Great Grandfather's US Stamp Collection

Yes, a stunning collection for an inherited collection. Kudos to your great grandfather. And more importantly welcome to philately and stamp collecting.

Thanks!

I was checking out some of the later stamps, and a few I stumbled upon are pretty intersesting if I identified them correctly. One is a 1x2 with the Schermack Type III perf with what I believe is a 2 cent Washington (I can't determine the type, but I doubt it's a 482a). I didn't see a watermark but I don't know 100% (it is placed within the no watermark, no Perf section). There are some horizontal cracks that I don't know if they are a printing error from the die or something else



The other section from the same era contains some doubles that I first noticed by the little D above each of the 1, 2, and 3 cent perfs then realizing they were all blurry.


I also wanted to note that the 1851 carrier stamp is almost certainly an L03 as I found a purchase of L03 in the scanned receipts

I believe that the small "D" is to note that the stamp is a "double print".

A lovely collection Oiman, and glad to hear you're going to keep it.

As you go along you'll be able to add to it, thus making it a multi-generation collection

I agree mml1942.

Thanks Bobby De La Rue, I'm getting myself acclimated first before making a decision for what I'll contribute.

While going through this section I found this oddball set of 3, looks like an error. I think it's a 505 surrounded by two normal 499 when doing a quick search since it was found in the 11 perf section.

What you show is an error and is no. 467 in the Scott cat. along with the explanation of how it occurred.

Sounds like overworked bureau of printing and engraiving workers is the cause of 505 while 467 was caused by a new watermark-less paper getting tested.

I stated 505 since that is what the receipt says after looking for it in the pile and that it's in the 11 perf page in the album

The original pair at top appears to be a type VI offset, #534A. Those with the "D" above are double impressions, also listed in the catalog.

I see now. So for example, the 3 cent could be a 501d or 502d (it's kind of hard to tell due to blurriness of the print)

Thank you Oiman for sharing this, agree with other posters is that this is way above the typical inherited collection. Keep all correspondence if you find any including any information if any stamps were certified or graded. Looks like lots of fun!

It's my pleasure! In that prior mentioned small safe, when they return this week to their house my grandparents will check it for any loose stamps or paperwork that was not with the album I now have.

"There are some horizontal cracks that I don't know if they are a printing error from the die or something else"

What I see is some creasing - hard to tell from the picture if pre or post printing.

As for the error, 467 is perf 10 (10 holes per 20mm) while 505 is perf 11. I suspect 505.

Agreed, I think it is the 505.

I keep going back to the early 1900's just due to the large variety of stamps and perf/imperf/watermark designs. it is really interesting how there are very small changes on the same stamp print. In the process I think I found another interesting stamp. There's a page in the album that is full of 1 and 2 cent perf and imperfs, but what caught my eye is the lone 5 cent Lincoln imperf. Looking on the other pages every single other 5 cent Lincon had perfs

The Lincoln imperf is a nice 315. It is a shame the way all those pairs are hinged to the page from the TOP of the stamp - very unusual, and damaging to the stamps and their value - really unfortunate. Nice page though!

Ah yea, that looks like the one! I wonder how this one ended up in the album, as 315 nor the more 304 are not listed as purchased in any of the receipts I have on hand. This will be a stamp I'd probably certify just to be sure it's not a fake.

I'm looking at the same series of Scotts (314-322) and saw a Franklin on that sheet similar to the 318 but with pretty thin vertical margins. Seeing that no used 318s have yet appeared and the vertical margins are so short I'd be super surprised if this one is real. It's probably a 300. I didn't see a purchase of 300 or 318 either in the scanned receipts.




My great grandfather had a few stamps secured with the hinges on top for a few large items. Fortunately it hasn't been done too much, but this sheet has most of them he did this to. Maybe they can come off without too much hassle since he used Dennisons.