PLEASE SEE NEAR THE END OF THIS SECTION FOR EXPLANATIONS OF
CODES USED IN HEADINGS. (If the heading is clear, then ignore the
code section.)
I am aiming to realize about one third of catalog (for USA,
40%), more or less, depending upon a bunch of judgment factors such
as cancel quality, logical grouping, thins, etc. (I am now listing
lots with a minimum of 8 cents. This means that minimum priced
stamps, when I don't have a convenient companion for them, will be
40% of catalog.) One of the main considerations in many cases is
minimum catalog items, which I often list at much less than one
third catalog when grouped together. (These stamps are normally in
good condition or I would have not attempted to market them this
way.) The Scott Catalog value for this listing is $0.40. As
of this listing, I am using the following Scott Catalogs in my
listings: 2009 for Vol. 1; 2007 for vols. 2,3,4; 2006 for vol. 5;
and 2008 for vol. 6.)
Remember, only the one stamp lot on an
order with the highest postage listed pays postage. All the
additional lots are free postage and handling when ordered at one
time and paid on one invoice, unless otherwise noted in
listings. Non-USA purchasers must understand
that all total purchases over US$9.99 WILL HAVE A CUSTOMS
STICKER APPLIED - no exceptions.
When ANY lots leave my premises, I cannot
be responsible for them. To date I have sent perhaps a
thousand orders out, and perhaps one or two international ones have
disappeared. The risk is therefore slight in most cases, and
insurance is not cost effective for you. But as the orders
get larger, the problems increase. I will absorb the insurance cost
for domestic orders totaling over $50.00, but I CANNOT DO THIS FOR
INTERNATIONAL PURCHASERS as the cost is prohibitive ($27.95 for
express mail postage, which then includes some insurance). If
the international purchaser wishes to include an extra $27.95 + the
additional 75 cents I will need to pay PayPal - total $28.70, then
I will ship by express mail. Otherwise it is your risk.
International orders over $200.00 will have the standard ship
charge of $1.40 and I will insure at my expense and ship Express
mail. Express mail ALWAYS has a customs sticker attched, and
I declare the accurate amount of the purchase.
You will get the exact stamp(s) shown in
the illustration, unless otherwise noted as part of a
multiple listing of the same issue (which is usually also noted).
Please note that multiple listings of mint stamps which look
identical (unless you examine them inder a microscope) will not
specifically mention that the stamp received is not the one
pictured, but you will not notice it.
The next paragraphs are what I would call the fine print.
Important information for THIS listing will appear above.
As a general disclaimer, which will hopefully appear on all my
listings from here on, - I cannot tell normally, unless I have the
help of a reference work, whether a stamp is forged or not.
Relatively speaking, very few stamps are forged. Some types of
printing, eg. lithography, is more easily forged than others.
Cancels are sometimes forged as well. Overprints may cause a
problem in this area, as they are more easily forged. Assume that
my stamps are 99.99% genuine unless I indicate that I may "smell a
rat". If Scott says that counterfiets or forgeries of an issue are
plentiful, I will usually indicate in the listings that I cannot
vouch for its authenticity. I believe that my stamps will be as
genuine as any others you will find on the market unless otherwise
noted.
As for cancelled stamps selling at much more than unused copies
-- when this happens, I usually list the cancelled stamp at the
unused price, and will usually note that I cannot vouch for the
postally used status of the stamp. Many of these cancels are
genuine cancels applied to significant numbers of remainders by the
post office. These cancels are genuine, but the postal use of the
stamp is questionable. Only an expert can tell the difference. (And
on a stamp listing for $5.00 used and $2.50 unused, who can afford
to get expert opinions?) In cases like these, I will usually price
the stamp somewhere between my typical pricing (one third), based
upon my (un)educated guess of the issue involved. In the case of
the $5.00/$2.50 example, I would likely charge $1.25 - less than
one third of $5.00 and more than one third of $2.50. You as the
purchaser must determine as always what the stamp is worth TO
YOU.
Other explanations, especially of the codes in the title lines:
(Please note that I may spell things out in the title line if there
is sufficient room.)
A All, as in group listings, for example ATh means all stamps in
the listing are thin.
BC Blunt corner.
Bgd Banged - Something bumped the stamp, usually on an edge or
corner, and weakened it.
BL Bottom left
BR Bottom right
C Corner
CTO Cancelled to order. These stamps usually have gum on the
back, but are cancelled. They have not been postally used. I price
these as used stamps per the Scott listings. Some countries issue
stamps cancelled and without gum. CTO stamps usually have a quarter
circle cancel in one corner, but not necessarily. Full gum on a
used stamp usually means CTO, regardless of the position of the
cancel, though I have seen some stamps come off package paper after
postal use and still have full or nearly full gum.
F Fold
GD Gum disturbance. This could include various types of gum
loss. In many cases this may have only slight bearing on the
pricing, down just a little, as there is no perceived damage to the
stamp itself.
H, or MH Mint hinged
LG Limited gum. Much of the original gum is missing on this
stamp.
MTh Miniscule thin. These are thins that might not be readily
noticed, but can usually be spotted when holding the stamp to allow
the light to pass through.
NG No gum. The stamp so listed is presumed to have been issued
with gum, and no longer has it. This the stamp could be either used
or unused. In these cases, I will price the stamp as the cheaper of
the two, but if it is listed with other stamps it could be listed
with either a mint or used group.
NH or MNH Mint never hinged
P Pinhole
PC Perfs cut the design of the stamp on one or more of the
sides. This can normally be seen in the picture.
POB Paper on Back. This may be original envelope, album
page, etc. This does not usually affect the price of the lot
substantially, unless I suspect a possible hidden damage.
PP Pulled perf(s) (see picture)
SF Small fold
SON Socked on the nose. Generally refers to
cancellations. These are often more desirable.
STh Small thin
Stn Stain
Th Thin
TL Top left
TR Top right
U Used. (Many times this will omitted in favor of simply looking
at the picture which will usually make this obvious.)
V Value in USA dollars as listed in the Scott catalogs. I almost
always use the Scott catalogs for my pricing guide, and any
exceptions will be noted. The year of the catalog used will be
noted in the descriptive paragraph above which gives my valuation
principles as best as I can identify them.
Codes contained between commas and together with Scott numbers
will apply to the stamps between the commas only. Codes at the end
of the numerical listings and outside commas separating numerical
listings apply to the entire lot listed. Example: COUNTRY 75, 76
NG, 77, H, can be interpreted as follows: all stamps in the lot are
mint hinged, but number 76 is also without gum.
It is my hope that the use of these codes will sufficiently free
up listing space so more information, if needed, can be
included on the Title line, with the aim of making lot scanning
much simpler for you the user. Also, I hope that this will make
listing more efficient for me so that I can put up more lots in
less time. Your comments, pro and con, will be appreciated.
grandpapraise (4557)
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stampphile (5692)
