First Issue Varieties

I don't normally buy pre-print paper folds, but this one caught my attention because it also has a margin imprint capture. I'd be interested in seeing freaks and errors that others might have.

What are the chances of finding a stamp that was printed adjacent to this one? That would be fantastic!

Kelleher / Michael Rogers just posted a new mail sale #5011) with a bunch pre-printing paper folds on 1st issue revenue stamps.

Most of their estimates and opening bids on the paper folds in that sale are seriously out of line.

Personally, I classify them the same as I would defective stamps. To each his own I guess.

Why? These are legitimate printing errors, or freaks of you will. They are certainly not "damaged" in any usual use of the word. They are just being highly overrated here in most cases. A few other auction houses have done the same thing over the last year or so. One auction house has run the same group of folds for at least 10 sales now without them selling because the openings and estimates are too high.

I agree with revcollector that they are legitimate "freaks." I generally avoid them because, as a matter of personal taste, most of them lack eye appeal for me. There has to be something else, like the margin imprint capture above. I've posted it before, but this is the only other pre-printing paper fold I've purchased, with an interesting cancel:

This type of cancel is obviously much larger and added after the stamp was on the package. Alas, without finding a complete label or package there is no way to know what the entire cancel looks like.

Is there still a "valley" (not going to call it a crease) where that pre print fold was? Obviously un folded before perforation. Odd that the cancel didn't print along it.

Phil, actually I think it was unfolded after both perforation AND cancellation. Look how widely spread the perf tips are at the top around the fold. And look at the letter "h" in "the" on the bottom row. You can just see a tiny bit of it to the right of the fold. Here's a scan of the reverse. Hopefully, you can see the narrow "valley"

It was used while folded. It was almost certainly unfolded by a collector much later.

Now THAT I like. Great printed cancel and on a 5c Proprietary to boot.

I agree with Bart on two points, that preprint paper folds are not damaged items like freak perfs are, and that Kelleher's openings and estimates on those preprint paper folds are WAY out of whack. Moreover, those Kelleher listings are retreads; they've tried selling them in 3-4 different auctions now with no takers at those prices. I doubt it is consigned material, rather they are buried in them.

There are people that collect preprint paper folds, but it is a VERY narrow market. I stay away entirely, unless there are other aspects of interest (cancel, plate variety, etc.). I've got a few that I have picked up along the way, but I've never paid a premium for them...