Here's The Downside To Starting Your Auctions For A Penny (Continental Telegraph Co. Proof)

...and then not describing the lot all that well.

What I bought:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/nystamps-U...t=true&rt=nc



And this is what these things usually sell for:



All in all, not too bad of a deal. Less than 5% of retail.



Jim

Knowledge and research can pay dividends.
Nicely done.

Lets hope that it is not "...some stamps could be expertly restored, regum, or repaired"
Don

Nah, it's in (surprisingly, given the seller) great shape.

Jim

https://www.ebay.com/itm/nystamps-U...AOSwccdfOU0W
Here is another maybe.

Congratulations Jim. Sometimes you get lucky.

Jack Kelley

Jim,

Congrats!!!!

I love a good story

Another good reason to not start your auctions at $0.99



This lot included one framed Franklin D Roosevelt postmaster commission - signed by Postmaster General James Farley (The Roosevelt signature is printed on this commission), and an earlier commission signed by James Farley.

Both for the same post office and postmaster. It was originally a 4th class post office when Farley signed the earlier commission, then upgraded to a 3rd class PO and the Roosevelt commission was issued to reflect the promotion.

Shipping was a little steep, but certainly acceptable considering the large commission was framed with glass.

ebay is a great place to find rarities "hiding in plain sight."

One of my collecting interests is pre-1863 carrier stamps and usages. I've been at it for over 40 years. A common enough usage is the 1¢ Eagle on a Philadelphia cover. Recently, I picked up one for the price of a common intra-city usage. Only this was a usage I haven't ever seen anywhere: the Eagle carrier was on a newspaper wrapper!

I shudder to think of what it might have fetched, properly described, in a Siegel sale.