This appears to be Russia #3966 issued in 1972 with a Scott value of less than $1.00. Unless I'm missing something it appears that someone on E-Bay made a pile of money on a common stamp. I have the stamp and Scott's lists the stamp as well, I have no idea why someone would pay a huge sum for this stamp - am I missing something?
Edit: If you check the bidders for the item they are "private listing - bidder's identity protected". This whole thing seems like a scam to put the value of the stamp up. Is this possible?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Russia-1972-Sc3966-Mi3999-0-4-MiEu-1v-mnh-Sobinov-opera-singer/221850606551?hash=item33a7539bd7:g:QUoAAOSwjVVVm9jc
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Russia-1972-Sc3966-MI3999-SOBINOV-Unissued-stamp-Variety-MNH-OG/202655517060?hash=item2f2f35c984:g:gYAAAOSwRChat2gs
Check the two listings above and see what you think! One for $1.50 and one for $2750!
I belive that some people want their bumps felt!
You can buy this UMM on Colnect for GBP £0.09p which works out about 7c US.
It does appear to be SG 4054/Scott # 3966.
The seller is in Russia and does not ship to the UK. I wonder why?
I can't see how someone could create a false market in postage stamps as everyone I know wants to pay as little as possible. Do Brits have greater acces to catalogues? I don't know.
In the main Russian stamps are cheap as chips, there are so many of them. It's always the the same in a country with high literacy rates and large populations. Quite apart from the state itself overproducing for sale to collectors. All the communist countries did it to rake in western currencies.
Shipping to Canada, $2.00
Shipping to Australia, $95.00
If only Mr. Barnum were alive today....
There is apparently a rare proof version of this stamp but the stamp I've seen just on the eBay link is not it.
Here's a listing from Cherrystone auctions:
"RUSSIA SOVIET UNION 1940 TO DATE
1972 Sobinov, unissued 10k ("Narodnyj Artist CCCP"), line perforated 12 1/4 (proof perforation, distinct from the actually printed stamp), with characteristic irregular perforations.
Only a few of these proofs were prepared and affixed on special presentation sheetlets by Goznak.
This stamp is never hinged but the gum is slightly disturbed, as a result of removal from the presentation sheetlet.
A superb modern rarity from the former Soviet Union, with V.Liapine cert.
(Standard 4049var)"
The basic stamp is not unissued.
It's just that this line perf (and different gauge) version was unissued.
"This stamp is never hinged but the gum is slightly disturbed"
Seller has only 18 feedbacks....bid history on this item shows 2 bidders with 3 bids...bidding did not go up in an incremental way...seller listed the item with hidden buyer identity.
I could not be any more suspect of a listing.
Don
The bidding history is WAY beyond suspicious.
I've been doing some real hard research! The stamp auctioned on E-Bay was not the same as #3966 - the wording at the bottom contained CCCP instead of PEC... Check it out!! The following link shows the variant at another auction. Have a good look, there really is a major difference. https://www.raritanstamps.com/Catold/85/LotImg/1021.jpg
Well done Harvey. Good research. Clears up the mystery.
Maybe we should not jump to conclusions with regards to the reality of some offerings on ebay.
Remember if the stamp sells on ebay at the $213.82 the seller has to pay ebay $21.38!!!
Of course there are the odd obvious idiots who try and sell 4 "old" stamps at $100 which we wouldn't give 5 cents for as they are very, very, very common stamps.
But hey-ho
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avU2aarQUiU
I am going to keep my eyes open for that stamp. I would gladly pay in the $300 range for it. By the way, mine does not have CCCP on it - I checked!
Yvert catalogue sas that it exist an issue of this stamps classified as error "C.C.C.P. in the bottom text" The catalogue value is 600,00 euros. but not indicated as unissued stamp
....offered sample on eBay is different issue! You show us regular issue, down on stamp (in Russian) is text (free translation) "People's Artist of the Republic", but on eBay sample is with text "People Artist of SSSR" ...... You have it mentioned in Zagorsky catalog, page 284, 2008 edition.
This catalog clearly mention this stamp with information that this stamp was not put in postal use, and price have good catalog value of 120 000.- Rubles (at 2008 year it was 3800.- US$).
Enjoy and search!
Russia 1972 SOBINOV Unissued stamp Variety
This is what someone listed on eBay auction see link.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Russia-1972-SOBINOV-Unissued-stamp-Variety-MNH-OG/402420834870?hash=item5db226a236:g:frEAAOSwg6JfV945
But I have 2 cut corners from a2Russian envelopes where these stamps have been used?
Are these really never issued, or am I missing something?
re: Russian stamps that were not released to circulation?
This appears to be Russia #3966 issued in 1972 with a Scott value of less than $1.00. Unless I'm missing something it appears that someone on E-Bay made a pile of money on a common stamp. I have the stamp and Scott's lists the stamp as well, I have no idea why someone would pay a huge sum for this stamp - am I missing something?
Edit: If you check the bidders for the item they are "private listing - bidder's identity protected". This whole thing seems like a scam to put the value of the stamp up. Is this possible?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Russia-1972-Sc3966-Mi3999-0-4-MiEu-1v-mnh-Sobinov-opera-singer/221850606551?hash=item33a7539bd7:g:QUoAAOSwjVVVm9jc
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Russia-1972-Sc3966-MI3999-SOBINOV-Unissued-stamp-Variety-MNH-OG/202655517060?hash=item2f2f35c984:g:gYAAAOSwRChat2gs
Check the two listings above and see what you think! One for $1.50 and one for $2750!
re: Russian stamps that were not released to circulation?
I belive that some people want their bumps felt!
You can buy this UMM on Colnect for GBP £0.09p which works out about 7c US.
It does appear to be SG 4054/Scott # 3966.
The seller is in Russia and does not ship to the UK. I wonder why?
I can't see how someone could create a false market in postage stamps as everyone I know wants to pay as little as possible. Do Brits have greater acces to catalogues? I don't know.
In the main Russian stamps are cheap as chips, there are so many of them. It's always the the same in a country with high literacy rates and large populations. Quite apart from the state itself overproducing for sale to collectors. All the communist countries did it to rake in western currencies.
re: Russian stamps that were not released to circulation?
Shipping to Canada, $2.00
Shipping to Australia, $95.00
If only Mr. Barnum were alive today....
re: Russian stamps that were not released to circulation?
There is apparently a rare proof version of this stamp but the stamp I've seen just on the eBay link is not it.
Here's a listing from Cherrystone auctions:
"RUSSIA SOVIET UNION 1940 TO DATE
1972 Sobinov, unissued 10k ("Narodnyj Artist CCCP"), line perforated 12 1/4 (proof perforation, distinct from the actually printed stamp), with characteristic irregular perforations.
Only a few of these proofs were prepared and affixed on special presentation sheetlets by Goznak.
This stamp is never hinged but the gum is slightly disturbed, as a result of removal from the presentation sheetlet.
A superb modern rarity from the former Soviet Union, with V.Liapine cert.
(Standard 4049var)"
The basic stamp is not unissued.
It's just that this line perf (and different gauge) version was unissued.
re: Russian stamps that were not released to circulation?
"This stamp is never hinged but the gum is slightly disturbed"
re: Russian stamps that were not released to circulation?
Seller has only 18 feedbacks....bid history on this item shows 2 bidders with 3 bids...bidding did not go up in an incremental way...seller listed the item with hidden buyer identity.
I could not be any more suspect of a listing.
Don
re: Russian stamps that were not released to circulation?
The bidding history is WAY beyond suspicious.
re: Russian stamps that were not released to circulation?
I've been doing some real hard research! The stamp auctioned on E-Bay was not the same as #3966 - the wording at the bottom contained CCCP instead of PEC... Check it out!! The following link shows the variant at another auction. Have a good look, there really is a major difference. https://www.raritanstamps.com/Catold/85/LotImg/1021.jpg
re: Russian stamps that were not released to circulation?
Well done Harvey. Good research. Clears up the mystery.
Maybe we should not jump to conclusions with regards to the reality of some offerings on ebay.
Remember if the stamp sells on ebay at the $213.82 the seller has to pay ebay $21.38!!!
Of course there are the odd obvious idiots who try and sell 4 "old" stamps at $100 which we wouldn't give 5 cents for as they are very, very, very common stamps.
But hey-ho
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avU2aarQUiU
re: Russian stamps that were not released to circulation?
I am going to keep my eyes open for that stamp. I would gladly pay in the $300 range for it. By the way, mine does not have CCCP on it - I checked!
re: Russian stamps that were not released to circulation?
....offered sample on eBay is different issue! You show us regular issue, down on stamp (in Russian) is text (free translation) "People's Artist of the Republic", but on eBay sample is with text "People Artist of SSSR" ...... You have it mentioned in Zagorsky catalog, page 284, 2008 edition.
This catalog clearly mention this stamp with information that this stamp was not put in postal use, and price have good catalog value of 120 000.- Rubles (at 2008 year it was 3800.- US$).
Enjoy and search!