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Glen Stephens
Kangaroo
CTO cancels are HOT!
As I
have typed 1000 times over 30 years of writing columns here -
“Knowledge Is Power”. If
you do not HAVE the knowledge you cannot possibly hope to profit from
things that look totally ordinary - to those without it! The
3d Kangaroo illustrated nearby was just invoiced at the Phoenix Auction
on July 20, for $A1,864.
That is
around the price a £1 1913 Kangaroo sells for used. But we all KNOW
that is a $1,850 stamp! WHY the
huge price? Well anyone who has spent $100 and ordered new ACSC
“Kangaroos” Catalogue will know. It does
not have a flaw, scarce die, inverted watermark, scarce shade or the
like. The stamp itself is perfectly ordinary. It is
simply the Brisbane CTO cancel that created the big price – over double
the auction pre-sale estimate. Would YOU
have known this was an $A1,864 cancel “Knowledge
Is Power”. One cancel like this on a circuit book page or dealer
stockbook will pay for the new book 18 times over! Retail
with a non CTO cancel is $15 retail on Richard Juzwin’s price list and
all dealers will charge that kind of figure. I just
bought a second watermark 5/- Kangaroo with a CTO cancel of the thin
fine design type used on the 1913 issues. A pretty
normal looking used stamp, with usual somewhat “fluffy” perfs, and a
part “Melbourne” cancel. That cost
me at a large public auction a tiny fraction of the $4,000 ACSC value -
ACSC 43w. It has a “Deformed Spencer’s Gulf” plate flaw, so is actually
catalogued 50% higher. “Knowledge
Is Power”. Arthur
Gray brought me over his superb Kangaroo and KGV CTO collection to scan
and list on stampboards
A $3,500 cancel
essentially! Apart
from Arthur, the Australia Post Chapman collection has 1 example. Other
than that, I assumed none existed. NEVER assume anything. At
least THREE examples of this 5/- CTO cancel are now recorded, one of
which resides forever in the Australia Post Collection, and Arthur is
not selling his CTO's any-time soon. The
ACSC has just $4,000 on this, especially when one notes what a CA
Monogram single is rated at - $35,000.
Three of
those are 3 known, PLUS a plethora of blocks, pairs, and strips as well
- the future of the really scarce CTO's looks very solid at today’s low
levels.
New discoveries possible. Many
things exist that are not yet listed in the ACSC, even the new edition.
Did you
know the very CHEAPEST 1d red Kangaroo CTO stamp listed is $A80? Well
you do now!
Stampboards has had detailed discussion on these CTO’s – 1000s of posts,
and some of that info is transcribed here -
tinyurl.com/ozCTOs I was
recently sold a 5/- 1913 Kangaroo with the glossy black Melbourne CTO
cancel. It was fresh, and had full gum. No
big deal about that, except this one was perforated large “OS”. Not
recorded as existing in ACSC, so many would assume it was fake.
5/- Roo CTO perf “OS” A
fresh 5/- First Watermark CTO is readily saleable for $300, so why fake
something from it that “does not exist” is the weak part of that thought
process!
However the stampboards discussion on CTO’s saw 3 different collectors
confirm they have 3 different values of the 1913 set with CTO cancels
and perf large OS. In
all cases no premium whatever had been paid, and in one case that stamp
was bought decades back. So it
appears clear that at least one set of 1913 “OS” perfins had the fine
glossy CTO cancels applied – possibly a presentation set to a visiting
big shot? That
is the kind of reason offered for the Second Watermark issues existing
with this CTO cancel. The
last word in philately is NEVER written. We need to have open
minds and look at facts, and not use guesswork.
American Centering Madness As a
current example of the price stupidity still prevailing in the American
market, these 2 stamps shown nearby were consecutive lots in the same
USA auction on July 16.
Please excuse the curious “woolly” looking scans, but they were the best
possible off Auction website. This
5c Jamestown stamp is Scott 330, Cat $US125 hinged, and $US310 unhinged
mint. A fairly readily obtainable stamp, being worth about the same as a
1/- Kangaroo.
Near
all dealers anywhere on the globe would price a $300 type catalogue
stamp that looked like these, at about the same price each, if gum was
good on both. They
were consecutive lots. Both had Certificates confirming they were MUH,
original gum. One
was invoiced for $US345 - the other $US10,925 ($A12,000) -
near 32 times higher priced. I'll
let you guess which stamp is which. Is
one centered 32 times better than the other, to your eyes? Would
anyone else like me, prefer to have 32 of one, for the price of the
other? In 10 years’ time that will be proven MOST wise. For
way LESS than that same $A12,000, I or other dealers can sell you a
quite superbly centred, faultless 1913 £2 MVLH Kangaroo. Even
the very BEST of the 1913 £2 SG16s in the Hardy sale did not bring that
figure.
These stamps go UP each year. The
MVLH £2 Kangaroo illustrated nearby sold at auction for exactly half
that $6,000, at Prestige in 2010, plus fees. That
buyer got a great deal, as it has the “Gulf Of Carpentaria Coast” flaw,
ACSC 56(D)v which is catalogued in ACSC at $3,000 more than a normal
stamp. Of
course this basic Kangaroo stamp has been going UP in value every year
for many decades.
Numerally graded USA stamps will continue to decrease in value
from these silly figures, is my view and observation. One
is actually scarce and globally sought after and recognised, and the
other is NOT actually very scarce, and is hyped up by a tiny handful of
players with far more money than sense. In 20
years’ time will you be better off financially with two nice MVLH 1913
£2 Roos, or a stamp with a full Scott catalogue of $US310! The
"cheapie" stamp that was invoiced at $US345 was described thus - 5c
Jamestown (330). Mint N.H., rich color and proof-like impression, far
better centring than normally seen, Very Fine and choice, with 2007 P.F.
certificate (VF-XF 85) They
will NEVER, NEVER, NEVER get their money back. Repeat - NEVER, EVER,
EVER. No
criticism here of the auctioneers Siegel’s - they simply list these
things and the “more money than sense” bidders do the rest!
Hawaii early covers hot.
Bidders at Siegel’s were thankfully out in June, buying things that WILL
stay valuable!
Collectors generally seem to know what individual STAMPS are
multi-million dollar pieces, but often covers are overlooked.
On
June 25 an 1852 cover from Hawaii sold for $US1,950,000, PLUS 15% "fee"
= $US2,242,500 invoice.
As I
type this, that converted to near exactly $A2½ million. You
can buy a pretty decent MANSION for that in most cities in the world.
“The Dawson Cover”
was offered by Siegel Auction Galleries in New York, and was part of the
Steven C Walske Collection of Hawaiian Postal History.
"The Dawson Cover"
is the rarest and most important cover in Hawaiian postal history The
envelope is the only known cover bearing the Hawaiian 2c value
"Missionary" stamp.
Indeed it is the only cover to boast two different denominations from
the "Missionary" stamp series. It is
addressed in the hand of William C Dawson, to "Miss Eliza A Dawson,
Care Jacob H Dawson, 273 Cherry Street, New York".
Survived the Incinerator! We
are lucky it survived at all, considering the cover was bundled into a
factory furnace along with other correspondence in 1870.
Fortunately, the package was wrapped so tightly that the fire went out,
and the cover remained unharmed - aside from a small scorch mark at left
side. It
was only discovered 35 years later, long after the factory had been
abandoned. A cleaner preparing the space for reuse found it among the
ashes. Some
find - a $A2½ million cover - and other choice covers were found in the
same ashes.
“eBay Dreamers” eBay
does not seek any minimum IQ level for sellers. All you need is a valid
credit card to pay all the fees.
Anyone with a vivid imagination, and a piece of junk can list it up, and
pay the smorgasbord of eBay charges and extras, that make them rich!
Stampboards has a very popular thread titled: “eBay and Other On-Line
Dreamers - A Photo Lot Compendium”
tinyurl.com/EbayDreamer
- is the link to
it – take a good look if you are having a bad day, and want to chuckle
at the stupidity virus that is raging globally in the stamp world! It has
over 3,000 messages on it, and 165,000 pages views, so plenty of folks
find it entertaining! One
genius “angrail” (from Queensland - where else!) has been trying
to flog this faded or bleached (or both) 3d Queensland stamp for ages.
First at
$A12,000, and then in a moment of inspiration, near HALVED the price to
just $A6,600 as you can see. REAL world value more like 12 CENTS.
Sadly
that did not attract a cashed-up Bunny, and it is back to $A12,000 as I
type this. On eBay
having near gibberish lot headings seems mandatory, and here we have
“(R2-22)1876 AuStates QLD3dChalon variety Half Green&Red”
Postage is only $4 however, and you CAN make offers. Gotta love eBay.
Old banknote sells $A2.9
million
Monthly "Stamp
News"
Market Tipster Column
September 2013
Sold for $1864 – due to cancel
One stamp is 32 times pricier
We are told one of these 5c Jamestown stamps has actually been GRADED
HIGHER than this $US10,925 “GEM” - gasp. Stop The Presses.
Maybe that is a million dollar stamp to the jackasses? Who
knows?
But that is just a dumb old Sydney stamp Hillbilly dealer's view, who
unlike some, has done this for a full time business for 35 years.
I'd sell either stamp for a few $100. And move on to the next item.
EVERY time.
In my view, these numerical grades are a silly American fad - like hula
hoops and yo-yos and baseball cards.
A
$A2½ million old envelope!
Rush this gem at $12,000!
We all naturally focus on what occurs in the STAMP world, but the very closely connected note and coin word is stronger than ever. A USA 1891 $1,000 Marcy Silver Certificate banknote sold on June 12, for a new world record price of $2.6 million – around $A2.9 million as I type this. |
$US2.6 million oldie
Graded ‘Very Fine 25’ by PMG, the $1,000 note is one of two known to exist, with the other held in the National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Institution. This 1891 $1,000 Marcy Silver Certificate was purchased from a collector by Stack’s Bowers Galleries who wishes to remain anonymous, and was sold to an anonymous buyer. The highest price paid for an Australian banknote was $A1,909,000 at Public Auction in recent years, for the 1913 10/- note. The older notes are superbly engraved, and I really like them. They have more than a passing familiarity to stamp collectors. The early notes have the same printer imprint along base as stamps of this era did - “T. S. Harrison – Australian Note Printer” |
Printed by T. S. Harrison.
Never in 35 years of dealing have I owned the first design £1 note of the WW1 era, illustrated nearby. I bought that one this month in nice attractive grade, and at $2,750 it seems cheap to me when compared to the near $2 million for the 10/- of this era! |
Reached near $A2 million.
Lance Armstrong sued by USPS
Disgraced drug-cheat cyclist Lance Armstrong is being sued by the United States Postal Service. I bet we do not see him on a USPS stamp! Indeed a poll I ran on stampboards agreed that no “real” country has ever issued an Armstrong stamp. He is depicted on the outer margin (but not stamp area) on this 2003 France mini sheet shown nearby. |
No stamp for Lance.
In papers filed in the U.S District Court in Washington, the Justice Department alleges Armstrong duped a USPS Vice-President. “Suggesting though his words and his conduct, that the USPS team was among the clean teams, that might lead by example” The lawsuit claims Armstrong was “unjustly enriched by approx. $US40 million” USPS spent on sponsorship of his team. |
Lance Armstrong of USPS
What you probably didn't know is that Lance Armstrong also delivers mail in California. Same name, same employer, same sport, same health scare .... but different guys, reports the Associated Press. The 27-year-old letter carrier says he doesn't mind being mistaken for the more famous Lance Armstrong. Both are both trim and lanky with short fair hair. When Lance C. Armstrong - that's the letter carrier - competed in a race in Holland, well-wishers assumed he was the Tour de France champion. A fundraiser in Austin Texas gave the two Lance Armstrong’s a chance to meet. |
Lance meets Lance
"This was like a dream come true," said the letter-carrier. He said his co-workers have been supportive of his cycling hobby. "They razz you about the shaved legs, and the name," Lance C. Armstrong said. |
Madagascar here I come!
As this magazine is published, I will (hopefully) be winging home! I’ve been fortunate to have visited about 125 countries, most several times, so adding a new one is fun. |
”Welcome to Madagascar”
Day “one” was 40 hours of flights with no hotel … Sydney-Singapore-Bombay-Johannesburg-Mauritius. Next morning the very expensive flight to Antananarivo, Madagascar - for a week of driving around the interior jungles in a jeep. The huge Boabab trees are a tourist highlght there. Then some time on the mainland, in an African Safari Lodge photographing animals and “relaxing”. Flight Back to Johannesburg, connecting with a long 9½ hour flight to Mumbai to wander about for a day there – 22 hours in fact! Connecting to another 5 hour flight for a day (well 15 hours) in Bangkok to grab some bargains downtown, and back home to a mountain of work I am sure! |
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I am a Dealer Member in Good
Standing Of:
Full Time Stamp Dealer in Australia for over 30+ years.
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GLEN $TEPHEN$ Full Time Stamp Dealer in Australia for over 25 years.
Life Member - American Stamp
Dealers' Association. (New York)
Also Member - Philatelic Traders' Society. (London) ANDA. (Melbourne) American Philatelic Society, etc
"Lothlórien4 The
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