US Revenue R13d Block Of Nine

I just received this purchase and would like some additional info on it.
It was listed as a R13c with silk in paper.
I put a bid in and was surprised that it only attracted 3 bids, and I was the winning one.
So questions about how to price this piece, most I could find was a pair at 500$ retail. I don't normally purchase blocks,
So I am unsure what to catalog its value at. There are folds in some of the perfs and some stains & thins. It does have some nice centering. I do not know of any auction that may have previously sold this piece, and not found in PF search.
Thanks in advance, Robert

In my experience, multiples larger than blocks of 4 tend not to garner the extrapolated prices one would think, unless they are the "largest known multiple" or at least in the top 3-4. Otherwise, they actually bring less than singles on a per-stamp basis.

Then there's the main underlying question: Is this actually R13d? The paper color looks ok, but the stamp ink is a bit light for R13d. Even at full size, the number of threads is VERY low for such a large block, and I cannot definitively identify any of them as blue in color. There are a few threads that look as if they might be blue, but I cannot tell for certain.

Lastly, you've got at least 2 stamps with very severe thins. This might be a case where the lower right 4 stamps might do better separately as a block of 4, but as a general rule I don't separate multiples. Also, once you separate, any individual stamps or pairs without blue threads cannot be treated as being silk paper; it's only as long as the block is intact that they can all be treated as silk (if they are in fact silk paper).

If I may ask, who was the seller?

I will post the link, they took some better close-ups of the individual stamps. My scanner does not show the threads very well. They are blue when viewed with a loupe.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Block-of-9....m2749.l2649

revenuecollector, I am no expert in this field, but in rwoodennickel's third image, it clearly looks like there are blue fibers visible. Exactly what should we be looking for with "silk paper" and are the blue fibers the only diagnostic? Finally, based upon what you see and your assessment of the potential value, is it worth it to have this piece expertised?

Silk paper is not simply "old paper with a few threads in it". It is a different paper in itself, a bit thicker, softer, and usually whiter then old paper. It did not come out until 1870, so dated cancels can make a difference (I was looking at a stamp with blue threads yesterday dated 1864. Clearly not a silk paper). The size, shape, and color of the threads also matters. The threads must be embedded in the paper and not merely laying on the surface.

I have had some time to get a closer look at this piece and get some better scans. Unfortunately
my scanner is way outdated and cannot provide any better images. There are fibers embedded in the paper, 3 of the nine stamps have no fibers, or are too tiny to see. In any case, I would like to know a relative value to assign this piece, so I can add it to my album. With the faults present, I don't have expectations that it would be worth a fortune. I do not wish to sell or break it up. I know it is hard to make a case with poor images, and not being able to examine piece in hand. I have a back log of items to get certs on, and do not wish to send this one. It seems legit to me, the non-expert, by comparing it to
examples purchased from Eric. It is a bit light in shade, but every one I looked at had an 1871 date.
Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving, thoughts/opinions would be appreciated.



This image is the easiest to see I think, 3 fibers


The two singles that I purchased from Eric, have smaller low fiber count as well.
I would imagine a larger fiber count might command a premium over those sold with single fiber??

from what I see in the scan it appears a legitimate silk paper. as long as it is in block form all will be considered silk. if broken only those with fibers would be. imo I would not send it in, but would take it to the next large show you go to and show it to the revenue people there. even with the faults it is a nice piece.