Blocks Of 4

I have the blocks shown below. Basic question - if I am not particularly into collecting such blocks, is there still any additional value to keeping these blocks together versus breaking them up, keeping the best singles and selling the rest? Thanks for any input that you can provide.

There is usually a premium in the value of blocks beyond the value of four singles. It would be a shame to split these so why not sell them and buy singles out of the proceeds. You should come out well on the right side.

Terry

4c Automobile is very interesting for me. I not have this block of 4 in my Vintage Cars collection

Agree with Terence - the blocks list for a premium over the 4x individual catalog value and there are block collectors out there. Would recommend keeping as blocks intact to sell and then buy better singles.

Looking at the first four scans and referring to my 2013 Scott Specialized Catalog and assuming we're talking about MNH blocks, the 1c Ship (Scott 294) is valued at $16.50 per stamp but only $70 in block of 4 format, so the value is actually lower in block form. Same thing for the 2c Train (Scott 295) valued at $15.50 per stamp or $65 in block of 4 format.

However, when you look at the higher values, the 4c Automobile (Scott 296) is valued at $70 per stamp but increases to $300 in block of 4 format, so there's a $20 premium to retain them in a block.

Likewise, the 10c Steamship (Scott 299) is valued at $125 per stamp but increases to $550 in block of 4 format, so there again you'll find there is a $50 premium to retain that stamp in a block of 4 format.

Of course, the list values are not what one can expect to receive to sell them, but it does support the idea that retaining the stamps in blocks are more valuable than singles, especially for the higher value examples.

Question: How would one go about selling the blocks and buying singles and still having proceeds left over? Not to a dealer. Maybe on ebay? I don't know the value of these blocks, but if not a lot, would it be worth the effort? Just wondering.

Edit: wt1 posted while I was composing.

wt1, based on the values listed, four single Scott 294s would be $66, and 4 single Scott 295s would be worth $62. Singles are less than the respective blocks of 4 for both stamps. Not by much, though.

Just a minor clarification.

OldFaithful.....
Lets assume these blocks are Never Hinged.....
Catalog value would be greater as a block....BUT...
it is much harder to sell a block than a single.

I suggest.....keep the best single from the block,
on the 4c/10c blocks DO NOT KEEP the stamps with the
guide lines visible on the perf tips.
On the IMPERF block.....keep a PAIR, either HZ or vert.

Agreed, these are blocks not Plate blocks. Keep the best single for yourself and sell the others.

Following up - all of the blocks are MNH except, unfortunately for the two most valuable, the 4c and 10c. On the former, the hinge marks managed to hit every stamps (not sure why the previous owner would have done that); on the latter, the hinge mark is only on the top stamps, but the gum is disturbed right in the middle affecting all four stamps. Would all of this have a bearing on whether to keep them whole or break them up?

Also, on the 10c in addition to the hinge mark and disturbance there looks like an impression of perfs slightly off-kilter but they don't affect the front of the stamps. Does anyone know what that's all about?

Thanks again.

Just a suggestion, why don't you list them for sale on this forum, with a reserve? You might be surprised at the offers.

Art

I don't collect US but admire the early issues very much. If I owned them, I would not break these blocks. They really look great the way they are and I think they would enhance any US collection.

Art - thank you for the sales suggestion. Unfortunately, if I read the rules of the forum correctly, I am not able to post sales until I have 100 quality posts, so it may be quite a while until that occurs, since I just joined a few weeks ago.

Thank you all again for your enlightening comments - I learn a great deal from you more experienced folks every time I post a question.

Seeing perf impressions on the gum of the Pan American issue is pretty common, they must have been stacked up while the gum was still wet fairly often. I have never heard anyone describe those marks as "disturbed gum".

In addition to the perf impressions that are offset 10-20 degrees from the actual perfs, I am seeing some type of circular mark in the middle of the gum that doesn't look anything like the hinge mark at the top. So, for lack of a better term, I am calling it a gum disturbance since I really don't know what it is. I posted the picture below of the back of the block in the other topic I posted on scanning. If I were to try to describe the mark in the middle, which doesn't show up very well, it looks like somebody attached the block to an album using some substance other than a hinge.