1869 5 Franc Stamp Value!

I have come across this 5 franc stamp right at the back of a small stamp collection,it has a small tear in the top right corner and the colour is quite faded does that detract from the value a lot.

It has no value in that condition.

The good news is that the stamp is not that faded...the average used example of this stamp is not especially vibrant. And, the cancel is a nice strike of what I believe is a branch office in Paris. Not rare, though.

The bad news is that the significant damage around the edges makes it a spacefiller. Lots of collectors might be more willing to accept a crease, or a small tear, or a rounded corner, or a short perf, but missing pieces make it a tough sell.

If you started an auction at 99c/99p, it would get some bids, because lots of collectors would need one, but I don't think it would fetch too much.

My opinion, only. It is perfectly good as a spacefiller for someone who doesn't have one yet.

Many thanks for your comments,much appreciated.

This stamp has considerable cat value, so it's not fair to say that it has no value. It should bring somewhere between 5% and 10%. Certainly someone will need it.

I have seen several in worse condition sell for over $20,

Okka

it is a puzzle ,why anyone would purchase that stamp.Every collector or buyer looking at your collection would question how many more damaged items are there thru your collection .GREAT WAY to have a buyer hand you back your collection with the words "not interested".If you settle for trash in your collection ,expect trash when you sell it .

Surley making the gems too easy to find takes all the fun out of it and the value in the first place.The fact that fantastic stamps are quite often hidden in a job lot of rubbish(or what you might consider rubbish)is what makes a stamp hard to find and hence puts the value up.
I am sorry you must forgive my ignorance but I am not a collector,and the collection is not mine it belonged to my late stepdad.
I can only go by what I see in the catalogue,and have to admit got a little excited when I saw it(is it not this thrill you seek)even when you find out that actually it,s not worth much at all.
There are those that enjoy the Hunt and others the kill.

"There are those that enjoy the Hunt and others that kill"----really .....there are a few older and wiser collectors who try to keep the younger collectors from making bad decisions and accumlating worthless stuff and who then at a later period realise they are frustrated with the hobby and blame others for their frustrations and quit the hobby . If you build something your happy about and have pride in it ,then your willing to stay with it and show it off .....end of early morning rant ...off to get coffee .

Hmmm....Tea I think.

Tea it is ,no sugar

kathlav,

There are quite a few confusing aspects to this strange hobby.

Your stamp is not included in many simplified stamp albums, because it is expensive, and it cannot be readily substituted with another stamp. Its shape differs from the rest of early France. (You can print a few rows of boxes and let the non-specialist hinge in any mix of Ceres and Napoleon stamps that comes his or her way.)

Your stamp is also hard to find in good condition. This seems to make nice examples fetch a higher percentage of catalogue than you might otherwise expect to pay.

Collectors of rare postmarks or perfins would be just fine with a stamp in the condition you showed, because the stamp is just a delivery vehicle for what is actually being collected. I'm pretty sure your stamp was cancelled at the Place de la Bourse branch office, which was a major office, and therefore not hard to find.

Collectors of revenue stamps are also a little more tolerant of condition issues for many of the items they seek. Or at least I am when buying revenue stamps. Many revenues stamps have led harder lives than their postal cousins.

For what it is worth, a spacefiller not dissimilar to yours is included in the Sandafayre auction ending February 5th. This link won't work forever, but it is current right now:

http://www.sandafayre.com/countries...hstamps.html

The auction estimate is US $79-86 (50-55 pounds). Here is the image for posterity:

How did you guess Floortrader that I take my tea without sugar?
Thank you Cjd for that link and thanks floortrader for the tea,I am finding out just how difficult and specialized this subject matter is,so many fakes and forgeries and reprints,not to mention cancelations and condition to consider.
It is quite likely as Floortrader say's that there is nothing of too much interest or value in my late stepfathers small collection,it is mostly the old german states which untill a few weeks ago I did,nt even know existed,so if nothing else I have learn,t a little something about european history.
Not a bad price for a space filler though.Thanks I shall keep my eye on that auction.

Kathlav-----Looks like im wrong about the value of items like yours .I do have a use for damaged stuff ,let me put up a scan .

Older and wiser collectors also understand that some people do not have the funds to purchase expensive stamps in F-VF condition, and might feel that having a spacefiller is much better than nothing. Resale is not their first consideration, collecting is. For that type of collector this stamp at 5% is a good deal.

Here is one reason to save and collect damaged real stamps ,because they can be compared to fakes and forgeries .From my collection .