Why Stamp Collectors Love The Graf Zeppelins

I saw some of these in one of my friends album and he is very proud to own these (lots of bragging).

Why US Graf Zeppelins are something to brag about ? How valuable are these ?

If they are USA Graf Zepplins they are indeed a valuable set of stamps. I own the lowest value which catalogs over $50 MNH

Zeppelin stamps have been issued in limited quantities, in unusual nominal values to be used only for special occasions (i.e. flights of the German airships). So they are rare. Add to that the special story of the zeppelins and there is high demand. Add together: price goes up...

I think it's a lot more than just the value though. The Zeppelins are just beautiful stamps. I've only just begun collecting US, and fell in love with these the moment I saw them. I can't wait to add them to my collection.

If you're interested in value, the lowest one that stamperdude referred to, C18 or "baby zeppelin", has a CV of $100 MNH and sells for over $200 if XF - Sup. C13 is SCV $425 MNH, C14 SCV $900 and C15 I can't remember (I'm at work), sells for anywhere between $1000 - $2000 depending on grade. A set of the 3 used C13 - C15 is around $600 - $1000 depending on condition. You might get them cheaper, I haven't looked.

Balf

I'll have to scan in my C18 "Baby Zep" to show you. It is my only Zepplin stamp.

Getting a C18 for $50 MNH with little gum disturbance. Should I go for it ?

Depends on what they mean by "little" gum disturbance. Keep in mind that gum disturbance is considered a flaw, and many collectors consider gum disturbance worse than hinging. If the gum disturbance is "natural" (such as a gum drop-out), the price drop is not too bad. But if the gum distrubance is due to improper storage or damage, then the value is actually worse than the hinged price. When there is "unnatural" gum disturbance, then MNH is rather meaningless.

With even natural gum disturbance, it had better be pretty well centered at that price.

KHJ, As usual very good point. I asked for a photo of the gum disturbance.

Ask for a brief VERBAL description of the gum disturbance, or the nature of the gum disturbance. Not all types of gum disturbance shows up well in photos/scans. In particular, gum reflow does not always show up well. Neither do light fingerprints.

Drop-outs, hinge marks, improper mounting, imprints, stains... do tend to show up well in scans/pics.

I should clarify an earlier comment. Scott defines MNH as "free from ANY disturbance" (capitalization is my emphasis). That means if it has ANY gum disturbance, then depending on the type, it should be called hinged or OG (original gum). If it is missing some gum, then it is called POG (part original gum). Not all sellers use this convention, but that's how it is defined in Scott. That's what I meant when I wrote "MNH is rather meaningless" for the disturbed gum stamp you were asking about.

Also, to put things into a different perspective, even though the 2009 Scott catalog price for C18 in VF MNH is $100, the VF LH price is $55. In the past 5 years, the VF MNH price has gone up slightly, whereas the VF LH price has gone down slightly.

For those of us who collect used stamps, this stamp is not always that easy to find in VF used condition with a well-centered clean light cancel. There is a reason why this is one of the few modern US premium stamps in which the mint and used price are the same.

I got the description as suggested by KHJ. Photo is on the way. It seems there is a small half-circle disturbed patch on the gum in top left corner. It is of 6-7 mm in radius. Not visible from the top.

BTW, the price went up to $55 like a rocket so I'm out of the bidding !

Definite pass. I'm glad that seller was honest enough to disclose the gum disturbance; however, they should not have listed it as MNH, but as mint original gum. Listing it as MNH is sort of like calling a used stamp "almost new".

Just guessing, but it sounds typical of gum disturbance caused by improper mounting. It may have been in a mount, but moisture seeped in from a corner while they were affixing the mount and damaged the gum. This stamp would basically have the same value as a lightly hinged stamp (there are some who consider it worse than hinged!).

For those of you who are considering using mounts in the future, always remember to affix the mount FIRST, let it dry completely, and THEN put the stamp in the mount. Don't put the stamp in the mount while affixing the mount, and don't put the stamp in the mount immediately after affixing the mount.

I've gone through quite a few "mint" collections in which almost every stamp had that gum disturbance in the corner, or in a line along the middle of the gum. All caused by you-know-what.

Don't be in a hurry to pay $50 for a C18. Take your time, there are hundreds available like this one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/US-Scott-C18-MN...00_W0QQitemZ a href= /go/link.asp?target=https://www.ebay.com/itm/-/170387044422 target= _blank rel= nofollow 170387044422 /a QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item27abdbf846&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

Greg is right, it usually pays to shop around!

I have to admit, I'm a pretty picky collector.

If anyone is planning on bidding on that one, you might want to consider my observations (my opinion, I obviously cannot verify without physically examining the stamp).

It is good enough be considered VF. However, in the big red oval at left, there is what appears to be either a smear, or more likely a natural gum crease/wrinkle on the backside. Also, in the small blue circle at right, there appears to be a stain. Whether these are just an artifact of poor scanning or really there, I don't know.

Just my opinion.

KHJ, You have an eye of an eagle. You rock !

I have seen the picture but didn't notice your points at all (until you circled the defects).

Now, I must scan all my stamps and get the grading done by you !