Siegel Auction, Smq / Grading

So I am looking at the upcoming auction on gem quality stamps. So I am clearly not understanding something. The SMQ numbers are significantly higher. I get you have to pay for the certs. So there is that.

Let's take a Scott 230 used. Are they somehow implying this stamp is not worth .40 but instead $625? I get it's wonderfully centered and all that, but worth more than a couple of dollars? Something doesn't quite add up. It's probably worth 15-20. There were 400M of these iirc. I would have to believe you can find gorgeous examples of this if you dig through accumulations and collections. Heck even plate blocks of 8 in amazing condition might go for 700.

It's one thing for things to be rare or scarce, but to invent rare breeds that aren't really so, is kinda sad as is to publish gem prices not based on any actual price realized.

I would think this whole idea collapses when folks all send ordinary stamps in for certs and get gem status. Noone would think historically of getting papers on a .230

I'm in disbelief at this auction, despite there being beautiful stamps throughout.

Alas, although I agree with you the fact remains that there will be enough interest in this auction in general and that stamp in particular to get it to that level of bidding.

You would think, but only 2 additional 98's have been certified since 2009 and, yet, even with the tripling in number the smq has risen 80% in those 10 years.

In large part that is because no one "searches" for them. The only time anyone really looks for graded stamps is when they look at a collection. Then if they see one, fine. But almost no one sits down with 1000's of #230 and goes through them looking for graded examples, it's not worth the time. The same is true for most other inexpensive stamps that bring high prices graded. The time is better spent on regular stamps that sell well.

" I would have to believe you can find gorgeous examples of this if you dig through accumulations and collections"
Feel free to start searching because really high grade examples do sell for real money, but good luck finding one because they are harder to find than you are guessing, because that is what you are doing - guessing.