Found This 205 Block...

Found this in a shoe box that I just started going through and now I am curious. Could someone please give me a rough idea of its value? Also, speaking of value, what is the most consistent and trusted price guide to use (catalog or online)? Thank you in advance...

Tom

Couple of questions remain before you can figure out a value.

1. Is what I'm seeing a true representation of how they look to the naked eye?
2. If these are unused is there any original gum left on the backs?

The scott catalog is what is most typically quoted for prices. Despite what others say, it does a fairly good job of capturing actual market prices [FOR VERY FINE STAMPS]. For classics like this, you can check the yellow-edged pages for values other than VF. The place I usually go is http://gradingmatters.com/us.html to look at the Stamp Market Quarterly prices.

For your stamps, it looks like you have one VF stamp, one apparently sound and off-center stamp, a rough-looking straight-edge stamp, and a perforation freak. I do not think there is any premium for a block in this shape - where the perfs are separating and the stamps are very different in quality. If your stamps are mint , have no hidden flaws, and have a hinge or hinge mark on the back, I'd say they are worth $275 + $120 + $75 + $100 (the freak might be worth more to someone) = $575. Unless you have a stamp store or ebay presence, you are not likely to find retail buyers easily, so a dealer might pay 50% of that. . .you could probably get more on ebay. If the gum is pristine, your stamps will be worth more than double.

As I look at it again, that upper left stamp is really pretty with large margins. . .possibly a jumbo. Potentially worth $575 by itself if hinged and as much as $1600 if not.

Here is the back of them.
Stallzer, you are seeing a true representation of this block. I did not use any filters to assist with the scan..... These are unused and they appear to have original gum left them.
Philazilla, thank you for that link. I believe it will come in handy for me. Also, thanks for your input. I am still a novice at this hobby. So, any and all input I receive is welcomed..... Thanks guys

The backs look clean, but probably not clean enough to get certified as never hinged. I'd be a buyer of the top left stamp at full catalog value ($275) assuming no faults show up in fluid. The others are less desirable. I'd consider a cert for the top left. Others may disagree, but these should be split up. it is barely holding together and this is not a rarity.

I thought about breaking the block up. I have a few more 205's. When I get finished up with my current project, I will try to get scans of some of the others for you. That way you can see what I got.

There is something odd going on with the top perforations of that top left stamp. The line of perforations rise up uniformly from right to left.

What are you thinking Rogdcam? Remember, I new with this, but I am learning. Please, tell me what you are seeing and thinking. That way I can take that point of view and apply it, or at least keep it in mind as I go forward with this. Thank you

I am pretty sure the block is from the top margin of the pane. Therefore, I think it is possible to have a the genuine and non-parallel row of perfs. If I was going to worry about anything, it would be a possible thin near top left (looking at the back) of the jumbo stamp.

My point is that non-parallel perfs knock the value down.

Thanks Sinclair. I see what you are saying. I probably would have never noticed anything without it being pointed out. rogdcam, I understand what you are saying there. Thanks for pointing that out for me. I appreciate the help, guidance, suggestion, or whatever that I get. My dad collected for over 50 years. I am wishing I would have paid a little more attention to what he was doing. Instead I collected sports cards. Since dad passed, I have the opportunity to try to sort it all out. I must say, it has been an adventure. Anyway, thank you to everyone that has helped me gain knowledge here.

Tom

BakerJ. I like your style.

Thank you.....I appreciate that. All I can say is that I try. And if nobody likes it, that is ok.... I bake my own pies.... HAHAHA

Strawberry Rhubarb?

I do like a good Strawberry/Rhubarb pie, BUT..... I will say this, if you like Strawberry/Rhubarb, then you will be addicted to Cherry/Rhubarb. Out of all of the ones I bake, there is one pie that just sticks out to me. I call it Sweet Tart Pie. A 5 berry pie that is both, sweet and sour, all in the same bite.

BakerJ wrote:



Let me suggest you hold off on that until you have a better 205 block to replace it. It is starting to separate on the right side, but is still intact, and really not that bad. The odd perfs are not rare for stamps of the top row, where the spacing was normally set a little tall. Your two upper stamps are taller then their mates, so I concur with Winston.

It's a fun little item even as it is.