Kind of a bummer -- (former) strip of stamps

[Rob D.]

A couple of weeks ago I came up short bidding on this unperforated strip of four vintage (German?) stamps, which included a Lajoie:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

I see today that apparently the buyer separated the stamps and is trying to sell them individually. That's certainly and absolutely his right, and this isn't akin to cutting up a Babe Ruth bat and inserting the splinters into packs of cards, but it's still kind of disappointing, especially because I'm not sure in the end he's going to make that much more than what he paid for the strip. Or am I wrong? Are these stamps in demand (especially common players)? Seems like I paid less than $100 for my Lajoie four or five years ago.

http://cgi.ebay.com/1909-10-German-S...item3cb0e86b21

http://cgi.ebay.com/1909-10-German-S...item1e5e6abe8f

http://cgi.ebay.com/1909-10-German-S...item1e5e6abe9b

http://cgi.ebay.com/1909-10-German-S...item3cb0e86b0f

[ChiefBenderForever]

The cut stamps look a little different than the strip, maybe the strip is still intact and the seller already had the cut ones ? The Tenny has a crease so is either different or damaged in separting or not seen in first scan, and in the Lajoie name on strip is missing a little blue ink but on cut one is not missing any blue ink unless the first scan was bad ?

[docpatlv]

Johnny,

At first, I thought you might be right. But after looking at it a little more closely, I think Rob is right. I had been watching that strip as well. The winner is a board member, so maybe he'll chime in.

I think the missing ink in Lajoie's name is probably due to debris on the scanner bed. Check the upper/lower right corners, they match up well. The original scan is not too clear, but you can see the evidence of the crease in Tenny's cap in the new scan.

[tbob]

Originally Posted by JohnnyHarmonica

The cut stamps look a little different than the strip, maybe the strip is still intact and the seller already had the cut ones ? The Tenny has a crease so is either different or damaged in separting or not seen in first scan, and in the Lajoie name on strip is missing a little blue ink but on cut one is not missing any blue ink unless the first scan was bad ?

Johnny- I was thinking the same thing. Look at the left perforated edge of the Tenney stamp and the left perforated edge of the Tenney stamp in the strip, also. I believe the guy had the singles, bought the strip, and is now selling the singles.

[ChiefBenderForever]

The marks match up, now they look the same. I just can't believe they would be cut up it makes no sense.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by JohnnyHarmonica

The marks match up, now they look the same. I just can't believe they would be cut up it makes no sense.

If he gets his asking prices he will make about $100+ (profit) of sense .

As to the question....my own opinion is that he is a little bit high on the Lajoie but the commons are pretty close, maybe a few dollars high.....He got a pretty good deal on the front end...again, just my opinion.

[Matthew H]

The new Tenny is trimmed on the left side

[rhettyeakley]

Apparently I'm being called out on this one...

When I got the stamps in the mail they were all seperating on the peforations which really kinda killed the enjoyment of the piece for me which I had actually intended on keeping. These stamps still together in sheets are tougher to find but they are out there, I once owned a sheet of 25 stamps. Because of the perforation seperations I didn't see anything wrong with sperating them. Everyone will have their own opinions...so be it.
-Rhett

[Rob D.]

Originally Posted by rhettyeakley

Apparently I'm being called out on this one...

When I got the stamps in the mail they were all seperating on the peforations which really kinda killed the enjoyment of the piece for me which I had actually intended on keeping. These stamps still together in sheets are tougher to find but they are out there, I once owned a sheet of 25 stamps. Because of the perforation seperations I didn't see anything wrong with sperating them. Everyone will have their own opinions...so be it.
-Rhett

I didn't think I "called you out," Rhett. In my post I said "apparently" the seller separated them, realizing that they might have become damaged in transit. I also said the seller "certainly and absolutely" had the right to do what he wants with the stamps.

Sorry to hear what happened to them.