Comments on: Stamps, quality and grading: Quality of cancel / postmark http://www.stampcollectingblog.com/stamps-quality-and-grading-quality-of-cancel-postmark.php Amazing true stories from the life of ordinary stamp collector Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:52:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Keijo http://www.stampcollectingblog.com/stamps-quality-and-grading-quality-of-cancel-postmark.php#comment-6450 Keijo Fri, 11 Nov 2011 07:34:16 +0000 http://www.stampcollectingblog.com/?p=4039#comment-6450 <blockquote>so one presumably could have have found such material in the US and resold it in Switzerland for profit. I never looked into, or tried this, but it would be interesting to hear if those SOTN blocks of four really did trade for those elevated values. </blockquote> I confess I have no clue about the markets for Swiss stamps, but I do know that most Finnish stamp dealers & auctions keep very close eye on international marketplaces for Finnish stamps and covers with clean SOTN strikes. And if the price is right (=fraction of what similar item would cost in Finland), they will buy too. But what I've heard, it's gotten a whole lot tougher in recent years as pretty much everyone is following and bidding on the same international auction websites. Sure there are still deals to be made, but the difference between local and global markets is getting smaller every day.

so one presumably could have have found such material in the US and resold it in Switzerland for profit. I never looked into, or tried this, but it would be interesting to hear if those SOTN blocks of four really did trade for those elevated values.

I confess I have no clue about the markets for Swiss stamps, but I do know that most Finnish stamp dealers & auctions keep very close eye on international marketplaces for Finnish stamps and covers with clean SOTN strikes. And if the price is right (=fraction of what similar item would cost in Finland), they will buy too. But what I’ve heard, it’s gotten a whole lot tougher in recent years as pretty much everyone is following and bidding on the same international auction websites. Sure there are still deals to be made, but the difference between local and global markets is getting smaller every day.

]]> By: Tiger Joe http://www.stampcollectingblog.com/stamps-quality-and-grading-quality-of-cancel-postmark.php#comment-6448 Tiger Joe Thu, 10 Nov 2011 21:45:30 +0000 http://www.stampcollectingblog.com/?p=4039#comment-6448 I remember, from my days of collecting Swiss stamps, there was a huge premium for a SOTN (as you call it, I've never heard that term in Philately before) cancelled block of four. The cancellation had to be crisp and in the center and there could only be ONE such cancellation on the block. Higher denominations especially, had substantial premium, such as the early high denominations of the Pro-Juventute series. Now, no such premium exists in Scott's catalog (it was listed in Zumsteins), so one presumably could have have found such material in the US and resold it in Switzerland for profit. I never looked into, or tried this, but it would be interesting to hear if those SOTN blocks of four really did trade for those elevated values. I remember, from my days of collecting Swiss stamps, there was a huge premium for a SOTN (as you call it, I’ve never heard that term in Philately before) cancelled block of four. The cancellation had to be crisp and in the center and there could only be ONE such cancellation on the block. Higher denominations especially, had substantial premium, such as the early high denominations of the Pro-Juventute series.

Now, no such premium exists in Scott’s catalog (it was listed in Zumsteins), so one presumably could have have found such material in the US and resold it in Switzerland for profit. I never looked into, or tried this, but it would be interesting to hear if those SOTN blocks of four really did trade for those elevated values.

]]> By: Rick Young http://www.stampcollectingblog.com/stamps-quality-and-grading-quality-of-cancel-postmark.php#comment-5482 Rick Young Mon, 11 Jul 2011 19:31:09 +0000 http://www.stampcollectingblog.com/?p=4039#comment-5482 All: While being a virtual novice collector, I for some odd reason soon became interested in cancellations that include the full name of a city. All:
While being a virtual novice collector, I for some odd reason soon became interested in cancellations that include the full name of a city.

]]> By: Rick Young http://www.stampcollectingblog.com/stamps-quality-and-grading-quality-of-cancel-postmark.php#comment-5481 Rick Young Mon, 11 Jul 2011 19:29:50 +0000 http://www.stampcollectingblog.com/?p=4039#comment-5481 Carol: probably both! Carol:
probably both!

]]> By: Carol Ligda-Wong http://www.stampcollectingblog.com/stamps-quality-and-grading-quality-of-cancel-postmark.php#comment-5479 Carol Ligda-Wong Mon, 11 Jul 2011 12:19:09 +0000 http://www.stampcollectingblog.com/?p=4039#comment-5479 I confess, this genre of collecting is new to me. Thanks, Sam, for your story and idea. Must go check my cancels/postmarks now. I confess, this genre of collecting is new to me. Thanks, Sam, for your story and idea. Must go check my cancels/postmarks now.

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