I do have that same dilemma, although I seem to be getting a bit more casual about it, and often see positive attributes of a stamp as outweighing negative attributes. And I have to say that your stamp is at least as attractive as mine, which is almost perfectly centred and has full perfs, but has a large obliterator that virtually hides Farragut's face.
I took the liberty of tweaking you image a bit, heightening contrast and lightening it overall, and "mounting" it in a virtual black mount:
That would look fine amongst other stamps, I think. Also, I wonder what a brief soak in a small bowl of warm water with a couple drops of household bleach and dish detergent would do. I've often done that with grubby stamps and had good results.
Bob
your criteria are far more severe than mine; I'd happily have that in my collection. the slight decrease in perfs on BR would be no problem at all; centering is really nice, and cancellation is reasonable. for me, it would be a keeper
David
I love what you did with it, Bob! I was trying to get the black mount effect, but darkened the whole image. The stamp is actually a bit lighter than the scanned image.
Thanks for the comments, as well. The stain at the upper right may come clean; Mr. Farragut may just need a bath!
I think that I sometimes go into OCD overdrive, and that is when I lose interest due to frustration and a short wallet for perfection. I removed 4 of my 1902-03 series alone. I think I shall adopt your more casual stance to some of my stamps, and enjoy them for what they are.
Cheers,
Don
Damaged stamps make great space fillers, until you can get a better copy. Better to have something in the space than a blank, especially with high valued stamps..
Hey, anyone who has "damaged" classic stamps like the one illustrated above, and wants to get rid of them at fire sale prices because they do not wish to have them in their collection, put them in the auction and then send me an email - I'd love the opportunity to add those unwanted orphans to my hoard!
Hi Everyone;
I have taken in orphans in way worse shape than that, altho when showing my collection, the pages
mysteriously flip right past that one tho.
Just a driftin'....
TuskenRaider
My adult standards might seem stringent ... I collect only mint or unused, well centered, US 19th century stamps ... but I have a dark secret.
I ignore the condition of the back of the stamp. No gum , previously hinged, hinge remnants, thins ... no problem!
Just as long as it's a good looking stamp gets me drooling!
Here's my Scott #311. No gum ... probably soaked to remove a previous hinge.
I'm with Carl, but I only collect unused back to and including the First Bureau. Before that I don't even TRY to get anything but used. I have a few used stamps as space fillers in the First Bureau forward, but eventually I would like to replace those with mint or unused. My 311 is a used placeholder for now, but it has nice centering and a nice REG cancel.
I, too, don't care about the gum side of the stamp. When I see "hinge remnant" in the listing that screams "Bargain!" to me.
Lars
"When I see "hinge remnant" in the listing that screams "Bargain!" to me."
I've been working through my US collection weeding out obvious flawed stamps. As a kid into my teenage years I collected what came my way, and most do not pass the current test for condition. Some of these are actually very pleasing to the eye like my Scott #63 with the tear or the various stamps with thins. I will not bring these flawed stamps to my current collection; although some have visual appeal, I know they are not sound.
This one has shortened perfs and a stain, but I'm still debating on bringing this forward to my current mounted US collection. I remember purchasing this stamp at a show. I wonder if I even realized it had cut perfs? I love this series, and am not yet ready to spring for an unused copy. This one may have to do for now.
Do any of you have a similar dilemma? I could easily fill those empty spaces in my new pristine custom album with my substandard stock, but am restraining myself.
re: Applying an adult critical eye to my US Stamps
I do have that same dilemma, although I seem to be getting a bit more casual about it, and often see positive attributes of a stamp as outweighing negative attributes. And I have to say that your stamp is at least as attractive as mine, which is almost perfectly centred and has full perfs, but has a large obliterator that virtually hides Farragut's face.
I took the liberty of tweaking you image a bit, heightening contrast and lightening it overall, and "mounting" it in a virtual black mount:
That would look fine amongst other stamps, I think. Also, I wonder what a brief soak in a small bowl of warm water with a couple drops of household bleach and dish detergent would do. I've often done that with grubby stamps and had good results.
Bob
re: Applying an adult critical eye to my US Stamps
your criteria are far more severe than mine; I'd happily have that in my collection. the slight decrease in perfs on BR would be no problem at all; centering is really nice, and cancellation is reasonable. for me, it would be a keeper
David
re: Applying an adult critical eye to my US Stamps
I love what you did with it, Bob! I was trying to get the black mount effect, but darkened the whole image. The stamp is actually a bit lighter than the scanned image.
Thanks for the comments, as well. The stain at the upper right may come clean; Mr. Farragut may just need a bath!
I think that I sometimes go into OCD overdrive, and that is when I lose interest due to frustration and a short wallet for perfection. I removed 4 of my 1902-03 series alone. I think I shall adopt your more casual stance to some of my stamps, and enjoy them for what they are.
Cheers,
Don
re: Applying an adult critical eye to my US Stamps
Damaged stamps make great space fillers, until you can get a better copy. Better to have something in the space than a blank, especially with high valued stamps..
re: Applying an adult critical eye to my US Stamps
Hey, anyone who has "damaged" classic stamps like the one illustrated above, and wants to get rid of them at fire sale prices because they do not wish to have them in their collection, put them in the auction and then send me an email - I'd love the opportunity to add those unwanted orphans to my hoard!
re: Applying an adult critical eye to my US Stamps
Hi Everyone;
I have taken in orphans in way worse shape than that, altho when showing my collection, the pages
mysteriously flip right past that one tho.
Just a driftin'....
TuskenRaider
re: Applying an adult critical eye to my US Stamps
My adult standards might seem stringent ... I collect only mint or unused, well centered, US 19th century stamps ... but I have a dark secret.
I ignore the condition of the back of the stamp. No gum , previously hinged, hinge remnants, thins ... no problem!
Just as long as it's a good looking stamp gets me drooling!
Here's my Scott #311. No gum ... probably soaked to remove a previous hinge.
re: Applying an adult critical eye to my US Stamps
I'm with Carl, but I only collect unused back to and including the First Bureau. Before that I don't even TRY to get anything but used. I have a few used stamps as space fillers in the First Bureau forward, but eventually I would like to replace those with mint or unused. My 311 is a used placeholder for now, but it has nice centering and a nice REG cancel.
I, too, don't care about the gum side of the stamp. When I see "hinge remnant" in the listing that screams "Bargain!" to me.
Lars
re: Applying an adult critical eye to my US Stamps
"When I see "hinge remnant" in the listing that screams "Bargain!" to me."