U. S. Scott #1108 - Used - [LA01-0072-01-04]

Item Specifics

Country

United States

Catalog Number

1108

Stamp Type

General Issue

Condition

Used

Centering

F/VF

Stamp Format

Single

Certificate Grade

65 & Below

Year of Issue

1958

Item Description

Stamp Evaluation – Scott #1108 (Used, Never Hinged – Single Stamp)
3¢ Green – Gunston Hall, 1958
(Commemorative – Rotary Press Intaglio, Perf 11×10½)

Design Overview:
Issued May 7 1958, Scott #1108 honors the bicentennial of Gunston Hall, the Virginia home of George Mason, author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights. Designed by Charles R. Chickering and engraved by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, the image shows Mason’s Georgian mansion framed by trees with crisp architectural precision. The top inscription reads “1758–1958 GUNSTON HALL,” with “HOME OF GEORGE MASON” at left and “UNITED STATES POSTAGE 3¢” below. The submitted example is postally used, never hinged, and has no remaining gum.

Grading Breakdown:
Centering Grade: 77 (Fine/Very Fine)
The design is slightly low and shifted right. The bottom margin is narrowest; the top is broadest. Right margin is tighter than the left but clear of the frame. Perforations remain outside the printed design on all sides, meeting the Fine/Very Fine standard in the 2009 PSE Guide. Visual balance is decent, but minor vertical and horizontal misalignment prevent a higher centering score.

Soundness Evaluation:
No tears, thins, or stains are visible. However, several perf creases occur along the edges, small yet noticeable. Under the PSE Guide, multiple perf creases qualify as a Minor Fault, reducing structural soundness by a full tier. Despite this, color and paper remain strong and unaffected.
Soundness Classification: Minor Fault
Soundness Deduction: –20 points

Perforations and Margins:
Gauge 11×10½, correct for this issue. All perforations are original and intact, though a few show light bending consistent with the noted perf creases. Margins are clear but uneven, with the bottom margin slightly tight and the right side narrower than the left. No trimming or reperforation is evident. Spacing aligns with Fine/Very Fine centering for rotary-press commemoratives.

Cancellation Evaluation:
A black wavy-line machine cancel runs horizontally across the building and text. It is heavy enough to obscure detail through the midsection, classed as a Heavy Cancel under PSE Eye Appeal standards. While typical for commercial use, it reduces image clarity slightly.
Cancellation Classification: Heavy Cancel
Cancellation Deduction: –10 points

Collector’s Note:
The Gunston Hall issue is valued for its crisp architectural engraving and historical significance. This example retains bright ink and full perforations despite visible perf creasing and a heavy cancel. Collectors appreciate its strong impression and color retention for a postally used example of the 1950s commemorative era.

Eye Appeal Adjustment:
Color remains deep, and impression lines are sharp. Paper is clean with no discoloration. The heavy cancel softens contrast and slightly reduces aesthetic balance, but the stamp still displays respectable freshness.
Eye Appeal Adjustment: –5 points

Final Numerical Grade Calculation:
Centering Grade: 77 (Fine/Very Fine)
Soundness Deduction: –20 (Minor Fault)
Adjusted Base Grade: 57
Eye Appeal Adjustment: –5 (Heavy Cancel)
Final Grade: 52 (Very Good VG)

Final Summary:
Scott Number: 1108
Condition: Used, Never Hinged, No Original Gum
Centering: 77 (Fine/Very Fine)
Soundness: Minor Fault (Perf Creases –20)
Perforations: 11×10½, intact but lightly creased
Cancellation: Heavy Machine Cancel (–5 Eye Appeal)
Eye Appeal: Slight reduction for cancel and creasing
Final Grade: 52 (Very Good VG)

Summary:
This used Scott #1108 Gunston Hall shows Fine/Very Fine centering, rich color, and full perforations. Perf creases and a heavy machine cancel reduce its score, yet the stamp remains sound and collectible. Under the 2009 PSE Grading Guide, it earns a final grade of 52 (Very Good VG)—a representative used example of this 1958 commemorative issue.

Seller Information

Seller

jamisonenterprises (1012)

Registered Since

03/18/2005

Feedback

100%

Store

Jamison Stamps & Books

Item Location

California, United States

Ships To

Worldwide

Returns Accepted

No

Public Questions