Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
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As with all stamps, the general rule is it depends on the stamp. However, most stamps do not get a premium for a block of four. Plate blocks tend to be valued with the catalog value of all the stamps in the block (can be more than four), and usually 1 to 1.5 times the value of one stamp. Add it all up, and that would be the value for the plate block. Used plate blocks are generally not valued by Scott as they are often hard to find used during the time that they were in use.
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Thanks Michael....very helpful. After your response, I googled "stamp collecting + plate blocks". One of the hits was a story posted in the New Yorker a few years back about a guy who ran across some supposedly valuable plate blocks. Great read...see if you can find it. I would have posted a link, but I am an idiot re: such things.
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Some plate numbers are rare, and command high premiums. The Durland Standard Plate Number Catalog provides in-depth information about individual plate numbers.
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I'm going to disagree with part of what Michael says. While PBs can have higher value, in the US they are generally treated with no more respect than regular postage, and most mint PBs can be had for less than face.
At one time, PBs were avidly collected, but that was before SAs and minisheets with 4 PBs on sheet of 20.
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"Thanks Michael....very helpful. After your response, I googled "stamp collecting + plate blocks". One of the hits was a story posted in the New Yorker a few years back about a guy who ran across some supposedly valuable plate blocks. Great read...see if you can find it. I would have posted a link, but I am an idiot re: such things."
Here's the article. It's actually about a Canadian stamp, but same familiar story. A good read!
http://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/my-stamp-collection
and from the article:
"I think we believed that one day our collections would be valuable, that these so-called “plates” of four stamps were sought after by collectors. Or maybe we were just indulging in the joy that comes from collecting things."
Personally, I'm okay with the fact that nearly every US stamp and the corresponding plate blocks are worth near zilch. I'm collecting the memories, and building the collection I dreamed of as a kid... at the cost of near zilch. It's a bucket list thing, and it makes me happy.
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Ben
Thanks for posting the link. I think people will enjoy it.
John
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"While PBs can have higher value, in the US they are generally treated with no more respect than regular postage, and most mint PBs can be had for less than face.
"
But the same can be said about most US stamps from the 1930s to date. Bulk discount postage lots are being sold by dealers all over the country. The hoards of modern US postage lying in home drawers and bank vaults keep coming to view as those collectors who bought the sheets by the hundreds pass on.
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Interesting discussion. The article about 'My Stamp Collection' was written by a great Canadian storyteller. You could read more about Stuart MacLean here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuart_McLean or about his radio show The 'Vinyl Cafe' here: https://www.vinylcafe.com/
Stuart passed away this past February.
Wig
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"But the same can be said about most US stamps from the 1930s to date."
my point exactly: if it's all discount postage, thinking there will be a premium for any but the most elusive is misleading. At one time, we paid a premium for PBs and PNCs; now the stuff is begging, like you say, as with most US stamps from the 1930s to date.
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On the other hand, blocks of 4 of the classic 19th century early issues are worth significantly more than 4 singles - ex Belgium Scott #1 (1849 10c Brown) is $100 for a single, $3500 for a block of 4 according to my 2012 Scott Classic Specialized.
Josh
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I do like blocks! Doesn't matter if it's a plate block or just a nice block of 10 with no selvage. My albums are full of interesting odd size blocks that I've found in lots I've purchased. I think it adds interest to the collection, even if they aren't worth much!
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07:17:57pm
"... I think it adds interest to the collection, even if they aren't worth much! ...."
I totally agree. As I accumulated Machins and set them in an album I put blocks of four or six here and there near the appropriate singles. There are also two blocks of ten. They break the sometimes visual monotony that hundreds of Single Machins create despite the changing colors and ascending values.
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Obviously they are worth something to you, or else you wouldn't collect them. That's the beauty of the hobby!
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I also find value in a few plate blocks if nothing more than an opportunity to pick up a plate single. There are many varieties (some with major catalog numbers) for US stamps after 1930 that a simple plate number will identify the stamp:
1041 v. 1041B
All of the Liberty Series wet/dry printings
1283 v. 1283B
1288 v. 1288d
1338 v. 1338D
1622 v. 1622C
Most press varieties in the Great American Series (e.g. 2169 v. 2169a)
Most press varieties in the Transportation Series (plate number singles, of course)
and many others, including C129 v. C132.
C129 is 80¢ mint, but C132 is $3.50 mint. A plate block of 4 C129 is $3.75. C132 is $45.
Knowing which plate numbers are C129 and which are C132 can be quite useful since a C132 can easily be listed as a C129 (and priced that way). Knowing how to differentiate L-Perf from Bullseye perf can also help ID C129 v. C132 simply from an auction scan (but be sure to verify the scan is of the item you will receive).
Lars
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Do blocks of 4 carry more value than individual stamps? Also, how much more valuable are plate blocks than non?
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07:08:24pm
re: Blocks of 4
As with all stamps, the general rule is it depends on the stamp. However, most stamps do not get a premium for a block of four. Plate blocks tend to be valued with the catalog value of all the stamps in the block (can be more than four), and usually 1 to 1.5 times the value of one stamp. Add it all up, and that would be the value for the plate block. Used plate blocks are generally not valued by Scott as they are often hard to find used during the time that they were in use.
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re: Blocks of 4
Thanks Michael....very helpful. After your response, I googled "stamp collecting + plate blocks". One of the hits was a story posted in the New Yorker a few years back about a guy who ran across some supposedly valuable plate blocks. Great read...see if you can find it. I would have posted a link, but I am an idiot re: such things.
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11:57:17pm
re: Blocks of 4
Some plate numbers are rare, and command high premiums. The Durland Standard Plate Number Catalog provides in-depth information about individual plate numbers.
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Auctions
re: Blocks of 4
I'm going to disagree with part of what Michael says. While PBs can have higher value, in the US they are generally treated with no more respect than regular postage, and most mint PBs can be had for less than face.
At one time, PBs were avidly collected, but that was before SAs and minisheets with 4 PBs on sheet of 20.
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re: Blocks of 4
"Thanks Michael....very helpful. After your response, I googled "stamp collecting + plate blocks". One of the hits was a story posted in the New Yorker a few years back about a guy who ran across some supposedly valuable plate blocks. Great read...see if you can find it. I would have posted a link, but I am an idiot re: such things."
Here's the article. It's actually about a Canadian stamp, but same familiar story. A good read!
http://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/my-stamp-collection
and from the article:
"I think we believed that one day our collections would be valuable, that these so-called “plates” of four stamps were sought after by collectors. Or maybe we were just indulging in the joy that comes from collecting things."
Personally, I'm okay with the fact that nearly every US stamp and the corresponding plate blocks are worth near zilch. I'm collecting the memories, and building the collection I dreamed of as a kid... at the cost of near zilch. It's a bucket list thing, and it makes me happy.
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re: Blocks of 4
Ben
Thanks for posting the link. I think people will enjoy it.
John
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01:11:52pm
re: Blocks of 4
"While PBs can have higher value, in the US they are generally treated with no more respect than regular postage, and most mint PBs can be had for less than face.
"
But the same can be said about most US stamps from the 1930s to date. Bulk discount postage lots are being sold by dealers all over the country. The hoards of modern US postage lying in home drawers and bank vaults keep coming to view as those collectors who bought the sheets by the hundreds pass on.
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this post
re: Blocks of 4
Interesting discussion. The article about 'My Stamp Collection' was written by a great Canadian storyteller. You could read more about Stuart MacLean here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuart_McLean or about his radio show The 'Vinyl Cafe' here: https://www.vinylcafe.com/
Stuart passed away this past February.
Wig
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this post
Auctions
re: Blocks of 4
"But the same can be said about most US stamps from the 1930s to date."
my point exactly: if it's all discount postage, thinking there will be a premium for any but the most elusive is misleading. At one time, we paid a premium for PBs and PNCs; now the stuff is begging, like you say, as with most US stamps from the 1930s to date.
Login to Like
this post
re: Blocks of 4
On the other hand, blocks of 4 of the classic 19th century early issues are worth significantly more than 4 singles - ex Belgium Scott #1 (1849 10c Brown) is $100 for a single, $3500 for a block of 4 according to my 2012 Scott Classic Specialized.
Josh
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re: Blocks of 4
I do like blocks! Doesn't matter if it's a plate block or just a nice block of 10 with no selvage. My albums are full of interesting odd size blocks that I've found in lots I've purchased. I think it adds interest to the collection, even if they aren't worth much!
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Silence in the face of adversity is the father of complicity and collusion, the first cousins of conspiracy..
13 Jun 2017
07:17:57pm
re: Blocks of 4
"... I think it adds interest to the collection, even if they aren't worth much! ...."
I totally agree. As I accumulated Machins and set them in an album I put blocks of four or six here and there near the appropriate singles. There are also two blocks of ten. They break the sometimes visual monotony that hundreds of Single Machins create despite the changing colors and ascending values.
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08:43:49pm
re: Blocks of 4
Obviously they are worth something to you, or else you wouldn't collect them. That's the beauty of the hobby!
Login to Like
this post
re: Blocks of 4
I also find value in a few plate blocks if nothing more than an opportunity to pick up a plate single. There are many varieties (some with major catalog numbers) for US stamps after 1930 that a simple plate number will identify the stamp:
1041 v. 1041B
All of the Liberty Series wet/dry printings
1283 v. 1283B
1288 v. 1288d
1338 v. 1338D
1622 v. 1622C
Most press varieties in the Great American Series (e.g. 2169 v. 2169a)
Most press varieties in the Transportation Series (plate number singles, of course)
and many others, including C129 v. C132.
C129 is 80¢ mint, but C132 is $3.50 mint. A plate block of 4 C129 is $3.75. C132 is $45.
Knowing which plate numbers are C129 and which are C132 can be quite useful since a C132 can easily be listed as a C129 (and priced that way). Knowing how to differentiate L-Perf from Bullseye perf can also help ID C129 v. C132 simply from an auction scan (but be sure to verify the scan is of the item you will receive).
Lars
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