U. S. Scott #509 - Used - Graded Good

Item Specifics

Country

United States

Catalog Number

509

Stamp Type

General Issue

Condition

Used

Centering

F/VF

Stamp Format

Single

Certificate Grade

65 & Below

Year of Issue

1917

Item Description

Stamp Evaluation - Scott #509 (Used, Never Hinged, No Gum - Single Stamp)

Design Overview
Scott #509 is a 9-cent salmon red Washington-Franklin issue from the 1917-1919 perf 11 series, printed on unwatermarked paper. The design features an engraved left-facing portrait of Benjamin Franklin, enclosed within a laurel wreath. The inscription "U.S. POSTAGE" appears at the top, and the denomination "9 CENTS" is displayed at the bottom.

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

Grading Breakdown
Centering Grade: Fine/Very Fine (77)
✔ The stamp exhibits Fine/Very Fine (77) centering, meaning that the perforation holes are clearly seen to be clear of the design, but one or two margins are slightly narrow.
✔ The left margin is slightly narrower than the right, but all four sides maintain at least 0.4mm of clearance, keeping it within the Fine/Very Fine range.
✔ The top margin appears slightly larger than the bottom, though within expected tolerances for the grade.

Soundness Evaluation
✔ This stamp exhibits a Fault and two Very Minor Faults, constituting a Major Fault deduction:
✔ Heavy cancellation bleed-through on the back, which significantly reduces collector desirability.
✔ One shorter to short perf, which is less than half normal length.
✔ Corner perf crease, which is visible but does not structurally damage the stamp.
✔ The perforations are intact aside from the short perf, though slightly uneven at the top-left.

Adjusted Soundness Grade: Major Fault (-30 points).
✔ Final Grade Before Eye Appeal Adjustment: 47 (Good/Very Good - G/VG).

Perforations & Margins
✔ This is a fully perforated stamp with standard 11-gauge perforations.
✔ The perforations are slightly uneven, particularly along the top-left edge.
✔ The margins are mostly balanced, with the left margin being slightly tighter.

Eye Appeal Evaluation
✔ Color & Impression: The salmon red color remains moderately vibrant, with no significant fading.
✔ Cancellation: The stamp features a bold black "Sacramento" cancel, which is heavy and obscures a significant portion of Franklin’s portrait.
✔ Overall Presentation: Due to the heavy cancel placement and bleed-through, an eye appeal deduction of -10 points is warranted.

Final Numerical Grade Calculation
Grading Component Score
Base Grade (Fine/Very Fine Centering) 77
Soundness Deduction (Major Fault: Heavy Cancellation Bleed-Through, Short Perf, Corner Perf Crease) -30
Eye Appeal Deduction (Heavy Cancellation) -10
Final Numerical Grade 37 (Good - G)

Final Summary
Category Evaluation
Scott Number 509
Condition Used, Never Hinged, No Gum
Centering 77 (Fine/Very Fine - F/VF)
Soundness Major Fault (-30: Heavy Cancellation Bleed-Through, Short Perf, Corner Perf Crease)
Perforations Perf 11, Slightly Uneven
Eye Appeal Deduction (-10 for Heavy Cancel)
Final Grade 37 (Good - G)

? Final Verdict:
This used, never hinged Scott #509 stamp with no gum receives a Good (37) final grade, reflecting Fine/Very Fine centering but a major fault (heavy cancellation bleed-through), minor perforation faults, and a heavy cancellation that greatly obscures the design. The color remains stable, but the overall appeal is reduced by the cancellation intensity and back ink bleeding. It remains a low-grade example of Scott #509, more suitable as a filler. ​

Seller Information

Seller

jamisonenterprises (532)

Registered Since

03/18/2005

Feedback

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Store

Jamison Stamps & Books

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Item Location

California, United States

Ships To

Worldwide

Returns Accepted

No

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