Rather than assess color (which looks reddish to me FWIW), what is the year the cover was sent? Surely there's a date inside?
Oh, that's an easy one. September 11, 1853.
So, checking earliest date off usage (EDU) for both stamps, which one is ruled out? Hint, refer to a reference such as this:
http://www.stampsmarter.com/1847_landing.html
Looks like only 10 meets the date criteria. Edit: Due to a senior moment, this is so totally embarrassingly wrong. The EDU for Scott #11 on this site is incorrect. EDU for Scott #11 would have been in October 1851. (See my remorseful response below).
Awesome! Thanks! I have Scott's Catalog, but I didn't think about researching the Earliest Date Used.
Very nice sleuthing.
Best,
Dan C.
Agreed, Dani! It's also exciting for me, because as a novice stamp collector I have my first (relatively) high-value stamp. Scott lists a Very Good Used at about $200 (2014 Catalog) and a Fine at about $400, but because this is on a letter, I'm really not sure what to price it at. The letter is very interesting, mainly about the loneliness of country life and also a family scandal (from what I gather, the letter-writer's sister ran off with another man), but any value attached to that is subjective and literally in the eye of the beholder. Any advice for a newbie on what this is worth on the "market"? I would keep it, but as I said, my 3-eyed focus is on BOB stamps, advertising covers, zemstvos stamps. Want to stay focused. Cheers!
Matt
By the way, fantastic link, Hungary! Much appreciated!
Matt, sometimes if you do internet searches on the names on such letters you can come across some interesting information. Some of those finds have been posted in the Discussion Board.
https://stamporama.com/discboard/disc_main.php?action=20&id=12701#92306
https://stamporama.com/discboard/disc_main.php?action=20&id=14521#113110
Adds a fascinating sideline to our hobby, and adds even more to the hobby line that stamps are little pieces of history. Stamps still on surviving covers carried what are now pieces of history too.
Agreed, Michael. I love the sense of history, as well as impetus to do further research based on information given. By the way, I'm aware few people will pay Scott values for stamp-related material anymore, but I may post this letter as an auction, either here (much more nerve-wracking because I'm in the realm of experienced philatelists) or on eBay (where the disadvantage is the letter might sell for a fraction of its value). Not sure which way to go, but regardless, I have my eye on some beautiful postal ad covers aftterward. Cheers!
Matt
Yeah. Collectors won't normally pay a dealer anything close to catalog value, but they want the dealer to pay them full catalog value or even more when they sell.
The 2015 Scott US Specialized catalog shows a value on cover for #10 as $280.00.
Thanks. I'll see what happens. Have a good weekend.
Actually, I have to retract my earlier statement and apologize. I answered hastily from work and didn't think about it. Now that I've actually thought about it and looked at my US 10/11 stamps (been a while), you probably have a #11, but confirmation is done by plating. The EDU for #11 on that website link is incorrect.
Scott #10's were printed on certain early plates between July and September of 1951.
Scott #11's were in use between October 1851 and March 1857 and printed in much bigger numbers.
Since your usage is 1953 it would be very unlikely to be a #10.
You would confirm you have a #10 by plating it, because only plates 1E, 1I, 0, 2E, and 5E were used to print the #10 stamp.
Here are some further references to pursue:
http://www.uspcs.org/stamps-covers/uspod-issued-adhesives/the-1851-1860-issue/1851-3c-issue/identifying-scott-10-and-10a/
http://www.theswedishtiger.com/11-scotts.html
Hi Folks. I have had this Folded Stamped Letter for a while and am thinking of selling it, since it is not in any of my 3 niches - BOB, Zemstvos, and Advertising Covers. I'd rather use any extra money to feed the above! However, as a somewhat novice, I can't figure out whether this U.S. stamp is Scott #10 or Scott #11. Any help would be appreciated. If you wanted better photos, I can retake and post, but the color is pretty accurate. Thanks!
Matt
re: Scott #10 or #11
Rather than assess color (which looks reddish to me FWIW), what is the year the cover was sent? Surely there's a date inside?
re: Scott #10 or #11
Oh, that's an easy one. September 11, 1853.
re: Scott #10 or #11
So, checking earliest date off usage (EDU) for both stamps, which one is ruled out? Hint, refer to a reference such as this:
http://www.stampsmarter.com/1847_landing.html
Looks like only 10 meets the date criteria. Edit: Due to a senior moment, this is so totally embarrassingly wrong. The EDU for Scott #11 on this site is incorrect. EDU for Scott #11 would have been in October 1851. (See my remorseful response below).
re: Scott #10 or #11
Awesome! Thanks! I have Scott's Catalog, but I didn't think about researching the Earliest Date Used.
re: Scott #10 or #11
Very nice sleuthing.
Best,
Dan C.
re: Scott #10 or #11
Agreed, Dani! It's also exciting for me, because as a novice stamp collector I have my first (relatively) high-value stamp. Scott lists a Very Good Used at about $200 (2014 Catalog) and a Fine at about $400, but because this is on a letter, I'm really not sure what to price it at. The letter is very interesting, mainly about the loneliness of country life and also a family scandal (from what I gather, the letter-writer's sister ran off with another man), but any value attached to that is subjective and literally in the eye of the beholder. Any advice for a newbie on what this is worth on the "market"? I would keep it, but as I said, my 3-eyed focus is on BOB stamps, advertising covers, zemstvos stamps. Want to stay focused. Cheers!
Matt
re: Scott #10 or #11
By the way, fantastic link, Hungary! Much appreciated!
re: Scott #10 or #11
Matt, sometimes if you do internet searches on the names on such letters you can come across some interesting information. Some of those finds have been posted in the Discussion Board.
https://stamporama.com/discboard/disc_main.php?action=20&id=12701#92306
https://stamporama.com/discboard/disc_main.php?action=20&id=14521#113110
Adds a fascinating sideline to our hobby, and adds even more to the hobby line that stamps are little pieces of history. Stamps still on surviving covers carried what are now pieces of history too.
re: Scott #10 or #11
Agreed, Michael. I love the sense of history, as well as impetus to do further research based on information given. By the way, I'm aware few people will pay Scott values for stamp-related material anymore, but I may post this letter as an auction, either here (much more nerve-wracking because I'm in the realm of experienced philatelists) or on eBay (where the disadvantage is the letter might sell for a fraction of its value). Not sure which way to go, but regardless, I have my eye on some beautiful postal ad covers aftterward. Cheers!
Matt
re: Scott #10 or #11
Yeah. Collectors won't normally pay a dealer anything close to catalog value, but they want the dealer to pay them full catalog value or even more when they sell.
The 2015 Scott US Specialized catalog shows a value on cover for #10 as $280.00.
re: Scott #10 or #11
Thanks. I'll see what happens. Have a good weekend.
re: Scott #10 or #11
Actually, I have to retract my earlier statement and apologize. I answered hastily from work and didn't think about it. Now that I've actually thought about it and looked at my US 10/11 stamps (been a while), you probably have a #11, but confirmation is done by plating. The EDU for #11 on that website link is incorrect.
Scott #10's were printed on certain early plates between July and September of 1951.
Scott #11's were in use between October 1851 and March 1857 and printed in much bigger numbers.
Since your usage is 1953 it would be very unlikely to be a #10.
You would confirm you have a #10 by plating it, because only plates 1E, 1I, 0, 2E, and 5E were used to print the #10 stamp.
Here are some further references to pursue:
http://www.uspcs.org/stamps-covers/uspod-issued-adhesives/the-1851-1860-issue/1851-3c-issue/identifying-scott-10-and-10a/
http://www.theswedishtiger.com/11-scotts.html