Perfins - Collectable?

A perfin damages a stamp considerably, so it should rather diminish its value ???
Most perfins are cryptic at that - but seemingly there are people who collect them. What motivates them?

A perfin will generally reduce the value of a stamp, but it may increase the value of a common stamp. As for why - why do people collect postmarks, perf varieties, watermark varieties etc etc?

Social history, postal history.

Dear sigistenz

It always depends on who you ask. If you ask a 'purist', they will tell you that they belong in the rubbish bin. But if you ask a perfin collector, he'll still be enthusiastic about half a hole.

Everyone is happy according to their own ideas. Nobody should tell you what or how to collect.

Best regards from Switzerland
André

A genuine stamp collector would never say that about anything philatelic. One might say it does not interest them, or has no value to them, but the idea of throwing away anything because it is not in their interest is pretty nasty. If they want to pretend it is damaged, fine. Don't collect it. Pass it on to someone who does.

I am glad I am not a 'purist' then.

I too am puzzled by the negativity toward a facet of the hobby - in this case, perfins are direct evidence of how stamps were handled and used by the business community. It is indeed part of social history and postal history. A perfin tells more "story" than the same stamp without. "Value" is not all monetary.

Perfins are very popular. If I am correct, I believe that GB and Germany lead in the number of types that can be found.

True, the stamp itself is 'technically' damaged, but, the study in itself can pass the condition (unless it is thinned, torn or something else).

Some companies had offices around the world and similar perfin patterns can be found of various countries.

In some auctions, I have seen some perfins sell for over $40.00 (my personal experience) and heard that some have sold for more. IMHO, perfins should be saved and not thrown out as junk.

Chimo

Bujutsu

These days a scarce US perfin (a one known only) might bring up to 200US$, while a common one might fetch 5 cents. The pricing structure for some other countries (Canada, Denmark) can even be higher. But, as usual, scarce is scarce.

On the US Vending and Affixing stamps, there are some Schermacks that have perforated control markings that are very collectible.

Well, as someone who collects Perfins, I find it difficult to understand why anyone would doubt their value as a collectible.

To illustrate the significance of Perfins, here are two examples:

1) The value of a Perfin stamp: Let this ebay auction speak for itself:


2) The story a Perfin can tell: Here's an Austrian example that highlights the historical depth behind a seemingly ordinary "Ostmark" stamp:


At first glance, this appears to be a regular stamp from the German Reich. However, a closer look at the postmark's date and the location of dispatch reveals a fascinating story.

The postmark is dated May 8, 1945, and the Perfin belongs to the Salzburg-based traditional company "Lanz," which still produces traditional costumes today (http://www.lanztrachten.at).

Salzburg was handed over to U.S. troops on May 4, 1945, causing the postal system to completely collapse by May 6. Just two days later, an employee of Lanz travelled a few miles to Mondsee in Upper Austria to send the company's business mail from there. Starting on May 11, German Reich stamps in Mondsee were already being overprinted, so this particular stamp is likely one of the last "Ostmark" issues to be delivered to its recipient.

This stamp is unique not only for its historical significance but also for its exceptionally rare perforation, making it a highlight of my Austrian Perfin collection, which now consists of over 15,000 stamps.

In a World where grading has taken hold, with symmetry and perfection rewarded by substantial premiums, mint stamps with unsullied gum sought after and used stamps with cancels of a certain aesthetic are the bee's knee's, perfins seem a contradiction. Kind of like the Victorias Secret catalog of the morbidly obese. That being said who is anyone to dictate what is right or wrong to collect. My belly button lint collection says otherwise. Punch away my philatelic soulmates, punch away.

Having spend many dollars on stamps ,why is my desk covered with USED U.S. plate number coils , nobody collects such valueless stamps but I am enjoying my time here with them .Maybe because they are cheap and nobody cares about them .

There are two parts to perfin stamps. Having them but also taking the time to track down who issued them. I have a number of old GB perfins but have not tried to figure out whose initials they are. From Queen Victoria to KGV. One day when I have more time on my hands. Also, a Google search can tell you a lot about their history.

@paddle_more

Simply show your GB perfins in an ID thread, and many collectors will help identify the companies that used them

Thank you all for widening my horizon.
Can someone ID this one? "DW" (or "DM"?)
Thanks again

@sigistenz

DW ... D136, Dave Williams Company, New York City

Mentioned here by the way:

https://www.usca.nl/presentations/D...20Stamps.pdf