Making Happy Customers

A little while back I questioned the use of a WW stamp on domestic US shipping as a means of customer appreciation. I was pondering this when another what if came to mind.
So- what if I have a WW stamp that is one of those cases where a used stamp is worth more than a mint stamp.
If that stamp is positioned in close enough proximity to the domestic stamps and receives a cancellation mark, would you consider it a used stamp for valuation purposes.
Likely not but had to post the scenario.
Thanks for looking and commenting.
Paul

I would want used in period proper country.

A non contemporaneous cancel would not be advised.

Over

I would put it in the same general category as CTO's--canceled but not having performed any postal or revenue function. A curio, but not a true used stamp.

Who would not want a proper, contemporaneous postal cancel on a used stamp? You might settle for CTO or a revenue usage to save money. There are those who try to buy used stamps that are higher valued than mint with just a dot of ink on the corner perf for a "face-free cancel". Good luck with that being a provable cancel.

The catalog price and actual price for stamps higher in value used vs. mint are for proper postal use. Scott and other catalogs make the distinction in pricing between proper postal use and favor cancelled/CTO even though Scott does not price the latter category unless it is mentioned in a footnote. Michel does usually price both ways for the German area. There are many countries where it is difficult to tell genuine postal use from favor cancelled (early Papua New Guinea is an example) so real prices there tend to be like the relatively lower prices of mint stamps.

Great comments and thanks for your input.

I remember when I'd just started out thinking CTOs and used were exactly the same thing. People must have laughed behind my back when I overpaid thinking I'd found a bargain.

It all comes down to what people will pay I guess. A serious collector would never see something that's been cancelled purely to up the value as something worth paying a premium for.

Outside the USA area, Scott tends to ignore subtle but important differences in stamps. CTO's are a good example of this.