Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
The last batch I purchased came with nearly 2 pounds of cut corners, with post marks.
How does one sell something like this?
There is no way to show more than 2 photos on this site?
So how would anyone get an idea of what is in this batch?
Login to Like
this post
You can offer them in the auctions (2 pictures per lot)
You can offer them in approval books (1 picture per item)
You can offer them in the classified ads
You are new here. Look over the site. Look at the different things that the site has to offer besides selling. Read the rules/instructions to figure out what is best for you.
Login to Like
this post
For what it's worth, I acquired a couple hundred cut corners a while back and placed as many as I could on 2 Vario Stock Sheets in the SOR Auction. They promptly sold. I think I only asked 3 or 4 cents ea. I still have more to List SOMEDAY.
Login to Like
this post
09:12:29am
You won't find much of a market for these, certainly not in small lots and as individual items.
The following is copied from a thread on this Discussion Board from this time last year. Here is a link to the whole thread:
https://stamporama.com/discboard/disc_main.php?action=20&id=21672#157690
And here is the post relevant to your question:
---------------------------------------------------------------------
"1) collecting "2x4's" -- the 2 inch x 4 inch clipped corners of covers to show the stamp and (usually slogan) cancel. Collections of thousands of these now get thrown into larger auction lots in order to "make them go away"."
Further to my earlier post, here are a couple of lots from this morning's Sparks Auctions sale:
Roy
Login to Like
this post
I agree with Roy that there's little market, especially for small amounts.
And, look at his second posting where 5,700 organized and alphabetized cut squares sold 4 for a Canadian penny.
Login to Like
this post
I have never heard the term "cut corners" before - always either "cut squares" or envelope stamps. When you said cut corners all I could picture were stamps with the corners cut off which would have no value at all. I guess you can learn something new every day!
Login to Like
this post
I would be interested in cut corners only for the postmarks,
which would have to be readable.
And my only interest in those would be from my home state of Michigan.
And I certainly would not spend a lot on them.
Login to Like
this post
'
The word "corners" is most often used to refer to the sender's return address, eg, up in the left hand corner.
Covers with a pre-printed return address are referred to as "corners".
The term "cut squares" is most often used to refer to clipping the stamp and a bit of paper around it.
As shown the the listings, the term 2x4s is most often used to apply to clipping the stamp and its (slogan) cancel and CDS (postmark).
I will leave it to the originator of the thread to correct the title.
Cheers,
/s/ ikeyPikey
Login to Like
this post
This might be a good time to re-ask a question I never got an answer to once before. I have a fairly rare, and very nice, bisect that is basically worth nothing unless it is tied to a "cover". I understand that because anyone can cut a stamp in two and dirty up the cut. But why does it have to be "tied to cover" when a value is given? Mine is tied very nicely to a large piece with a great postmark and is also tied by this postmark to another very nice stamp and both are tied nicely by postmark to the "piece". The main purpose is to be insured it is a "real" bi-sect and this is obvious. Why the paranoia about cover? I know the cover is nicer but is it really necessary to validate the bi-sect?
Login to Like
this post
Harvey, I believe it is mostly a question of evidence. While a postmarked stamp on a piece is better than an off-paper one, on a cover or postcard you have the additional evidence of address(es), transit markings, arrival postmarks and whatnot. That's not to say it couldn't be doctored, too, but the more there is, the harder it becomes to fabricate.
Login to Like
this post
'
Or, to try it another way, a cut square is (also) a very badly damaged cover
Q/ So why would there not be a preference for the whole thing?
A/ Space, redundancy, foxing, came-to-me-that-way ...
Cheers,
/s/ ikeyPikey
Login to Like
this post
Back in the day when Queen Victoria was on the throne, some collectors treated Postal Stationary Cut-Outs as "stamps" and were popped into their albums/collections.
Of course the complete cover would have been ideal but the space required to mount the whole cover may not have been available especially to the younger collectors.
When the collectors became more experienced they would realise the cover was the best thing to have.
Of course the same would apply to bisects.
We have all done stupid things before we gained the knowledge we now have.
Login to Like
this post
I have seen cut squares called ‘damaged’ and ‘mutilated’. I assume that these names are used because the cut square is only a part of what was originally manufactured. If so, then every stamp can also be called ‘damaged’ and ‘mutilated’ since they are not produced one stamp at a time but rather in sheets, cut into panes, sent to the PO, and are then further reduced to a single stamp to put on mail.
I collect cut squares and enjoy that this format has fallen out of favor but the marketplace. More for me at less cost!
It is true that cutting a square out of a postal history relevant cover is a ‘no-no’, but there are already millions of cut squares in existence. Additionally, there is a significant number of full covers which have no real postal history value (common covers with common cancels). Having these sit around in storage boxes as silverfish food is no better than cutting them up as cut squares.
Don
3 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.
Well said Don.
Whatever a person collects, whether it is cut squares, covers or my own weakness perfins, is their passion then I am happy for them.
We all collect different things in different ways.
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.
I collect New Jersey postmarks but I like mine on full cover or postcard. As said many people did collect 2x4 cut squares, and many people serviced 3x5 cards (index cards) and sent those to different post offices to service and return to them in the mails. I only keep a 2x4 in my collection as a space holder until I find a full cover or card.
I don’t think you will find a market for these on SOR, more an eBay thing. If you post the entire lot as a collection you will need to take a bunch of photos or scans, and write it up well. Many people collect specific states, so if it’s sorted this way, that’s probably the way to realize the best prices.
Login to Like
this post
06:14:23pm
I buy lots at auctions and estate sales. It is take it all and leave nothing behind.
The last batch I purchased came with nearly 2 pounds of cut corners, with post marks.
How does one sell something like this?
There is no way to show more than 2 photos on this site?
So how would anyone get an idea of what is in this batch?
Login to Like
this post
re: Cut corners anyone?
You can offer them in the auctions (2 pictures per lot)
You can offer them in approval books (1 picture per item)
You can offer them in the classified ads
You are new here. Look over the site. Look at the different things that the site has to offer besides selling. Read the rules/instructions to figure out what is best for you.
Login to Like
this post
Auctions - Approvals
re: Cut corners anyone?
For what it's worth, I acquired a couple hundred cut corners a while back and placed as many as I could on 2 Vario Stock Sheets in the SOR Auction. They promptly sold. I think I only asked 3 or 4 cents ea. I still have more to List SOMEDAY.
Login to Like
this post
BuckaCover.com - 80,000 covers priced 60c to $1.50 - Easy browsing 300 categories
11 Feb 2020
09:12:29am
re: Cut corners anyone?
You won't find much of a market for these, certainly not in small lots and as individual items.
The following is copied from a thread on this Discussion Board from this time last year. Here is a link to the whole thread:
https://stamporama.com/discboard/disc_main.php?action=20&id=21672#157690
And here is the post relevant to your question:
---------------------------------------------------------------------
"1) collecting "2x4's" -- the 2 inch x 4 inch clipped corners of covers to show the stamp and (usually slogan) cancel. Collections of thousands of these now get thrown into larger auction lots in order to "make them go away"."
Further to my earlier post, here are a couple of lots from this morning's Sparks Auctions sale:
Roy
Login to Like
this post
Auctions
re: Cut corners anyone?
I agree with Roy that there's little market, especially for small amounts.
And, look at his second posting where 5,700 organized and alphabetized cut squares sold 4 for a Canadian penny.
Login to Like
this post
05:53:07pm
re: Cut corners anyone?
I have never heard the term "cut corners" before - always either "cut squares" or envelope stamps. When you said cut corners all I could picture were stamps with the corners cut off which would have no value at all. I guess you can learn something new every day!
Login to Like
this post
re: Cut corners anyone?
I would be interested in cut corners only for the postmarks,
which would have to be readable.
And my only interest in those would be from my home state of Michigan.
And I certainly would not spend a lot on them.
Login to Like
this post
re: Cut corners anyone?
'
The word "corners" is most often used to refer to the sender's return address, eg, up in the left hand corner.
Covers with a pre-printed return address are referred to as "corners".
The term "cut squares" is most often used to refer to clipping the stamp and a bit of paper around it.
As shown the the listings, the term 2x4s is most often used to apply to clipping the stamp and its (slogan) cancel and CDS (postmark).
I will leave it to the originator of the thread to correct the title.
Cheers,
/s/ ikeyPikey
Login to Like
this post
12:00:53pm
re: Cut corners anyone?
This might be a good time to re-ask a question I never got an answer to once before. I have a fairly rare, and very nice, bisect that is basically worth nothing unless it is tied to a "cover". I understand that because anyone can cut a stamp in two and dirty up the cut. But why does it have to be "tied to cover" when a value is given? Mine is tied very nicely to a large piece with a great postmark and is also tied by this postmark to another very nice stamp and both are tied nicely by postmark to the "piece". The main purpose is to be insured it is a "real" bi-sect and this is obvious. Why the paranoia about cover? I know the cover is nicer but is it really necessary to validate the bi-sect?
Login to Like
this post
re: Cut corners anyone?
Harvey, I believe it is mostly a question of evidence. While a postmarked stamp on a piece is better than an off-paper one, on a cover or postcard you have the additional evidence of address(es), transit markings, arrival postmarks and whatnot. That's not to say it couldn't be doctored, too, but the more there is, the harder it becomes to fabricate.
Login to Like
this post
re: Cut corners anyone?
'
Or, to try it another way, a cut square is (also) a very badly damaged cover
Q/ So why would there not be a preference for the whole thing?
A/ Space, redundancy, foxing, came-to-me-that-way ...
Cheers,
/s/ ikeyPikey
Login to Like
this post
Auctions - Approvals
re: Cut corners anyone?
Back in the day when Queen Victoria was on the throne, some collectors treated Postal Stationary Cut-Outs as "stamps" and were popped into their albums/collections.
Of course the complete cover would have been ideal but the space required to mount the whole cover may not have been available especially to the younger collectors.
When the collectors became more experienced they would realise the cover was the best thing to have.
Of course the same would apply to bisects.
We have all done stupid things before we gained the knowledge we now have.
Login to Like
this post
re: Cut corners anyone?
I have seen cut squares called ‘damaged’ and ‘mutilated’. I assume that these names are used because the cut square is only a part of what was originally manufactured. If so, then every stamp can also be called ‘damaged’ and ‘mutilated’ since they are not produced one stamp at a time but rather in sheets, cut into panes, sent to the PO, and are then further reduced to a single stamp to put on mail.
I collect cut squares and enjoy that this format has fallen out of favor but the marketplace. More for me at less cost!
It is true that cutting a square out of a postal history relevant cover is a ‘no-no’, but there are already millions of cut squares in existence. Additionally, there is a significant number of full covers which have no real postal history value (common covers with common cancels). Having these sit around in storage boxes as silverfish food is no better than cutting them up as cut squares.
Don
3 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.
Auctions - Approvals
re: Cut corners anyone?
Well said Don.
Whatever a person collects, whether it is cut squares, covers or my own weakness perfins, is their passion then I am happy for them.
We all collect different things in different ways.
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.
Approvals
re: Cut corners anyone?
I collect New Jersey postmarks but I like mine on full cover or postcard. As said many people did collect 2x4 cut squares, and many people serviced 3x5 cards (index cards) and sent those to different post offices to service and return to them in the mails. I only keep a 2x4 in my collection as a space holder until I find a full cover or card.
I don’t think you will find a market for these on SOR, more an eBay thing. If you post the entire lot as a collection you will need to take a bunch of photos or scans, and write it up well. Many people collect specific states, so if it’s sorted this way, that’s probably the way to realize the best prices.
Login to Like
this post