At What Point Do You Remove A Stamp(S) From A Cover?

Ray,

No doubt that Bill is the best value for the dollar when it comes to certs. However, have you tried other places (APS) to get a cert?

I would be happy to relieve you of one of those 85s! That's another hole I'm trying to fill and I just don't feel comfortable getting one off the net. So, if you can part with one.... Send me a private e-mail.

I can't find the scan of my strip of #20 DT and I won't be able to scan it until next week. I must say that I can't hardly wait.

I can thank our friend in NE for a big part of my 1851/1857 Franklin cover collection. Though I had over a hundred covers a year ago, it has grown to 400+ and its amazing to me how many dealers don't look for curls and other faults on cover.

Art

One last comment on this subject. If I already had a C15 in my album I would leave it on cover.

OK it wasn't last but, in my earlier post I asked if anyone wanted the cover after I lifted the stamp. If the cover had value on its own merit I would have expected a taker or two. No takers. I guess that means that the cover has no percieved value unless the stamp is still attached but, the stamp always has some value.

Art

Art,
My turn
I'm sympathetic to your collecting philosophy. It's your collection and you can do whatever you choose to do. However, I also collect covers and postmarks and would hate to see that stamp floated. I was going to step up and put some money where my mouth is and offer you a premium for the cover.
That is, until I found the listing. The seller notes that "the stamp has defects, tear and crease and minor tear in envelope." It's not clear to me exactly what the seller is referring to and frankly I don't see it in your or the seller's scans.
If you soak it, you may find a surprise. For that reason it might be best left on cover. But you have it in hand so you are the best to know.
Did I stir the pot enough?
Dan

Art,

I collect only Newfoundland but I will take the cover if you've removed the stamp (but hope you don't)
I'll offer $5 to cover shipping.

Tommy: Don't forget to pop the cork on that old bottle of 1869 Chateau Lafite that's been just gathering dust!

What a condescending post by Tommy. We are collectively intelligent enough to make these kind of decisions and this post was only meant to stir conversation not a snooty comment. Sorry about writing this but I just couldn't get it out of my mind. Most Respectfully, Jeff

I think Tommy made my point extremely well. His $5.00 offer was to cover shipping, the cover still has no value.

The stamp will always have value, without a cover.
A cover without the stamp seldom does.
Together, it usually increases the value of the stamp but, not always. In two days they get seperated and the cover gets trashed.

Art

Art, If anything is proven here it is that the value of the cover is destroyed by removing the stamp, not that the cover has no value. I think in this case, the stamp should stay on the cover.

Shown below is one of my recent acquisitions that you may like. You can find the stamp on page 118 in Vol. II of Ashbrook's 1c book. It is the only known example of this cancellation on any stamp. This is one example where I really wish the stamp had been left on cover. The person who took the stamp off the cover deprived everybody of an amazing artifact and who knows how much knowledge. This would have been mitigated by at least keeping the cover with the stamp.

So that everybody knows, I am the one that sold the 72-74R12 cover to Art. I recommended that the stamps be taken off the cover. I think the cover should be kept in case of the unlikely event it has some value to somebody.

I don't know what kind of glue was used on that stamp but it was a pain to get off, 2 hrs soaking! The cover was torn, roughly opened, stained and had other faults and is now in the trash can. The stamp itself is very well centered, lightly cancelled and has no faults. The only issue with the stamp now is that some of the cover has remained with the stamp and I don't want to soak it any longer. As soon as it dries it goes into my album. I'm a happy camper.

Art

I was wrong, there were 2 issues with the stamp, a surface scuff on the right side and a light crease. I didn't see them until I was mounting it. Still a nice stamp.

On the Zepp cover, I think I would soak it. They are not that hard to find on much nicer covers. Scott values the stamp at $600 and $625 on cover. So in comparison the $25 is a pittance of a difference. Now if it were an 11 Cent Prexie solo usage on the same dirty looking cover, I would definitely keep it on cover as the stamp itself is almost valueless. However, as a general rule, you should leave stamps on cover unless the cover is just very bad looking as the one pictured. I would even keep modern issues on cover unless they are the most common definitives. Also note that ALL PNC's should be kept on cover. I believe they will only increase in value considerably in the future.