U. S. Scott #512 - Used - Graded Fair

Item Specifics

Country

United States

Catalog Number

512

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 #512 (Used, Never Hinged, No Gum - Single Stamp)

Design Overview
Scott #512 is a 12-cent deep claret 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 "12 CENTS" is displayed at the bottom.

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

Grading Breakdown
Centering Grade: Fine/Very Fine (76)
✔ The stamp exhibits Fine/Very Fine (76) centering, meaning that the perforation holes are clear of the design, though at least one margin is narrow.
✔ The top margin is narrow, but the design is still clear.
✔ The right, bottom, and left margins maintain adequate clearance.

Soundness Evaluation
✔ This stamp exhibits severe faults:
✔ Large tear is present, which significantly impacts the stamp’s structural integrity.
✔ Several faulty, clipped, pulled, or short perfs are visible, further reducing the soundness.
✔ Heavy cancellation bleed-through affects the back of the stamp, creating ink seepage that reduces clarity.

Adjusted Soundness Grade: Severe Fault (-55 points).
✔ Final Grade Before Eye Appeal Adjustment: 21 (Fair/Good - FR/G).

Perforations & Margins
✔ This is a fully perforated stamp with standard perf 11, but several perforations are clipped, short, or faulty.
✔ The right side is affected by the large tear, causing visible structural damage.
✔ Margins are uneven, with the top and right sides being tighter than the bottom and left.

Eye Appeal Evaluation
✔ Color & Impression: The deep claret color is well-preserved, and there is no significant fading.
✔ Cancellation: The stamp has a heavy cancel, with ink bleeding through to the back. This obscures portions of the design, further detracting from the visual appeal.
✔ Overall Presentation: Due to the heavy cancel and perforation issues, an eye appeal deduction of -15 points is applied.

Final Numerical Grade Calculation
Grading Component Score
Base Grade (Fine/Very Fine Centering) 76
Soundness Deduction (Severe Faults: Large Tear, Clipped Perfs, Heavy Cancellation Bleed-Through) -55
Eye Appeal Deduction (Heavy Cancellation Bleed-Through) -15
Final Numerical Grade 6 (Fair - FR)

Final Summary
Category Evaluation
Scott Number 512
Condition Used, Never Hinged, No Gum
Centering 76 (Fine/Very Fine - F/VF)
Soundness Severe Fault (-55: Large Tear, Clipped Perfs, Heavy Cancellation Bleed-Through)
Perforations Perf 11, Several Faulty
Eye Appeal -15 Deduction (Heavy Cancellation, Faulty Perfs, Ink Bleed-Through)
Final Grade 6 (Fair - FR)

? Final Verdict:
This used, never hinged Scott #512 stamp with no gum receives a Fair (6) final grade, reflecting severe faults including a large tear, clipped perfs, and heavy cancellation bleed-through. The major deductions come from structural issues, making this a low-quality space filler rather than a highly collectible example.

While the stamp retains strong color, the damage and heavy cancellation obscure its design, significantly reducing its value.

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Seller Information

Seller

jamisonenterprises (523)

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