Penny Black On Ebay

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Penny-Bla...281639868456

I am looking to fill my space for GB SG 3, the grey-black variety. In looking over some recent listings I believe some vendors are selling copies of more common #2 as this one. It just seems to be in the eye of the beholder, or maybe what a vendor thinks they can get away with.

This stamp looks to me as if it is a #2 that may have been intentionally faded to resemble the lighter color. It just looks washed out and I don't think a genuine one would be this faint. There is a tear in the UR portion as well. To top things off, the seller livers in Turkey with a FB of under 100.

I have found others on here have sharper eyes than I, any comments on this? I am leaning to passing it by, not because it is defective- that I can live with if the price is right- but because I think it has been artificially worked over at some time.

The plate wear in the lower right quadrant actually is consistent with examples now for sale at Gibbons. Compare your lot, for example, with the following SG items. (A nice way to do this is to open each SG item in a different browser tab, then switch tabs between your ebay lot and the SG tabs.)

http://www.stanleygibbons.com/stanl...51/SG1068093

http://www.stanleygibbons.com/stanl...51/SG1093378

http://www.stanleygibbons.com/stanl...51/SG1093345

Based on this it appears that the ebay example genuinely comes from a worn-down plate 1a. However, I agree that the overall shade may have been faded, or at least that the question is inconclusive because the MC cancel also is pale. In other words, a conclusively genuine pl. 1a grey-black probably would have to have a bright MC to give one confidence.

Really nice S.G.2 plate 1a four margin used Penny Blacks can be had for around £125... plates matter of course, but that is roughly what you can pay. S.G.3 might cost you another 10% or so.
The stamp you mention certainly is from a worn plate but it has very serious faults that make the current asking price nonsense. £25 - £30 might tempt a novice collector but those faults will always be an issue.

Thanks to you both. That id exactly what I am thinking- I can do better than this. It is tempting to fill the space but at what cost?
I do need SG 3- am collecting GB in a Windsor album and that empty space has been staring at me for some time.

It amazes me what people are bidding when it comes to penny blacks...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/382563151336

Yes that is astounding pennyblackie, especially with a feedback score of 98.6%

From one quid it jumped to £32. The bidder must really see "value" in a specimen like this.

An image guide,
for when the link expires.........

On a half normal example, would that red Maltese Cross offer any premium?
or would it have to be identifiable?

The MC doesn't look much, not a wotton MC, just an ordinary one.

I guess someone might want it for a plating study, or their initials are OE.

It looks a bit like those mis-perfs where "postage" appears only at the bottom, not the top. Maybe someone thinks they're getting something along those lines. Personally I don't think its of any interest in this case.

Probably for study and two bidders vying for it.