I hope this help and that someone else could help even more.

Edit: I checked and there is no mention of specimen in the supplement either.

Hi Pepere and thank you.

I have the Brandon books too and was wondering if there is anything more current on them.

Fakes are always possible, but, for $2.00 I guess I won't lose anything on them.

The 10 cigarettes blue has a tear and the top but does not go down the entire length of the stamp. I didn't notice this as there was little time to view the lots.

Chimo

Bujutsu

Determining condition on taxpaids is always difficult because of the way they were used. The most important thing is that the design be complete. Damage consistent with their use, such as creases, thins and repairs are to a fairly large degree to be expected, and should not be held the same way as with postage stamps, especially in the mid to higher valued items.
Determining a "base" value in a catalog like Brandom is not all that difficult. Look through the various categories and determine what is the cheapest listed price and the most expensive listed price. Use them to get a mid point. Then a comparison of the value of any item can easily be compared with them. Also try to get a feel for the number of items that have values in the top third of the price range. The larger the number, the easier it is to judge the middle third of the range.

revcollector made a point I had forgotten about.

I have some cigar stamps that are damaged and these stamps were literally 'wrapped' around a wooden box of cigars and the only way to get to them was to break the stamp.

One time I hit the jackpot by finding a '50 Cigarettes' stamp on the floor of a store that had literally 'popped off' of a package most likely and, the stamp has full gum. A plus to say the least. I still have that stamp.

Chimo

Bujutsu

From the picture you showed on the first post, the last stamp really seems ripped in half, but I really don't have the stamp in hand so I will have to believe you.

When looking for current value, I had sometimes gone to see Eric Jackson Revenue Stamps Web site (http://www.ericjackson.com/). You might be able to find your stamps there. I check and there are C-275 and C-281, but none with SPECIMEN overprint. There is no C-304. I know that a SPECIMEN stamp won't have the same value than the stamp itself, but it is a place to start. You might even consider asking them for help.

Hope this might help.

Thanks again Pepere.

I will look into this.

I will also be checking the Van Dam site as well.

Chimo

Bujutsu