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Well my friend hope you enjoy these pictures and maybe a few comments along the way. I am going to add a few now, and I will change these out when I can. Or is that when I get off the can and do it? Anyway, Send me a scan of your favorite classic stamp, and I might put it on too, maybe so, maybe not.
I had this nice 1857 Claret as my feature stamp on the web page when I started out. It's one I really love. They don't come this nice very often.
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1859-61 Scott #36b
Wow! what a stamp. If you know anything about this issue you will appreciate the centering on this one. It is rare that you find one like it. To tell the truth, It is a little too nice for my collection, and I would be willing to trade it away, if I can get a nice used copy, along with an acceptable trade. Just let me know if you are interested.
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#26 w/Packet Cancellation
I recently picked up this little jewel at a stamp shop here in Southern California. This beauty has the cancellation from the waterways route agent Saint Louis and Keokuk Steamers...Their cancel reads on the stamp St. Ls. & Kk. STEAMERS, and they were a Mississippi River steamship transport firm. This cancellation falls under the Domestic Waterways - Inland Steamboat heading. Now you're going to ask if its for sell or trade. Maybe, but just remember this is one of the center pieces of my Perforated 3 centers of the 1850's.
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Pair #150's on cover to Mexico
Recently got this cover from a good friend. Nice double rate cover to Vera Cruz Mexico. I love this one, since it is a tie in to both my US and Mexican collections. What the numeral "3" is for? I don't know. Maybe a rating from Mexico? Maybe a bundle marking? If you know, let me know. Then the mystery will be solved.
Solved. the big three is for 3 reals collected for the Mexican Postal agent. The stamp covered the rate going to Mexico only. This from what I understand is like a postage due.
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Perforated Type I, Inter-frameline copy
Green Cancellation
This stamp is one that most collector would dream of owning if they specialize in the classic three cents stamps of the 1850's. Not only is it a much harder to find Type I, it has the inter-frameline that is only found on a few of the plates that were used on this short lived issue. Most of the Type I perforated issues were done on the later plates that didn't show this characteristic. This is one of my favorite stamp because it is not only rare by virtue of the re-engraving, but has a wonderful and scarce green cancel.
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Fantastic 2 Cents Issue of 1869
The above stamp has it all, a great color, wonderful centering, nice clean perforation, nice light blue fancy cancel, and for the specialist, an engravers dot and layout line at the bottom. I just picked this beauty up on an internet auction for 1/3 of the cat. value for this stamp. Why no one else bought it for more, completely floors me, but this is often the case. In reality this stamp is one that would bring double cat or more if it were placed in a well known philatelic auction. I feel lucky and I am going to keep this one. :-)
Now back to my Home page