Flash! - $2 & $5 Stamps On Cover // Less Than 24 Hour Notice Of Lots Included In Sale

Tomorrow, Saturday, 3-22-25 Siegel's PAPERLESS (on line only) Sale 9023 - The Dr. Edward Field Collection of The Largest Frankings in U.S. Postal History. Every lot of the 34 have $2, $5 or $2 & $5 on cover. The low estimates are a joke. If one was to buy the entire sale at low estimate, much money yo be made.

Only one day's notice is a disservice to both the consignor as well as those interested in buying this great material.

480, 523, 524, 573 and 834 to name the $5s.

Edit to add Scott numbers

Estimates are pretty typical for this type of auction. The expectation is that they will go for enough more so that the house can say "look how well they did". Happens all the time.

https://siegelauctions.com/auctions/sale/9023

Thanks for pointing this out PPG. I was on Siegel just the other day and did not see it. I also ignored the Scott email reminder of tomorrow's sales and so did not know this existed.

Yes, weird that there was no real advanced notice. What amazing items. I might bid but the cat is out of the bag a little bit now. I just want an item or two. You can have the rest. Of course, I may end up empty handed if the lots get the money they deserve.

I believe your assertion about the lack of proper prior notice is wrong. I received an email notice about it (as a client) on March 8 and I was already aware of it (from seeing it on the web site home page) at that time.

The sale was posted a few weeks ago and I got several emails about the from Siegel. I see it mentioned in an email in my trash folder dated March 8

Was typing at the same time as Rhett - not piling on

I got the same March 8 email, Rhett. Just showed the "cover" (can a no paper item have a cover?) photo. I could not access the lots. I have been a Siegel's customer since last century.

That said, since I tend to track 20th Century dollar values on cover, I was not surprised at any of what showed up in the 34 lots.





That is why the consignor should not have consigned the material here, Siegel is not know for understanding 20th materiel unlike Rumsey, Kellerher nor Harmer to name some others. They Siegel do not give laughingly low ball low estimated for the 1869 nor 1901 inverts for example.

Many collectors of the Prexie material really have no reason to look to Siegel for such material, likely would not get the 8th nor today's emails.

Its interesting that you posted this, as I had been studying the sale earlier today, and I was thinking to myself - these are pretty nice items, and if they go in this range, maybe I'll start a new side-collection. My side-collections are growing ....

I suspect that Siegel views the paperless sales as a way to move somewhat cheaper, more collector-grade material, so to speak, without the overhead of a catalog or auctioneer calling the sale. Not a bad idea from a business perspective; actually a pretty good idea - but with no printed catalog mailed out, certainly some buyers will be left behind.

I do agree that for this category of material, Rumsey is probably a better choice at the moment. I have noticed that there are certain areas, in general, where Rumsey consistently outpaces Siegel on prices-realized. Then again, there are other areas that Siegel does really well at, as I'm sure we all know.

Obviously we will find out how accurate the estimates are soon enough. I agree that they seem low.....

Maybe they broke out the material from a US collection consignment and that is why they have it.

In lot no 10019 there is an air mail tag to Sweden franked with $14.00 and I am trying to figure out the rate. Air mail parcels to Sweden were not introduced until March 1948. So as it is airmail this has to be a letter. Registration was only offered at the UPU rate which was 20c. So there is 1380c left for the air mail letter rate. As it was 15c/half ounce this is a 1380/15=92nd rate air mail letter, so this would have been a 2lb14oz registered air mail letter. It looks that there is a note 2 13 at down left. Perhaps it has something to do with the weight. (the maximum weight for letters was 4lb 6oz)

2lb 14oz (46oz) registered airmail rates as---

Registration: $0.20

Airmail rate $0.15/0.5oz; 92 X $0.15: $13.80

Total postage and fees $14.00.

EDIT: OOPS I READ THE DATE 1949, NOT 1947. The above remains correct, below, not at all and thus corrected.

APP was in not effect when the tag was mailed but not used here as when starting the next year APP and registration cannot not equal $14.00.

Edit: Inserted (46oz). And to say the maximum weight for APP to Sweden then was 44 pounds at a postage cost of $86.60 when it started in 1948.

Most any of the multiple 834 covers if sitting on a show dealer's table would be snapped up at $1000.00, no questions or discounts asked, each with stories of the great finds told at dinner.

The tag to Sweden is from Jun 19 1947 and as far as I can see APP(Air mail parcel post) to Sweden was not introduced until March 15 1948.

http://www.uspostalbulletins.com/PD...%22sweden%22

CORRECT! I misread the year date as 1949, not 1947, the joy of dirty glasses. I corrected my rating post as to the APP comments but the airmail rating remains the same.

I hadn't looked at the sale till this morning. I don't think there will be any problem with the relatively short lead/notice times that are typical of the Siegel paperless sales.

Based on the distinct lack of success of my bids even before the auction (including a few significantly over estimate) I think they will all be just fine.