Upcoming Harmer-Schau Auction At APS Show

I wish auction houses wouldn't promote these things.

Lots 417 & 418 make me want to vomit.

http://www.harmerschau.com/php/chap...er=17&page=1

I will try and capture the images when I get near my PC.

I had a few minutes so here is lot information.

Lot 417 -U.S.; General Issues, 1852, 1¢ Blue, Type IV, #9, lightly cancelled, Grade 98J a Superb jumbo, 2007 P.S.E. cert.
SMQ $1,375 +, only 15 graded higher .
Estimate $600-800.
Opening Bid $425




Lot 418- U.S.; General Issues, 1852, 1¢ Blue, Type IV, #9, light black cds, Grade 98J a Superb jumbo, 2006 P.S.E. encapsulated cert. SMQ $1,375 for 98, 15 graded higher .
Estimate $600-800.
Opening Bid $325



Hobsun

I emphatically agree, stallzer. Another thing I very much dislike is when the description for a classic multiple contains something like "middle stamp is a gem", to be read as an inducement to the choppers.

Just goes to show that PSE will grade anything for a buck. Manufacturing imperf grade 98's takes only a pair of scissors and a block of stamps. Such a shame the other stamps are now less than desired due to the chasing of a buck.

So it's PSE's fault for grading what is submitted to them? Should PSE and the PF pick and choose which stamps they will and won't grade based upon some person's ethical standard? That cure is worse than the disease. You could blame the auction houses for promoting these manufactured gems, but they're just doing their job of touting what has been consigned to them. If there's demand, someone will fill it.

(Unless you're making the universal argument that graded stamps shouldn't exist period, but that ship has already sailed.)

To be brutally honest, if I had a multiple that could give me a $1400 Scott nine it would most likely be cut up pronto and submitted for grading. There is a very healthy market for these stamps and it is good that there are buyers willing to inject cash into our hobby. One must open their eyes to the reality of it. I find thieves like the cartel much more objectionable and damaging to philately.

No I'm not going to open the grading Pandora's box. My rant is specifically aimed at the grading of imperforate stamps.
Yes I object to PSE's ethics or lack of. It's not like perforated stamps that might actually be 1 in a thousand, these are manufactured at the cost of other 150 year old stamps that really shouldn't be sacrificed in the name of a manufactured 98. ANY block of 9 imperforate stamps can produce a 98 with a pair of scissors and someone that doesn't care about stamps and only cares about profit.

It's too bad the PSE won't give a cert on the middle stamp while the strip is intact.

It's simply preservation versus profit.

I use the profit to buy more stamps.

how many blocks of 9 are floating around? and how many are willing to pay to save them as blocks?

My mention of a block of 9 pertained to any issue. Point being a grade 98 for an imperf certainly is not a scarce item. Multiples of the 1 cent Franklin should never be destroyed. As mentioned above if only some firm would grade the middle stamp in a strip it would curb the inclination to cut them down. Again, it's preservation VS profit.

But here's the rub: Let's say you have a strip of three #9's with a potential jumbo in the middle that would sell for $500 (on the generous side). Cut up the strip to obtain a single graded 98 that would sell for $1400. How has this stamp nearly tripled in value by being separated from its neighbors? This makes no sense to me.

ETA:


And I have to disagree with this. You can protect yourself against dodgy sellers, but you are defenseless against butchers with blades.

The highly graded stamps obtain higher auction realizations.

https://siegelauctions.com/lot_grd....ubmit=Search

Stallzer - It is a scarce item.

https://siegelauctions.com/pse.php?scottnum=9

Dudley - The average collector is harmed more by a high grade stamp than the cartel? There are 15 number nines with the grade of 98. Hardly seems to be the moral equivalent of ripping people off mercilessly.