Why Do You Think This Collection Sold For $1,230? Many Rare Stamps? Or Just Few Rare Stamps?

Some collectors, flush with excitement, usually think they've struck gold.

Other collectors, through experience, look for every reason why something that appears to be valuable, isn't.

I have been buying from Pavstamps as of late. I find myself stuck in the house with little to do (Luckily I have a job and income, but I can't go out and piss away my money like I used to) and I've been buying online. My main interest is early US, but I have not been seeing the type of material that I am interested in, so I have been working on keeping busy with my WW collection. For me, that means buying country collections and transferring to my Internationals. Generally, cheapo stuff, but I enjoy playing with them. Anyway, one of my sources is Pavstamps, and I have been happy with what I have bought. Nothing at all high powered, just good honest (mostly) 20th century stamps, mostly under $20 each. I must admit that he must have a strong following - his lots DO get bid up more than many other sellers' lots. But, I have had no bad surprises and a few pleasant ones. If I saw a USA collection in his 'corral' that interested me, I would bid. I don't see the stuff I want, though. One should be very careful when buying early US collections online with seemingly valuable stamps - hidden faults are still faults, and if the stamps weren't faulty, they would probably be sold individually.

I know little about this seller but have seen a couple who have buyers that do a huge share of their purchases from that one seller and also have many bid retractions. I assume they're working together to boost prices.

Did anyone else scroll down through every pic to see if there was anything at all that justified the winning bid?

Nothing the matter with this seller.. He is more honest than most sellers including on this site.

I really shook my head when I saw this one. I don't think I saw $100 in value let alone what the final bid was. Even post 1940 isn't all mint or nice stuff.

I noted several errors in postings from the lister of this stamp...
https://www.ebay.com/itm/US-Sc-9-va...333651829680
This is position 2R1L with only one recut on the top.

Item sold! I notified the seller that it was not one of the two positions with top and bottom double cuts and which position it was in. His reply "Please look again, the picture clearly shows the recuttings as described. Authenticity of this item is guaranteed. Thanks for your message." Same seller has listed a number of high ticket items time and again which I assume means they were returned for refund. Also appears to have a shill bidder running the price up. A bidder that has a huge portion of their dealings with one seller and numerous bid retractions.