Scott # 482A:

I just purchased 6 covers with the Schermack Type III Perfs. Before I submit them to the PF or to APS I would like to have some thoughts if they are the real 482a. I don't want to look stupid. The pictures are shown of the 6 covers.

In the Robert A. Siegel 1977 Rarities of the World sale # 510, Sale date 3/23/1977 shows a cover with the same looking stamp and the same return address in the upper left corner.

Any comments would help a lot. thank you all for your time. John...

You should post this in a more trafficked part of the forum. It seems that it would be appropriate in the U.S. classic section.

Even though they are sent from the same company and have the Schermack perfs and same precancel, they could have sent thousands of envelopes, of which most may have been the common variety.

The key, of course, is to determine whether the stamp is watermarked or not. So, the question is whether you want to lift the stamp or have an expert committee do it. You may want to send one of the covers to Bill Weiss for his opinion, and let him lift the stamp if requested.

You know, since they are a;; the same I would send just one. At least to start with. Also, we can make a better guess about the stamps if you would scan just the stamp and post a larger picture?
Oh, and very much welcome to this forum! Almost forgot!

Peter

Johnny... the first thing you should do to get help here
to find out if you've hit the "Powerball Jackpot" of U.S.
philately is to scan each stamp at 1200dpi and post copies
of each so we can all see the stamps' details...

Randall

On the surface, it appears you have
482a's when comparing to the Siegel
auction... about $420,000 worth if
they pan out, at today's value...
presuming they prove to be 482a's...

Given the fact that you have that
many, an auction for them all as a
single lot could go alot higher...
that would have to be something you
would have to discuss with whomever
you decide to auction them with as
a possible selling strategy for you
to maximize your profits...

http://www.siegelauctions.com/lot_g...rade=&symbol[]=All&realized1=&realized2=&keyword=482a&recsperpage=10&sea_name=&pscolumn=default&sortord=DESC&calledfrom=lkp&pscolumn=default&sortord=DESC&calledfrom=lkp

I copied the link to this discussion
into the main section...

Good luck - definitely a possible 482A find (I still get excited everything time I see a Bell & Co cover, but alas they're not all Orangeburgs either...) Anyway, you can stop all of the speculation & get definitive answers by posting higher resolution scans of the stamps.

There are several things that make me doubt that these are 482A's:

- The precancel is a lot bolder on your stamps than on that Siegel 482A cover - an indication they're not from the same type Ia stock.
- the "centering" (position of the Schermack perfs) is decidedly different on yours vs. the Siegel 482A (which is way in at right) - another indication it may not be from the same stock.

But none of those are conclusive, just observations that make me a bit more skeptical. And while I'm posting, I'll offer my opinion on some of the advice you've already received:

- no one will need to "lift" the stamps to identify them as a 482A's. All type 1a's are unwatermarked. PLEASE do not soak these from the covers to watermark them - no expertizer will do that; it would be an unnecessary tragedy.
- the "worst" possible way to sell these, if they turn out to be 482A's, would be as a group. There are all kinds of W/F exhibitors/specialists, most of whom would love to have "one" for their exhibit/collection. Probably "none" of those exhibitors/specialists would like to drop 6-figures to acquire 6 of them... And on a related note, if they all turn out to be 482A's, the estimated value will be "significantly" below current Scott catalog value. Your find would substantially impact the census.

One interesting thing: with the exception of the one cover you showed from 1977, NONE of the other certified 482A Schermack singles in PF's online database or Siegel's excellent Power Search have NY precancels... Again, not a determining or conclusive factor, just an observation.

Good luck, and please post some better, higher-resolution scans of the stamps. There are several knowledgeable people here who can quickly tell you if they're type Ia's or not.

srailkb - thanks, I stand corrected, no need to check for watermark.

The resolution still isn't sufficient (your pictures are generally around 350x350 pixels & only 72 ppi,) but these are better than what we had before. Unfortunately, none of them show obvious type Ia characteristics. They're all most likely the common type I Schermack stamps (409/482). If you can do the same scans at 600 ppi (or even 1200 ppi) and post a link to those, we'll be able to tell you for sure. Based on what I see above, I'd now give them <1% chance of being 482A's. The toga rope (top line) & button would need to look a lot stronger than that.

I'm sure others will chime in now that we have something a little better to look at. Sorry for the bad news!

Unfortunately, I agree with Ken S, and would add that these are just not the right color shade for 482A.

I believe that 482a from the 1977 auction was later determined to not actually be a 482a. If I recall correct it was a fake. To the best of my knowledge, they are no 482a with New York precancel. Save your money !

I would like to thank everyone for their feedbacks. I purchase this lot for $13.85 including postage and handling. Should I post my 6 covers of Scott numbers 389? Thank you again everyone. You guys are the best.

Hi, this is actually my first post/question. I found 2 of these stamps in my family collection. I used the APS approved clarity solution and both are unwatermarked and all other details indicate that the two stamps are 482a. Can anyone else give me any other ideas?
Thanks, Tonya

Hi Tonya and welcome to the forum. Please post pictures!!