Rarity / Treasure Hunting Online / Ebay

I been off and on last 20+ years hunting for rarities online/ebay besides just collecting. There are various methods to use while doing so. One main method is searching for the normal none rare version of stamp but use terms a novice would use, so instead of scott#..., I would search for the description like 2 cent black harding(instead of scott 610) or very old stamp lol (since if the seller already calling it by the catalogue scott number, they more than likely know what they have. After that, using knowledge and comparing to known rarities to confirm if it has a chance to be a rarity before purchasing/taking a chance(like a lottery ticket lol)specially since you dont know just off scan/pic until you actually have it in hand. Finding rarities at this point you have to find someone selling that doesnt know what they have. I've found a few rarities using that method including a 64a pigeon blood pink for $30. They were also selling a few other stamps and baseball cards and they had it labeled as a scott 65. It has a Weiss cert. I do know many rarities have been found from someone buying a stamp at a stamp show or online/ebay that the seller did not research or care to or just missed it. Was wondering if anyone else uses this tactic? I also use other tactics like counting perfs to design mainly for 1920s issues (not advised for novice), knowledge of ink colors/shades, design sizes, ect...I mean, since you only have scans/pics for reference when online/ebay hunting, so cant exactly tie a guranteed reference to it until its in hand although if its a scan and there are multiple stamps on same scan, I use the template method for design size by cropping a section and moving it(careful to not resize crop) to compare design sizes since on a scan everything is proportionate to whatever else is on same scan. I know these methods are frowned upon by the older collectors but Im not buying a bunch of collections to go through by hand, just need to have some know how/common sense. Anyways till next post.

I would send that "64a" to the Philatelic Foundation for a certificate and prepare yourself for possible disappointment.

No disapointment, I sold it 5 years ago for $3k lol. No disapointment here& I enhanced the scan, but I guess to my point, using knowlegde of colors and shades...

Postalattic - I have done the same for about 15 years or so, mainly on ebay. Probably my best find was a Scott 2,6 pos 87R15 in mint condition. Not sure of its value as I have only ever seen one other which sold for about $1,500 and was put up for sale by the buyer of something north of $7,500. Have picked up several plate blocks of 634b MNH, a group of about 7 plate blocks of 12 for 634 "Smiling George" variety. Bought a small lot with a nice #34 in it once. I have been seeking varieties, especially double/triple transfers and plate cracks for some time now. I'm sure Forum members have seen many of these on my posts thru the years.

I have noticed in the last 5 years or so pickings have been relatively slim on ebay. Have you noticed the same?

I have been known to be a bottom feeder also! Some of my nice catches:
- 3- #85 D grills, one unused
- a couple 25A's, an unused 25
- Unused 23, short at the top, and couldnt see a recut, but it had that hollow Type IV look
- several Type II #20
- Type Ia, #19
- over 50 Type Va 1c 1857's

A few others too. I've had my methods, but its mostly spending a lot of time online and having patience

Selling it was not the point of my comment.

Thats awsome Caper. Yes, I think the slim pickings revolve. It depends what you are looking for and by the time youre over searching a specific one, others/different issues pop up is why I only get into searching maybe a few times a year.

Nice Ray, save some for the rest of us lol. Maybe why slim pickings lol.

Rog, I think your point was for my possible dissapointment. Think I was on point clearifying theres no possible dissapointment but thanks. Though its always possible since not buying already authenticated.

Rarity or treasure hunting on ebay?
Yes, especially using search words that non-collectors would use. So few people or collectors have deep knowledge of EFOs and they use very interesting words to describe what they sell. One in particular stands out. A postal clerk found a booklet that had been printed on double paper. (paper splice that was not culled) He thought that stamps were more valuable if he used it on a letter. I bought the envelope he mailed to himself for a couple dollars. It was identified as "stamp is split". One of the very few "used" examples of flaws or "mistakes" that I own. I also agree that it now feels like a waste of time to do this on ebay now. I'm certainly not finding much any more.

Hoping my good friend Al E. Gator chimes in here to tell the story again of what he found on a penny postcard....the most impressive find, ever.....

Some of my best deals were items that were described correctly by the seller, or at least reasonably close enough that the item would go for a "full ebay price." However, the listing title failed to mention a proper key word or more frequently, had typos which repelled the search engine function. Thus the competition did not find the item to be competition. At times I can tell one or two others found the lot but the price still remains lower than it would have been without the errors in the listing thwarting normal searching.

One method I was taught was to look somewhere else than what you are looking for. In his case he was looking for rare solo usages of the Prexies. So he searched for old Sears and Montgomery Ward Catalogs of the period. He found many excellent solo usages.

Great stories and would be great if Gator can chime in ray!

Disclaimer, topic not for novice and using only as an example to what I referenced in this post for few expirienced stamp hunters and dont reccommend and is all speculation. Just some stamp hunt sharing. Does anyone search for the 596 anymore? I know I know, bringing it up is like every novice does and is the most annoying novice topic lol. Specially since everyone on ebay with a 1923 1 cent franklin think they have one is why I mainly only search covers for this now, plus no 596 on cover found(yet lol). I know chances are slim to non. I believe two more have been found last ten years(15 total now, was 13). Back to using knowledge and practice to know the differences just by looking at them/counting perfs/shades between rotary(not as clear print) to flat plate. Knowing the few perf combinations for perf to design measuring ect(1920s issues). Its easy to cancel out other possibilities if able to know the date ie post marked covers ect. This being said, heres a cover with two (1923) 1 cent franklins on it. The cover is posted 1926 which cancels out possible 632(printed 1927) and is sent to NY. The right appears to be a 552a booklet single, perf 11. The side of each stamp perfs line up to eachother (cancels being 578 perf 10 sides) besides counting them as 11 perf(13-2=11 for sides)(much harder if possible perf 10.5 but since 1926 post mark thats not pissible as 632). The left is for sure not as round suggesting taller, also appears as rotary non clear print and paper a bit more gray white. Perf/design measures top of perf tongue to bottom of full perf tongue which is one perf to design variation out of maybe 3-4 possible if that makes sense and is charactoristic of rotary perf 11 from cencus depending on perf layout. This specific case is a perf to design measure for only perf 11 rotary btw. I've also cropped it(template method) and it is taller(a green and white line/.5mm taller as should)(also keeping in mind the left stamp is tilted and did a 1.5 degree tilt correction so was straight for the design lineup to the right stamp). Keep in mind this is a scan so all is proportionate to eachother. Besides all that left looks rotary compared to right and side perfs match up. All that being said any thoughts on it until its in hand lol. Just a $8 scratcher basically lol. This is just for those who might use same methods for possible purchases or am I the only one who does this? Sorry if this annoys any members using these methods as it is only my loss if I am wrong hense the disclaimer. I know no one likes to comment on something not in hand yet but guess Im asking if anyone else wouldve taken a chance at this cover for $8? If anything this could boost cover sales#129315;Anyways cheers and happy hunting until I can get a guage on it& Sorry just added the crop template comparison I referenced.

OK ray.mac......
I have found... 10 EDUs-for the Washington /Franklins and I've another found recently that I need to send for the cert.; a #544 on a postcard ( the one you referenced); 4-#320Ad covers; a #67b; a #124; some #64bs; a couple of #64s; and some #24-Vas. There's probably some others but that what I could think of just now. I paid under $10 for the #544. All but one #320Ad cover were found on ebay, as were all the others finds noted.

Of the 15 only five have postal cancels, four of which are wavy line machine cancels and one with cd's.

Very nice Gator!! Thats great! Thanks for sharing!
Rog, are you saying its not possible for this Cancel to be on a possible 596 or just referencing the known cancels?

I just remembered another one worth mentioning: #634 Varnished Ink Variety on postcard. PF#566871. (Found in an antique shop) May be a one-of-a-kind?