New To Stamp Collecting, Found This Image

I purchased a bunch of stamps at an estate sale recently, and for the most part can find and list the stamp do not keep for sale. I came across a set unused stamps that have a faint crown on the rear, and cannot find that on any listing of same stamp. I was wondering if this is an imprint from sitting on another stamp, or do I have something unique. Their is a piece of wax paper that was used to prevent glue from adhering to the paper in the auction, that is what you see I one of the image. I am admittingly a novice collector so any feedback is appreciated. :-)

Thank you

Patrick





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Neither an imprint or unique. What you see is (are) watermarks (see https://www.stampcommunity.org/dict...tamps_w.asp). Common to many stamps, especially British and German, up until about mid-20th century. In this case, things have aligned in such a way as to make the watermarks very visible.

Thanks for that quick response. Where is a good place to get value for stamp similar to this?

The stamp is a 1d lilac issued 13 December 1881. The Crown is an Imperial Crown. It is the watermark that remained in use with British stamps until 1912.

There is nothing special about the visibility of the watermark. That is normal for the period.

Hardly any value. This stamp was in use for 20 years and is extremely common. If it had 14 pearls in each corner it would be worth a little more.

Thanks again. I think I will hang on to it, add it to my collection to hand down one day.

My older catalog states the value is a couple of dollars apiece, so likely in that range for the pair on the street, since catalog values are typically higher than street price.

BB stamps, that is not the cheapest, asks £ 1.30 for unmounted mint and £ 0.90 for unused with hinge. The hinge in the picture is not the prettiest and the lefthand stamp has perforation issues. These stamps will not make much more than £ 1 as they are.