Exploring a Newly Acquired Stamp Album: Highlights and Insights

Introduction

Welcome to another exploration of philatelic treasures! Today, we’ll be diving into a newly acquired stamp album, brimming with historical gems. This album, housed in a Scott National Album, spans U.S. postal history from 1845 to 1976. Let’s take a detailed look at some of the unique stamps and cancellations that make this collection special.

Early U.S. Stamps (1845-1851)

The first notable pieces are Scott Number 1 and Scott Number 2 — the earliest stamps issued by the U.S. Postal Service. The 1-cent blue (Scott #1) and 10-cent black (Scott #2) both feature beautiful cancels, with the latter boasting a striking red cancellation.

Affordable Stamps from the 1851 Series

We also find several examples from the 1851 series, including Scott Numbers 7 and 9 — both representing the 1-cent issues, which are relatively affordable for collectors. Priced around $40-$50 in decent condition, they offer a great entry point for enthusiasts of 19th-century U.S. philately.

Mid-19th Century Issues: Scott Numbers 14, 15, and Fancy Cancels

Continuing through the album, we come across Scott Numbers 14 and 15, affordable 10-cent issues from the same series. Notably, Scott Number 14 has a pen cancel, which decreases its value, a reminder for collectors to always check the value of stamps with pen cancels in the Scott Catalog.

One of the highlights in this section is a stamp featuring a fancy grid cancel — a prized find for collectors of rare cancels.

Rare and Premium Stamps (1857-1861)

Next, the album showcases a variety of 1857 3-cent issues, many of which feature recuts and transfer varieties. These intricate modifications to the printing plates add value and scarcity to what may appear to be common stamps at first glance.

A particular standout is Scott Number 25, a type featuring a complete frame line around the design. This one also displays a Mobile, Alabama double circle cancellation from 1860, just before the Civil War—a fascinating historical touch.

High-Value Stamps: Imprints and Centering

One of the more unique finds is a Scott Number 30A, a 5-cent stamp featuring part of the engraver’s imprint. These imprints can multiply a stamp’s value by five to seven times, as they are much rarer to find.

The 24-cent Scott Number 37 and the 90-cent issues from the 1861 series are also notable, with the latter being especially sought after due to the difficulty in finding well-centered examples.

Grilled and Fancy Cancels: Civil War-Era Stamps

Moving forward, the album contains grilled varieties from the 1861 series, including examples with clear, collectible cancellations. One example includes a stamp with a rare rosette cancel.

Of particular interest is a Scott Number 75 featuring a San Francisco cogwheel cancel, an iconic and premium mark associated with that region.

Large Banknotes and Fancy Cancels

The Large Banknote issues continue to impress, featuring intricate fancy cancels like the New York geometric designs. A sock-on-the-nose star cancel on a 15-cent stamp is especially eye-catching, perfectly centered and highly collectible for its aesthetic and rarity.

Columbian Exposition and Early 20th Century Stamps

The 1893 Columbian Exposition stamps, including high-value denominations, appear next. These stamps celebrate one of the most iconic world’s fairs and are highly coveted by collectors. The album includes well-preserved examples, though some exhibit faults like short perforations.

Airmail and Zeppelin Stamps

One of the gems of this collection is a used Curtiss Jenny airmail stamp (C3) featuring the desirable high-flying plane variety. Another notable feature is the presence of the famous Zeppelin set (C13-C15), though their condition varies in terms of centering and cancels.

Miscellaneous Finds and Precancelled Stamps

The latter part of the album contains a variety of miscellaneous issues, including precancelled stamps with some unusual varieties such as inverted city and state labels. The album also includes imperforate stamps from the 1922 series, though further investigation is required to confirm their authenticity.

Final Thoughts on the Collection

This stamp album offers an eclectic mix of affordable and rare U.S. stamps, with highlights ranging from early 19th-century issues to fancy cancellations and engraver’s imprints. Though many of the stamps are used, their historical value and some premium features, like well-preserved cancels, make them an exciting find for any collector.

For those interested in acquiring any of the items from this album, be sure to visit my Facebook group, U.S. Stamp Shop, where these stamps will soon be available for sale.

As always, happy collecting, and good luck in your philatelic adventures!