On (02 Mar 98) John Williams Rambled On  To DAN LAFLIN...
 JW> I refered to the Harding as mint only to specify it was not used.
 JW> I don't think It is worth the $15,000 in the catalogue, However it's
 JW> perf's measure right to be the #613.  I have had it to a shop to have
  Mint doesn't mean unused.
  Unused with tear be better term, Mint is the grade of a unused without
  defects, with original gum, since it has a tear it voids use of term
  mint.
  The Flat Plate printing, common type is also  of same perf.
 JW> it appraised, But he told me that he would have to take it in the back
 JW> to check for watermarks.  I told him in no uncertain terms that he was
  Scotts Specialized mentions no water mark either.
  You didn't mention what catalogue useed when you looked it up, if not
  specialized, you should check the  Scotts Us Specialized as it goes
  more into depth then the regular catalogue.
 JW> this stamp.  Another man told me he would give me $3,000
  Considering it has a tear which vastly reduces the value, and assuming
  the other man is a dealer, 3,000 might be a fair price, since dealers
  work on a margin,  a defective one cannot bring full value,
  so A dealer may buy at 3,000 and sell at 4-5,000
 JW> else knew of a very honest person that I could talk to about this
 You could see a dealer or collector who is a member of the APS, they do
 check into  problems and expell people found to be dishonest,
 at least there and with the ones members of the  stamp dealers assoc
 you have some route  for any griveance.
 My JW> collection is Very extensive, however, my knowledge of it is
 limited, JW> It was my inheritance from my JW> grandfather who
 collected since 1918.  I don't wan't to sell the whole JW> thing, but I
 don't have any other way to pay the doctors.  I JW> appreciate your
 Your best route might be  trying reputable buyers like Greg Manning, or
 putting the parts to sell up with a auction house, I really cannot
 advise on who to see since your far from me, do you have
 access to internet? The APS (american Philatelic society)
 has a web page, was your relative ever a member? If so the Aps has a
 estate service where a Aps member of repute will visit, apprise and
 advise as to value, the Estate service is for relatives of a Aps
 membber who dies, My albums have a sticker and family knows if I die
 they should get in touch with Aps.
 Your never going get full value selling to a dealer, since they work on
 margins which require 20-40 pct of price they can get for it to be
 paid,  it can be apprised at say 10,000 but you may at best get 3-4,000
 I say this only so you don't get hopes up to be rich, I'd place my
 collections value at around 8,000 but realistically if sold It would be
 luck if sold for even 2,000.
 Again, be certain you have the rare harding, the perfs don't mean
 anything since #610 is perf 11 too,  610 is flat plate printed, the 613
 is rotary press printed, theres a subtle difference in the printing,
 otherwise the design and paper and perf is same one, key:
 610 is  19 1/4 mm wide by 22 1/4 mm high where 613 is 19 1/4 mm wide by
 22 3/4 high... a very slight difference in size... 2/4 mm..
 Rotary press also may have a gum breaker ridge or ridges varying from
 1-4 per stamp horizionally
 You need a qualified appriser to be sure you have the rare rotary press
 perf 11 harding.
 Flat press is from plates printing it flat, rotary uses a curved
 rotating plate to print so rotary press printings are slightly bigger
 then a flat.
You might buy a cheap flat press printing, #610
and compare to yours, if yours IS slightly higher...
Btw if only use Fido theres also the fidonet Stamps echo.
... I owe, I owe, so off to work I go
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