I recently submitted a #13 to PSE for certification and grading. I felt I had the stamp correct as a VF used 13 but submitted the stamp because I am a big believer that 19th century stamps should be sold with certificates. The stamp came back as a 13 but graded as a 70, significantly lower than I had expected. So following is a study by me to better understand grading on the 1851 imperfs.
First a quick review of Scott #13. #13 is the type I plate variety. In fact it is printed with the same plate as #14 and #15. #13 only comes from the 20 elements of the bottom row of the sheet. The earliest known use date is Nov. 20, 1856 and approximately 500,000 were printed.
Type I is characterized by a complete bottom design as shown below.
Note the “shells” which are the curly part of the design in the left and right corners. The shells are complete which only occurs on Type I and Type V. Type V is only found on Scott #35, a relatively common perforated stamp. It is possible to make a fake Type I by trimming away the perforations on a Type V, however Type V has the side ornaments cut off while they are complete on Type I so it is a relatively easy fake to spot.
Now to understanding the grade of 70.
Above is the stamp that I submitted. Following is a gallery of other 13′s with their respective grades.
Above is a 13 PSE-graded 98 superb.
Above is a 13 PSE-graded 90 extra-fine.
Above is a 13 PSE-graded 80 VF.
In comparing the stamp I submitted to the stamp graded 80, it is clear to me that my stamp is cut to close at the lower right to get an 80. Perhaps also top center on the left edge. And is very close on the bottom. #13 has a catalog value of $950 as a VF, as a Fine it is worth half that so I have reduced my price accordingly.
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