U. S. Scott #701 - Unused - Graded G/VG

Item Specifics

Country

United States

Catalog Number

701

Stamp Type

General Issue

Condition

Unused

Centering

F/VF

Stamp Format

Single

Certificate Grade

65 & Below

Year of Issue

1931

Item Description

Stamp Evaluation – Scott #701 (Unused, Hinged OG – Single Stamp)
Arlington Amphitheatre – 50¢ Violet, 1931 Regular Issue

Design Overview
Scott #701 commemorates the Arlington Memorial Amphitheatre, an iconic structure at Arlington National Cemetery that hosts national ceremonies honoring American servicemembers. The stamp features a neoclassical building rendered in deep violet, with a broad staircase and pillars depicted in fine detail. Issued in 1931 as part of the Regular Issues series, the design is framed with classical motifs and “UNITED STATES POSTAGE” across the top, with large “50” denomination markers in each lower corner.

This example is unused and has original gum, but it has been hinged, which is evaluated separately for this issue and does not result in a soundness deduction.

Grading Breakdown
Centering Grade: Fine/Very Fine (77)
The stamp is well-centered, with the design clear of the perforations on all four sides.
The left and top margins are narrower than the right and bottom, but all are well clear of the design.
Though not visually balanced enough for a grade of 80+, the stamp comfortably fits the Fine/Very Fine (F-VF) category.
? Assigned Centering Grade: 77

Soundness Evaluation
Gum: Original and intact, but shows evidence of hinging. Since hinging is evaluated separately for Scott #701, this is not penalized under soundness.
Faults: The stamp displays several perf tip creases, especially visible at top right.
These creases qualify as a “Fault” per the 2009 PSE Grading Guide.
Faults combined with F-VF centering result in a Good/Very Good (G-VG) grade range.
? Soundness Category: Fault
? Soundness Deduction: –30
? Adjusted Base Grade: 47 (77 – 30)

Perforations & Margins
Perforations: Clean and fully intact, though creases are evident in a few tip areas.
Margins:
Right and Bottom: Strong and well-proportioned.
Left and Top: Narrower but clearly outside the design boundaries.

Eye Appeal Evaluation
Aspect Assessment
Color & Impression Strong violet hue with clear architectural lines
Gum Lightly hinged; original gum otherwise intact
Overall Appearance Fresh appearance, but tip creases slightly affect top edge
The overall visual impact is decent, but the visible perf tip creases slightly detract from presentation. However, the color remains strong, and the design is unaffected.
? Eye Appeal Adjustment: –1 (Minor deduction due to visible perf tip creases)

Final Numerical Grade Calculation
Grading Component Score
Base Grade (Centering) 77
Soundness Deduction –30
Subtotal 47
Eye Appeal Adjustment –1
Final Grade 46 ✅

Final Summary
Attribute Details
Scott Number 701
Condition Unused, Hinged
Gum Original Gum
Centering Fine/Very Fine (77)
Soundness Fault (Perf tip creases)
Eye Appeal Slightly affected by visible tip creases
Final Grade 46 (Good–Very Good)

? Final Verdict:
This Scott #701 stamp presents solid Fine/Very Fine centering with rich color and a faultless front design. The perf tip creases downgrade the soundness score, and although hinging is not penalized, the stamp falls into the Good–Very Good (46) range. A presentable mid-grade example for collectors interested in 1931 commemoratives or Arlington-themed issues.

Seller Information

Seller

jamisonenterprises (552)

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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