I know this sounds like an extremely basic question, but it is a phrase I've heard over and over. I've looked it up at Wikipedia and found nothing, looked in the Scotts catalog and not found it (or at least my eyes were not letting me see it). So I thought now is a good time to turn to the experts and have you teach this rookie.
What is the true meaning of a pulled perf?
Thanks in advance,
Luree
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"Appreciate the beauty of nature. You never know when life will deal you an unplanned twist of fate. Enjoy things while you can, because you just never know."
OH, How easy was that! Thank you so much for the lesson. Appreciate it.
one more question, does it diminish the value of a stamp that much?
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"Appreciate the beauty of nature. You never know when life will deal you an unplanned twist of fate. Enjoy things while you can, because you just never know."
To answer your question: Yes, having pulled perfs reduces the monetary value of a stamp (of course stamps have many dimensions of value). A stamp with a pulled perf is a faulty stamp and is therefore woth signficatly less that a stamp that is otherwise the same but has all its perfs.
Thanks again for your reply. That is my something new learned for the day.
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"Appreciate the beauty of nature. You never know when life will deal you an unplanned twist of fate. Enjoy things while you can, because you just never know."
bobgggg President Cortlandt Stamp Club 03 Mar 2014 06:53:27pm
Usually I knock 50% off for one or two pulled perfs for an unused stamp; 75% for used. I'll drop it 75% for unused going up to 90% (for used) if there are more than two pulled perfs. If it's a minimal value stamp, or the perfs are too bad, I usually won't even sell it.
"Usually I knock 50% off for one or two pulled perfs for an unused stamp; 75% for used. I'll drop it 75% for unused going up to 90% (for used) if there are more than two pulled perfs. "
What I read is that if the stamp would sell at $10 in perfect condition used or unused, you'd sell an unused one with pulled perfs for $5 and a used one with pulled perfs for $2.50? Maybe I'm reading your reply incorrectly Michael but why would you discount a stamp more if it is used than unused because of pulled perfs?
I've wondered what exactly constitutes a pulled perf as well. The example that's illustrated is obvious, but it seems to me that grey area stamps exist as well...maybe they're "shortened perts," but if that 's so, when does a shortened perf become pulled. Also it seems to me that allowances are made for early material. Stamps from say the Pictorials and prior seem to be given more leeway than those afterward, and certainly 20th century material. Or I could be wrong.
Partial perforation teeth are often called "nibbed" perfs or "nibbled" perfs. These are also faults in the stamp.
For the most part they reduce the value of the stamp, even of classic stamps. There are exceptions, such as when the Scott catalog states in the revenue stamp section that their grading allows for some minor faults.
In the original picture, the fourth perforation tooth from the top going down is nibbled (reduced in size from the normal perf teeth).
To smauggie and michael78651, I'm curious what you would deduct for some of the other common flaws: thin, hinge remnant, crease, tear, repaired tear, faded, etc. I'm aware tear=filler most of the time. I guess if a stamp has all of the above, you'd have to pay to give it away.
Stamp dealers and auction houses seem to do a ready business in selling faulty stamps that would otherwise have a high catalog value ($100+). If I find a low-value stamp with a fault it goins in the faulty bin (which gets used for crafty stuff, when I am feeling crafty).
Peter, I use different pricing models based on whether a stamp is MNH, unused, or used. That is because demand is greater for MNH stamps than for used.
To clarify, the discount I give for any damaged stamp is above the discount that I use to price a stamp in sound condition. If I discount a sound, used stamp 50%, and it is damaged, I will discount it and additional percentage. (For example: Used stamp catalogs for $10.00. 50% discount = $5.00. Small damage like a pulled perf another 50% off = $2.50 my net price. The total discount is 75% from the catalog value.) For most stamps, regardless of MNH, unused, or used, if they have major damage, I reduce the catalog value by 90% (sometimes 95%).
Yes, and I was being facetious, but I was hinting at a significant point: There are some "big dogs" that command "big dog" prices even with multiple flaws. For US collectors, the most common issues would be #2, #39, and #122 in definitives. For Commemoratives, it's the high dollar Columbians and Trans-Mississippi issues (241-245 and 292-293). There are a few other 19th Century stamps, especially BOB items, that also retain a premium with flaws. Significantly damaged stamps that would be thrown in the trash if the CV were lower sell for 20 to 25% of CV!
Obviously sellers already know this, but if you are a buyer, like me, it behooves you to check prices as much as you can on big purchases. I usually track selling prices on an item in multiple venues for several months before placing my first bid so I know a good deal when I see one. Rarely I will score a good deal by being high bidder in an auction, but more frequently I will notice a BUY-IT-NOW that is a bit underpriced and JUMP on it!
Saving a nickle here and a dime there, but throwing away $20 or more on a major purchase, is silly. I get the small stuff from the most convenient place and spend my time researching the big dogs!
Lars
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"Expanding your knowledge faster than your collection can save you a few bucks."