Is There A Catalog(Ue) Number For Or Catalog Value For These Stamps?

I have a series of questions about identifying and pricing, I don't want to overcharge anyone or be overcharged, and you all are amazing philatelists!

First one I have been using scott catalog or google image search and there is not a picture of this stamp which I believe is scott #211, I ordered a Scott Specialized Catalog but have not received it yet, are stamp pairs double value of the single or worth more because they (as a pair) are more rare? I have been collecting for a year and am now wanting to have an ebay store. Thank you!




* * * Moved by Moderator to more appropriate Forum * * *

Wow I'm not sure how this ended up in Canadian forum but could a moderator move it?

The StampSmarter website has some great resources to supplement a catalog, or help when away from a catalog. Specifically, the section titled 1847usa is a handy identification tool, which includes a sub-section dedicated to Bank Notes.

Lampy, if you look at your original post you will find a sentence in the lower right corner : "send note to staff". Use this to ask the moderator for assistance in moving your post


Peter

Yes, that is a Scott #211. Maybe your catalogs don't show a picture of that stamp (in blue green) and instead show only the #215 (same design, in carmine). What you have is a "margin imprint pair" with the American Bank Note Company imprint in the selvedge. This might give it a slight premium to some collectors, but IMO the poor centering and probable hinge thin deflate the value much more than the margin imprint adds any value. Normally the margin inscriptions are collected complete and intact, as Scott lists them, in strips of 5 or 6 (or block of 10 or 12, as in this example from Siegel Auction Galleries).


An unused single of #211 has a Scott catalog value of $225, a pair is listed at $475, so a minimal premium for a pair. In my book, a fair price for your stamp in that condition would be between 10 and 20% of catalog. If it were sound and better centered, the price could go up to full catalog or more, if someone needed the imprint example for their exhibit, for example. But with that middle row of perforations on your pair shifted so far to the left and cutting into the stamp, the audience of interested collectors is much less.

Several thoughts come to mind:
1. Yes, your stamp is a 211.
2. Scott's U.S. Specialized catalog illustrates #211.
3. Scott values stamps in a higher grade than is commonly encountered, thus most items are (rightly) sold at a discount. Many collectors have a bias and think more highly of their own material that what it objectively is. They see a "catalog value" and don't take centering and overall condition into consideration.
4. Using the "Specialized by Grade" section of the 2020 Scott Specialized catalog, they list $225 for VF-80 single, and 57.50 for VG-50. Double this for a pair, then cut it in half for the thinning, leaves you back at 57.50 for the pair plus some modest permium for the partial inscription. This lands in the same 10-20% range that zebraman suggests. You also have some idea of what you paid for it too.
5. ebay store versus auction: An ebay store means you have to come up with a reasonable price to have material move. This is challenging for one fairly new to the hobby and with unusual material such as this pair. Your questions demonstrate this. In contrast to a store, in an auction format the buyers detemine the value beyond the minimum bid. In either case, it won't sell if it is overpriced. When I sold on ebay, I never had a fear of listing a lot I knew very little about because I provided good images and strong keywords to enable potential bidders to find it.
6. Regardless of store versus auction, I would hold this pair back for a while until you are more experienced in listing and pricing. Get you feet wet with other items.

The pair would have to be looked at in person to determine whether that is actually a thin, or simply gum removal from a hinge. From the scan, it might be either.

I am definitely big on grading (centering), I bought this at auction with a few other stamps in the same lot, and you all validated what I was thinking and explained it perfectly! Thank you!
If it is ok I have more questions (examples) I will post below.

Yes, please do post similar items in this thread. However, if you have completely different items, or a completely different question, it is a good idea to start a new thread with a well thought out Topic Description and posted in the correct Forum. (This helps others find it in the future.)

Thank you for being a valued contributor to this forum.

First comment: don't break the pair!

The centering is shifted into the right margin perfs, but the capture of the full company imprint helps to offset what value is lost by that. Split the pair and that redemption is lost.

I agree with revcollector that the potential damage by the hinge remnant probably will need direct examination by someone familiar with the problem. However, you can get a sense of the condition by holding the stamp up face up against a strong light to look for "hotspots" on the reverse. Thin spots let more light pass through.

From the face your imprint pair is quite attractive (as a position pair).

Is this an error of 751?

It is MNGAI

No. It is a normal bottom margin pair of #756.

It was issued with the extra paper on the bottom?

It is showing the sheet margin. See below:

This thread is blown out. OP's stamps? Very nice. Thanks.