| Bargain Stamps - Scott #1-7: 1873 Skilling Issues |  Top |
| Item # |
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Never Hinged  US$ |
Mint Hinged US$ |
Used US$ |
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246150 "View EXACT ACTUAL Image"){kind=small} |
1 [1873 2 skilling] Mint, without gum (as usual), with Average centering (fairly typical) and nice overall appearance. The perforations are just into the lower part of the left frame line, but otherwise very close to being Fine. The horizontal perforations, especially at bottom, are rougher than the side perforations as normal and expected for this issue. Other than a slightly rounded lower left corner perforation, this stamp is without defects and is a nice example of the first Icelandic stamp, with great color and fresh appearance. Facit 2022 value (with gum) is SEK 9500. |
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195.00 |
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236573 "View EXACT ACTUAL Image"){kind=small} |
2 [1873 4 skilling Perf 14 x 13.5] NEVER HINGED, original gum, but with Average centering (perforations just barely touch the design). One shorter perf. NH is very scarce on this stamp. Facit 2012 NH value is SEK 4000 = US$600 [09/2012]. |
225.00 |
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246152 "View EXACT ACTUAL Image"){kind=small} |
2 [1873 4 skilling, Perforation 14 x 13.5] Mint, without gum (as usual), with Fine centering, but color either faded or just very light. This stamp does have thin paper as expected, but the thin paper "is on the thickest side of thin" that I have observed on the skilling stamps. As a result, the perforations are much better (cleaner and more complete) than usual. A nice looking stamp at a very low price. |
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49.00 |
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244508 "View EXACT ACTUAL Image"){kind=small} |
2 [1873 4 skilling, Perf 14 x 13.5] Used with a perfectly centered REYKJAVIK cancellation, but that was applied after the end of the skilling currency period, i.e. "after-canceled". The cancellation is a genuine postmark type, just applied after the period of validity of the skilling stamps. Other than some of the relative angles of the lettering, this cancellation Type (Facit) G1b looks almost identical to the correct-period cancellation Type D2 -- see the Facit Classic for illustrations of the difference. Fine centering, strong color, and with extremely nice perforations for a skilling issue (the horizontal perforations are almost always rough). Accompanied by an 1998 APS certificate stating "Used, genuine in all respects" -- not mentioning the cancellation (I was not an APS examiner of this stamp at that time). An unusually well-centered strike of this cancellation, but appropriately offered at a very low price. (For comparison, Scott 2022 value for a correctly canceled Used stamp is $900.) |
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125.00 |
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246158 "View EXACT ACTUAL Image"){kind=small} |
3 [1873 8 skilling] Mint with original gum, lightly hinged, with Average centering. This centering is fairly typical for the 8 sk stamp in particular. The top and bottom perforations (and the upper left corner perf) are slightly rougher than the sides which is normal and expected for this issue, but overall the perforations are much nicer than usual. Excellent color and great overall freshness. Because of the very thin paper, many examples have defects. This is a completely sound example of a stamp that can be quite hard to obtain at such a low price. |
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119.00 |
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246159 "View EXACT ACTUAL Image"){kind=small} |
3 [1873 8 skilling] Mint with original gum, hinged and with slight gum disturbance from mounting, with Average centering. This centering is fairly typical for the 8 sk stamp in particular. The top and bottom perforations are slightly rougher than the sides which is normal and expected for this issue, but overall the perforations are much nicer than usual. Excellent color and great overall freshness. Because of the very thin paper, many examples have defects. This is a completely sound example of a stamp that can be quite hard to obtain at such a low price. |
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119.00 |
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221945 "View EXACT ACTUAL Image"){kind=small} |
3 Used with Average centering and a couple faults (tiny sealed tear, perfs improved on left). It bears both a pen cancel (unusual) and a small portion of what appears to be a correct serif-style cancel. It is a real #3 used in the proper time period. Facit 2006 value for Used Fine is SEK 10,000 = $1400! |
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188.00 |
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242695 "View EXACT ACTUAL Image"){kind=small} |
3 [1873 8 skilling] "Canceled", Average centering (perforations just barely touch the frame line). The cancellation appears to be a fake cancel, but if not at best it is after-canceled. A lightly toned spot in right margin, but otherwise without defects. Typical (for the 1873 issue) rougher perforations on top and bottom. A presentable example at a very low price. Scott 2021 value $325 for mint and $1150 for properly used (which this is not). |
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49.00 |
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246160 "View EXACT ACTUAL Image"){kind=small} |
5 [1873 3 skilling, Perforation 12.5] Mint appearing with F-VF centering, but reperforated, regummed, and with filled in pinhole. Bears a "J.H. STOLOW" dealer "expert" mark, but that just points out that such markings are not to be relied upon. Great color and an excellent space filler at a very low price. If this were Mint F-VF with original gum and no faults, it would be about $500. |
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79.00 |
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247394 "View EXACT ACTUAL Image"){kind=small} |
6 [1873 4 skilling, Perforation 12.5] Used with XF centering and huge, even margins all around, but with small, hidden faults (faint crease at lower left corner; crease and small tear at upper right corner). This is a terrific-looking stamp and it really does require a 10x magnifier to see the problems. The very thin paper used for these stamps results in most examples having such problems. This example has the usual rough perforations that are so typical of the Perf 12.5 stamps -- that is normal and expected, not a defect. The cancellation is very light, but it is an almost perfect, upright REYKJAVIK cancellation of the proper type for this stamp, used in the correct time period. Strong color and nice white paper -- an outstanding looking example! This 4 skilling Perforation 12.5 stamp is among the rarest regularly issued stamps from Iceland. It is usually one of the last regularly issued Icelandic stamps obtained by most collectors. This example is much, much nicer than is usually seen! Facit 2024 value with a normal cancellation is SEK 19,000 and Scott 2024 value is $2250. A very attractive example of a greatly under-appreciated stamp that is missing from virtually all collections. |
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595.00 |
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