What Deals Have You Scored, Because A Seller Misidentified A Stamp?

Can't tell for certain due to image size, but if I had to guess, I'd say the R246 looks like it may actually be an R282 with the "Series 1940" overprint. If so, very nice!

BINGO!

R246 has a 18SCV of $13 used; $2.25 with cut canx.

R282 has a 18SCV of $1,250 used; $500 with cut canx.

Yes, please!

This is genuine. And another serial number to add to my list.

Of course it is genuine!

I show this as the 32nd known R282 in my records.

US #388 paste up pair...bought as a #353...but single line watermark...color is also the "tip off" (yes, got it PF'ed)

Interesting stories

I've picked up several stamps identified as Mauritius stamps, however they had 'B64' cancellations, making them forerunners for the Seychelles and thus adding 10x to their retail values. Even better, I picked up an accumulation of Mauritius classics where no less than 6 of them had 'B65' cancellations, and were thus used on Rodriguez Island, so I acquired them for pennies compared to their retail value. I've done lots of similar purchases with stamps having forerunner cancellations or used abroad cancellations and which were not identified by the seller and basically 'given away'. Knowledge is king

I've been reading these comments and can't help but think that it really isn't right to capitalize on other people's ignorance. In the same situation, I would hope that I would advise the other person of the error. It is a two way street. I would feel the same way about somebody taking advantage of me.

Jack Kelley

Hi Jack,

I understand the thought of wanting to do the right thing, but when a dealer puts a stamp album on ebay with no real description, 40 pictures with a starting price of 99 cents, what should a person do?

I answer - bid to win.

If it was a single stamp mis-id'd, that might be a different story.

It is interesting that many sellers only want to hear when something is more valuable, but not when it is actually less. This forum is filled with members who have been banned by ebay sellers for simply pointing out an incorrectly identified stamp (sadly, myself included!).

At the end of the day, it is on the seller to properly ID their material.

I would also point out the market will decide what the lot is worth at that snapshot in time. If folks are aware of it, and think it is undervalued, they too will bid and the end price will rise.

Perhaps that makes me a bad person, but I will continue to troll my way through ebay lots looking for underpriced material for my collection. Won a very underpriced lot last night as a matter of fact and I am quite OK with it!

From a seller's perspective: I've sold many thousands of stamps on ebay. Not once has someone contacted me to say "Hey this stamp is waaaay underpriced." Most likely they jumped on a bargain purchase, and that's just fine with me. Knowledge is power.
Dan

Twas ever thus... in all areas of collectibles. I've been involved with collectibles of various sorts for 40+ years... stamps, coins, sports cards, comic books, you name it. I've cherrypicked and been cherrypicked. I've seen dealers gloating about cherrypicking other dealers (poor form yes, but dealers engage in cherrypicking just as much as collectors do).

If you and the seller agree on a price, all is fair game. If I put something for sale on ebay without realizing its true potential and someone gets a steal, more power to them.

Finding the unrecognized is a large part of the thrill of the hunt.

It was not a single item but I purchased a four carton lot this year that was described as being mostly common dealer surplus in various holds with Mongolia etc.. Cracked the cartons open upon receipt, dug in and was thunderstruck to find piles of old sales sheets and approval cards holding 100-1000+ CV items from Commonwealth countries, GB, Western Europe and so forth. Paid $300 and the final tally was over 100,000 dollars.

On 2 separate occasions, I found mint copies of the KGVI Jamaica 5/- line perf 14, SG 132a. Scott does not list this stamp despite the ease of identifying it. This is a classic example of the challenges inherent in supplying postage stamps to Colonies and Protectorates during WW II. The printing was not documented and most likely was a "war-time perf," meaning that the primary printer had sustained damage during the Blitzkrieg so the printing was executed (or at least perforated) by a second printer using the plates or unperforated sheets of the first printer. By the time philatelists discovered the perforation difference, the vast majority of the stamps had been used for postage. When found used on piece with a clear postmark, markings indicate most copies of the stamps were probably used for parcel postage.

The first time I found one was in the late 1990s at a local stamp show here in Tampa. It was part of a broken set of hinged Jamaican values from the KGVI definitive for which I paid $6. I sold that copy so that I could trade up to a MNH copy, which had been discovered by a fellow KGVI collector in Wisconsin. When I sold my collection in 2011, this gem of my collection went with it.

Within the last 18 months or so, I found another LH copy pictured in a retail mounted collection from Apfelbaum's. I think that lot set me back about $170 so obviously I am very pleased.

Here is a correctly identified copy of this stamp with 1997 cert being sold on ebay for less than half Gibbons:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/JAMAICA-19...AOSwJtdaMAm1

Personally, I think GBP 7,000 is a bit on the high side for MNH though these stamps routinely sell when available. I say this because the Bahamas 1942 5/- printing on thin, striated paper (SG 155a) is MUCH more rare than the Jamaica 5/- but has a SG value for MNH of GBP 5,000. In 25 years, I've only ever seen perhaps 4 correctly identified Bahamas SG 155a and have never been able to compete for one. The Jamaica seems to come up a couple of times every year.

I'm still only collecting MNH so I haven't decided what to do with the LH copy I got from Apfelbaum's. But obviously I've been extremely lucky to find 2 mint copies of this very tough stamp

Guys,

I was thinking in terms of one stamp when I made my comments. I believe in doing the right thing. Its a little different when you find a gem buried in a pile of stamps.

Jack

When on ebay, or other auction venue, I think it's fair game to grab the bargain/find, since there are multiple possible other eyes on the items/lots.

When from a dealer or store, I think it's fair game to grab the bargain/find, since they are a business and have priced it. Tell them, if you want them to be aware of the identification or variety (or not).

If from an owner/relative/etc., don't pick, since they may not have a clue, and THAT is bad ethics to me if you do. Offer a fair price or tell them what they have or suggest fair options for selling.

Cheers,

Dave

At shows, I have pointed to dealers a stamp variety that I found and published information on. It is a rare variety of a stamp in terms of paper and perforation combination. However, most dealers tell me that since it is not listed in the stamp catalogue that they use, it is not in their interest to bother about it. Also, they say that since the stamp did not cost them much, they don't feel that they are losing much in selling it as misidentified. Thus, I am able to pick this stamp up from them for not so much even though I have only found very few of them in the last 10 years. Their general attitude that I have found so far is that if it is not in their stamp catalogue, it does not really exist to them which is a foolish denial. See: https://goscf.com/t/51920