Help For 5 Cents George Washington

Could you help me to estimate the value of this stamp?

Perforation vertically 10
24 mm high x 22 mm width

I suppose it is "1914 George Washington - Coil Stamps"

Thanks

Hey Marco
If you measured the stamp size from end to end and not the design then it would be too short vertically to be a genuine coil. More likely a trimmed sheet stamp.
5 cent Washington coil from the W/F series perf 10 could be Scott 447, 458, or Scott 496. Depending on the printing, and the presence or lack of a watermark. Stampsmarter has much information on this.
Mark
Sorry I forgot, a 447 , used in that condition would bring 4 maybe a little more, dollars
458 again in that condition would bring 2 -3 bucks maybe
A 496 same as yours, maybe a buck
Cheers

Thanks a lot for the answer. I'm not familiar with US stamps

I thought the value was higher than a few bucks

I saw on stampworld.com these two with 100 or 25 (i know that my condition is worse) but as you said it's more probable that is of type "rotary press" printing.




So, as you said it is this one:


Could you please explain what you mean by "If you measured the stamp size from end to end and not the design then it would be too short vertically to be a genuine coil"

Thanks a lot!!

The clarity of the photo at the right side is not good, but it appears there is significant damage to the perforations which would greatly reduce any monetary value.

You're welcome Marco. In stamps condition is everything. Trimmed Perfs are a huge detract ion. Used another mostly.
If you measured from the edge of the stamp on top to the edge on bottom it should measure 25.5 mm. Any less is a detraction. 1.5 mm indicates a trimmed sheet stamp and not a genuine coil. In my experience there are as many fake coil stamps as there are genuine, probably more fakes. Without a cert I would not buy a coil off Hip or ebay
Regards mark

Marco - the perforations on both the right and left sides don't look right. The perf holes on the left side don't look at all consistent - they look like each one has a slightly different shape and size. the perforations on the right side each look like they were created by 'pushing' the paper in to create the indentation of the perf holes - there is a bunch of paper 'piled up' at every perf hole. The biggest sign that the perfs have been faked is that the left perfs and the right perfs look profoundly different - the two sides of the stamp were perforated using two different methods. Somebody took an imperforate stamp and added perfs (two different ways) on the sides. I hate to say it, but the stamp is faked.

If anyone can address the issues I've brought up (refute them) PLEASE do so. I've been doing this for 50 years, though, and know a fake when I see it.

The images you show as "valuable" are faultless stamps with perfect centering. Yours is off-centered both horizontally and vertically, and with shortened perforation along the right side, thus its value will be closer to the Scott catalog value of $2.50 (for a #496)

To build on GMC's post, sheet stamps can be trimmed to simulate a coil stamp, and typically an increase in value. The error most people make is they get a stamp which is then too narrow between the straight edges AND they do not get the edges perfectly parallel. I don't think that is the case with your stamp ...

I believe you have a genuine rotary coil stamp (very likely Scott 496, but you'll have to watermark it to determine 458 vs 496) for a number of reasons. One important reason is the angled cutting of the perforations at both left and right. And cut at the same angle, which is evidence of passing through a coil affixing machine. See the close up of a similar 2 cent stamp at the left side near the bottom of the link below. The cut slopes from left to right as you look from the top to the bottom. One would never get this effect from the normal use of a sheet stamp, later trimmed to resemble a coil. A scan with a black background would be useful.

https://goscf.com/t/69080

The affixing process cuts at an angle and leaves short perforations. Many consider this damage, which reduces the value.

The ones from stampworld are all unused (Edit #2 part 1, I overlooked seeing the used prices as noted in posting below-I went off the photos) and your example is used. Cancelled (the wavy lines on your stamp) or used stamps are always of a lesser value, except for a very tiny few stamps of the many tens of thousands of stamp designs issued. Edit#2 part 2: In those few cases, the use or cancellation must have occurred during the time period of then current use. That accepted time period varies by the stamp in question.

Edit#1: I guess I type more slowly than John Becker. Had I waited, I could have just used .

Based on the ratio of height to width of the design, your stamp is definitely a rotary rather than a flat plate ... so not 447. While 458 may be very slightly shorter than 496, a watermark check would be better. 458 has single line watermark while 496 has no watermark. But, since 496 is by far the most common of the 3 (and the least expensive), it is the most likely choice.
Added: I noticed a likely typo in your stampworld info. It shows the 1916 stamp as having no watermark. This is incorrect. It has the same watermark as the 1914 stamp.

I am not sure that this is correct. My understanding of the column legends is that two of the columns show mint or unused whilst the column labeled # contains pricing for used. Having said that this example is not worth anything approaching the amount in this column due to the condition issues stated in everyone's messages.

Thank you all for the answer!!!
Very appreciated

Marco,
Mootermutt states "the stamp is faked".
I stated the stamp is genuine.
So what do you believe you have with two directly opposite opinions?

Sincerely I don't know. I am from Italy and it was collected by my grandfather, so it is more probably that is very ruined on the right that is fake. But I am not an expert so I don't know really.

I uploaded better images (I hope)

Thank you the additional illustration. While it seems to be a photo, rather than a scan, I think it is sufficiently square to show that when the left side is copied next to the right, the cut of the perforations is at the same angle (from an affixer as I noted above).


It is also cut very similar to the left stamp in this thread from yesterday:
https://goscf.com/t/80000

I have no doubt your stamp is a genuine Scott 458 or 496, depending on the watermark. I wouldn't call it ruined. The perfectionist might not like it, but it shows evidence of the typical way stamps were applied by large users.

Perhaps we will hear from Mootermutt?

I agree with Mooter the Perfs have been reworked, on the right and I'll defer to his expertise on the left. That would mean that this stamp must have a watermark, and would be flat plate printed. To "improve" a coil you need to start with a cheap stamp and then work it up to an expensive issue. Most of the fakes I have are trimmed sheet stamps (5 pairs), but as Mooter stated imperforate stamps are often used. There are no rotary plate printed sheet or imperforate of this issue. The rotary printed issues are fairly inexpensive to start with, This must have been sold as a 447 and is a fake. Check for watermark.
I hope this is clear.
Regards Mark

You are correct, I made my statement upon the pictures, all were shown as mint, the OP's as used. I did not look for a used pricing nor have I previously used that website. And if JLLebbert is correct about typos, tha is a good reason I will continue non-use.