Help To Evaluate And Sell My Rare Unused 3c Brown , Special Printing Postage Due Stamp

Hi, would like an expert to lead me to correct procedure of authenticate and sell my rare 3c postage due stamp,I know its authentic but I would like the certification in writing . who is the best authentication experts and how to contact them for grading . Thank you .



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You don't want to get it graded.

Yes that is what I would like to get graded , also I have a 10c Brown that has a light cancel mark. thanks

Centering, perf issues/ faults (scuff) would not make this a gradeable copy. What cat number is it, to make you believe it's valuable?

I dont know do you have one ? then we could compare

Expertised = opinion of experts on the identification and condition of the stamp. I'm not going to weigh in on the identification of the stamp, as you seem to have a strong view that you want to have confirmed.

Graded = numerical value assigned to the condition of the stamp. Grades are lowered for centering (lousy), perforations (trimmed on the right), faults (scrape on the face at the top), and gum (don't know if original or regummed). It will not grade well.

You want the first (expertised) to prove to someone that this is the rare stamp. They will still point out the faults on the certificate. Grading won't help you sell it.
C.

I think maybe you have some issues , I never said valuable in any of my statements . I only wanted to find a legit place for a written grading so as to describe the stamp by an authority . I may not be the smartest but I know a smart ass when I here one . I do not need any comments from you , please move on . Your rude opinionated and I grade you an F

You've had an explanation of the difference between "expertising" and "grading" (and why the latter is not desirable in this case). I don't see a problem with the advice you've received. It only remains for you to send it to the PF.

It's probably a J3. Catalog value for a well centered copy with full original gum and no faults is $100. This appears to have no gum, a few short perfs on the right, some damaged perfs on the left, and isn't particularly well centered. It would sell on ebay for somewhere in the vicinity of $10. Chipg was correct that grading won't help you sell it. Grading only helps for very well centered stamps.

Here's a 90

You may not have said "valuable", but you did say "rare" ... which sort of implies "valuable". There are 3 choices for your stamp in the Scott catalogue ... J3, J10 & J17. Determining which is beyond my skill ... there are minor color differences amongst the three ... and probably paper differences as well.

Great I will try to sell on ebay ,Thank you

Sending it for a cert and paying more than it is worth is a good lesson for the future. There does seem to be a constant flow of folks that want confirmatory opinions only and bristle at reality.

Hi Mark,
Let's take a serious look at your stamp...
Yes, it's a J3. The J3 on the best of days is not a "rare" stamp. Avoid using that term on any stamp that has a catalog value under $10,000 and you'll be more accurate. The J3 was a workhorse postage due, as 3c was the common rate for letters during that time, it's the most common of the first issue postage dues.

Now let's look at centering.
Your stamp design touches the perforation at top and at right. This puts the stamp into the range of VG "Very Good", which despite sounding nice, is actually the lowest rating for a stamp. It has the least collector appeal. The catalog value of a VG J3 mint, never hinged is $38. But... your stamp has no gum. Scott doesn't list a NG value for this stamp, and that's not a good thing. A hinged value for this J3 at VG is $22. Used, which essentially without gum is what this stamp will "categorize" as, the stamp has a $2. This stamp, in much nicer shape than yours https://www.ebay.com/itm/nystamps-U...AOSwUDZcYaSy is currently listed for $1.45 on ebay.
I'm sorry to break your bubble on the "rare stamp", but it's simply not.
I suggest you get a Scott Specialized Catalog of US Stamps if you want to take serious the valuation of stamps. Just because something was printed in 1879 doesn't make it rare... they printed hundreds of millions of these.

Not to jump on the low value bandwagon, but here is a copy of my maybe mint, no gum stamp. It is the correct shade of brown ... sorry for the scanner modifications. (Retroreveal shows a small indication of a cancel on the right side.)

What do you think this would grade?

Actually, you said "Special Printing" in the title. Special printing stamps are rare and valuable. They also require expert certification to sell.

I will not judge the color of a stamp or special printings from scans. That's all I said. If you want to sell it as a special printing stamp, you'll need a certificate. You don't need it graded.