A is for Aden and Z is for Zanzabar


A is for Aden and Z is for Zanzibar... Now what is between? For the world wide classical era philatelist and stamp collector, a country specific philatelic survey is offered by the blog author, Jim Jackson, with two albums: Big Blue, aka Scott International Part 1 (checklists available), and Deep Blue, aka William Steiner's Stamp Album Web PDF pages. In addition, "Bud" offers commentary and a look at his completely filled Big Blue. Interested? So into the Blues...

Friday, January 20, 2023

More Recent Acquisitions - United States

1861-62 Scott 67 5c buff "Jefferson"
Into the Deep Blue

I've had a run on acquiring classic U.S. lately. See...


Well, here is another one. ;-)

1847 Scott 1 5c red brown "Franklin"
Red Cancel

The local Stamp Club had an auction, and this Scott 1 5c "Franklin" with a red cancel was added to my collection. Actually, although the catalog number "Scott 1" lists "red brown" as the color, this particular example is more "pale brown" CV is $350 (2020), down from $525 (2011).

I bought this stamp @ 40% CV because it is a nice example, and it is a different color hue from the 5c "Franklin" I already had in my collection (shown below).

1847 Scott 1a 5c dark brown "Franklin"

The 1847 5c "Franklin" can be found in color hues of red brown, pale brown, brown, dark brown, grayish brown, blackish brown, orange brown, red orange, and brown orange.

This stamp, already in my collection, is "dark brown" (CV $400).

1861-62 Scott 67 5c buff "Jefferson"

The "buff' colored 5c "Jefferson" was issued in 1861-62. The CV price was $1,150 (2011), but now (2020) is CV $750. This stamp was acquired for 10% CV.

1863 Scott 76 5c brown "Jefferson"

In contrast, note the dark brown color of the 1863 5c already in my collection. Quite the difference. !!

1869 Scott 116 10c yellow "Shield and Eagle"
Red Cancel

I have been working on finding 1869 issue stamps, and I did not have the 10c yellow.

Last week (at the time I am writing this post), our Stamp Club was hosting a dealer bourse. There was a specialist U.S. dealer there, and he had this fine centered (for the issue) 10c yellow with a red cancel in his inventory. CV is listed at $110 (2020), down from $150 (2011). The red cancel adds $40. Naturally, with a nice specimen like this from a specialty dealer, one pays more.  I'm happy. 

1871 Scott 149 7c vermilion ""Stanton"
White Wove Paper; Without Grill
National Bank Note Company

The National Bank Note issue of 1871 does not have the secret marks (1c to 15c) added subsequently in 1873 by the Continental Bank Note Company. It turns out that the "secret marks" on many of the denominations are not always reliable, and one has to additionally rely on change in color or other variables to distinguish the issues.

1871 Scott 149 7c vermilion ""Stanton"
Close-up: No Secret Mark

Fortunately, for the 7c "Stanton", the "secret mark sign - yes or no- is reliable.

I didn't have the 1871 NBNC 7c with no "secret mark", and, as the Club auction had one, I obtained this specimen for 1/3rd the CV $90 price (2020).

1873 Scott 160 7c orange vermilion ""Stanton"
White Wove Paper, Thin to Thick; Without Grill
Continental  Bank Note Company

For comparison, here is the 1873 CBNC stamp already in my collection.

1873 Scott 160 7c orange vermilion ""Stanton"
Close-up: Secret Mark

Note the obvious "secret mark": two small semi-circles are drawn around the ends of the lines that outline the ball in the lower right hand corner. 

1870 Scott 151 12c dull violet "Henry Clay"
White Wove paper, Without Grill, Perf 12
National Bank Note Company, No Secret Mark

I attended my local stamp club meeting this week ( at the time I am writing this), and on the "Bid Board" was Scott 151 (CV $200) with an interesting cancel. I took it @ 15% CV, not knowing if I had the stamp. It turns out the specimen is my third copy (The others are better centered), but I still like the cancel.

The ball of the "2" is round - which means this stamp does not have the secret mark, and is a NBNC production without grill. For the Continental BNC 12c stamp of 1873 (Sc 162) - which I still don't have a copy! - the ball of the "2" is crescent shaped (Secret Mark).

Canada 1897 Scott 53 3c bright rose "Victoria"
Jubilee Issue

At our club meetings, we have a stamp giveaway. Random numbers are assigned to the sign-in sheet. My number was called, and this nice unused Canada 3c Jubilee stamp (CV $30) was there for the taking. Not bad!

1855-63 Cape of Good Hope Scott 3a (SG 5b) 1p deep rose red 
"Hope Sitting"; Perkins Bacon Printing

Not all my recent additions are U.S. classic stamps - far from it. I did obtain many copies of the COGH 1853-64 triangular stamps, as my recent posts can attest. This particular stamp has not been shown before, however.

1855-63 Cape of Good Hope Scott 3a (SG 5b) 1p deep rose red 
"Hope Sitting"; Perkins Bacon Printing
APEX Certificate

It turns out that the stamp, represented by the seller as a 1863-64 De La Rue printing, was in fact a "deep red rose" Perkins Bacon printing. This is a reminder that, if one is buying a fairly expensive stamp. perhaps spending an extra $30 for a Cert might be advisable. And rather than the stamp having a CV of $325 (De La Rue printing), the CV for this example is $425 (Perkins, Bacon printing). !!

Out of the Blue

Well, I hope you enjoyed this third! recent post on U.S. (primarily) additions to the collection.

Comments appreciated!

2 comments:

  1. I finally mounted my US collection last year, after accumulating thousands of issues over the last few decades. What a painful experience! With so many stamps that would be subvarieties at best for other countries having Scott major numbers, identification of the classic issues was not a very enjoyable undertaking. Especially for my aging eyes. And now the USPS issues endless perforation, microprinting and imprint varieties.

    I was really looking forward to getting into US philately, but I don't have much enthusiasm for continuing that pursuit.

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    Replies
    1. Wow! Yes, it is painful. I stopped collecting USA after about 1980.

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