Question About A First Issue Cancel

It's actually two questions. First, is "P.M.S.S." the Pacific Mail Steamship Company? Second, if so, would a decent strike of a double-circle P.M.S.S. cancel on an R6c be worth $100 or anything close to that?

Hi Rusty,

Can you post a picture? Without context, that sounds pretty high to me for a plain Jane concentric circle (or oval) handstamp, even with the Pacific Mail connection.

We've had plenty of discussions about the stright-line PMSS cancels, whose premiums are considerable, frequently turning 50-cent stamps into $100-300 stamps. The other PMSS cancel that is very tough and commands a premium is the rounded box cancel shown below. This one is actually more scarce than the majority of the stright line handstamps. I put it in the $150 range.




The oval handstamps command a bit of a premium, but nowhere that of the ones discussed above. For example, this stamp catalogs $125, and I put the retail value of this example at $175. So yes, a premium, but not the magnitude of the others.

I can't post a picture, but I can post a link:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/U-S-USED-R6...em3aa8ba134e

It's been my observation that this seller tends to charge the moon for almost anything with a handstamped cancel. But this one seemed a little much, even for him.

Nice cancel, but not a $100 stamp. $25 maybe.

Yeah, I've seen his listings and even bought one or two. He has many lovely cancels that I would buy at 1/3 his asking price.

I agree with Bart on the value. I can see Richard or Eric wanting as much as $40-50, but $100 is too high.

Thanks, guys. He doesn't use the "make an offer" option, but maybe someday he'll lower the price if nobody bites at $100.

It's been up for at least 4 months now, so I have my doubts. There are dealers who have been overpricing some items for 20 years and still won't lower the price.

For example:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/R154-USED-P...em3ab26f55e0

1typesetter, it is my fervent hope that dealers like that are paying fees for their ridiculous listings.

Yes, I can remember that being on ebay at least 10 years ago.

Lot 2365 of the next Regency sale is another one. This item was purchased at the Joyce sale 20 years ago, and the dealer who owns it has been trying to sell it for twice what it is worth ever since. This is the second consecutive auction after being in his stock all these years; it is still opening $1000 more than it is worth.