U. S. Scott #502 - Used - Graded VG

Item Specifics

Country

United States

Catalog Number

502

Stamp Type

General Issue

Condition

Used

Stamp Format

Single

Certificate Grade

65 & Below

Year of Issue

1917

Item Description

Stamp Evaluation - Scott #502 (Used, Never Hinged, No Gum - Single Stamp)

Design Overview
Scott #502 is a 3-cent deep violet Washington-Franklin issue from the 1917-1919 perf 11 series, printed on unwatermarked paper. The design features an engraved left-facing portrait of George Washington, enclosed within a laurel wreath. The inscription "U.S. POSTAGE" appears at the top, and the denomination "3 CENTS" is displayed at the bottom.

This example is used, never hinged, and has no gum.

Grading Breakdown
Centering Grade: Fine/Very Fine (78)
✔ The stamp exhibits Fine/Very Fine (78) centering, meaning that the perforation holes are clearly visible away from the design, though one or two margins are slightly narrower.
✔ The left and bottom margins are a bit smaller than the right and top, but they still maintain approximately 0.4mm of clearance, satisfying the Fine/Very Fine criteria.

Soundness Evaluation
✔ This stamp exhibits a Minor Fault and an Extremely Minor Fault:
✔ Short perf (less than half normal length) – A minor but noticeable soundness defect.
✔ Corner perf tip crease – A slight crease affecting the perforation tip, though not a major issue.
✔ The perforations remain mostly intact, though some are slightly uneven.

Adjusted Soundness Grade: Minor Fault (-20 points).
✔ Final Grade Before Eye Appeal Adjustment: 58 (Very Good - VG).

Perforations & Margins
✔ This is a fully perforated stamp with standard 11-gauge perforations.
✔ The perforations are slightly uneven, particularly in the top-left corner, where a short perf is present.
✔ The margins are decent, with the design remaining well-separated from the edges.

Eye Appeal Evaluation
✔ Color & Impression: The deep violet color remains strong and vibrant, indicating a well-preserved example.
✔ Cancellation: The stamp features a bold purple cancel, which is somewhat heavy and obscures part of Washington’s portrait.
✔ Overall Presentation: Due to the heavier cancellation, an eye appeal deduction of -5 points is warranted.

Final Numerical Grade Calculation
Grading Component Score
Base Grade (Fine/Very Fine Centering) 78
Soundness Deduction (Minor Fault: Short Perf, Corner Perf Crease) -20
Eye Appeal Deduction (Heavy Purple Cancel) -5
Final Numerical Grade 53 (Very Good - VG)

Final Summary
Category Evaluation
Scott Number 502
Condition Used, Never Hinged, No Gum
Centering 78 (Fine/Very Fine - F/VF)
Soundness Minor Fault (-20: Short Perf, Corner Perf Crease)
Perforations Perf 11, Slightly Irregular
Eye Appeal Deduction (-5 for Heavy Cancel)
Final Grade 53 (Very Good - VG)

? Final Verdict:
This used, never hinged Scott #502 stamp with no gum receives a Very Good (53) final grade, reflecting Fine/Very Fine centering but minor structural issues (short perf, corner perf crease). The heavy purple cancellation slightly reduces its visual appeal, but it remains a collectible example of Scott #502 in used condition. ​

Seller Information

Seller

jamisonenterprises (541)

Registered Since

03/18/2005

Feedback

100%

Store

Jamison Stamps & Books

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Item Location

California, United States

Ships To

Worldwide

Returns Accepted

No

Public Questions