Another Scott 5 On Cover Is Discovered

Being auctioned in the upcoming Dutch Country sale (Lot 12):

5 Tied to 1852 F/L by faint cds cancel per 2019 PSE Cert, stamp appears undamaged w/ large margins, to in at top, large bottom margin showing full scrolls & top portion of adjoining stamp that shows break in the top line. Drop rate F/L with vertical file folds clear of stamp, overall a desirable cover. This F/L is from an estate find & is new to the market. It is not included in the Wagshall/Siegel census. Estimated fewer than (25) covers survive. Only one position (7R1E) of the (1000) possible positions from the plates used to print imperforate stamps is Type 1, this is why Scott #5 is so rare. Making it even rarer is its apparent undamaged condition!

https://stampauctionnetwork.com/ts/ts3271.cfm#3

Undamaged?

Yes, the undamaged claim is specious, since it has been affected by the fold across the top. A minor issue affecting a major new find.

the description says "appears undamaged" which I would interpret as "damaged" but if you look at the stamp quickly in low light without your glasses you might not see the damage

Well that's neat. I hope they post a better scan of the stamp itself, if they post the sale on their website, eventually.

I do believe they maintain there is no damage. I suppose we need to define "undamaged"? I also find it odd that such a specialized item like this is being brought to the market for the first time.

It's clearly written on the cover (who wrote it is another question) and one would believe that with such a specialized item you'd think at some point they would have chatted with one of the major players in the 1¢ Franklin circle.

It's really an unattractive cover; both the stamp and the cover have lived a somewhat difficult life. The only reason anyone cares is because it's a #5. There is a reason that the opening is only 11% of cat.

Is it an optical illusion, or does the tail of the "J" lie beneath the stamp at the base, and on it on the right-hand side?

That's a murky tie for $10,000!

It was addressed before the stamp was applied. A common occurrence I would think.

Indeed, but the end of the "J"'s tail appears to be on the stamp itself, rather than under it.

Stamp is on thin paper.

Optical illusion. It isn't like I haven't tried to find one but the 1c stamp is not known to have been printed on thin paper like the 3c and 12c stamp was.

The tail of the J is under the stamp. What looks like a bit of the tip in the right margin of the stamp is shown in zoom view to be a coincidentally-located bit of discoloration on the stamp.

Interesting - thank you.

There is a hole under Ben's eye. So much for undamaged.