U. S. Scott #1157 - Used - [LA01-0076-02-01]

Item Specifics

Country

United States

Catalog Number

1157

Stamp Type

General Issue

Condition

Used

Centering

F/VF

Stamp Format

Single

Certificate Grade

65 & Below

Year of Issue

1960

Item Description

Stamp Evaluation – Scott #1157 (Used Single Stamp)
4¢ Mexican Independence Joint Issue, 1960
(Commemorative Issue – Engraved/Intaglio, Perforated 10¼ × 10½)

Design Overview:
Issued jointly by the United States and Mexico in 1960, this commemorative honors the 150th anniversary of the start of the Mexican War of Independence. The design presents the Liberty Bell of Dolores—Hidalgo’s iconic call to arms—surrounded by radiant lines and flanked by sculptural guardian figures drawn from Mexican artistic traditions. The green inscriptions visually balance the deep red engraving. The submitted example is used, shows signs of hinge removal, and retains no original gum.

Grading Breakdown:
Centering Grade: 78 (Fine/Very Fine).
The top margin is noticeably narrow, with the right margin also tighter than the bottom and left. Even so, the perforations remain clearly clear of the design on all four sides, matching the PSE definition of Fine/Very Fine centering for later rotary-press issues.

Soundness Evaluation:
The stamp shows a combination of faults:
Minor Fault: Heavy dirt smudging and spotting on the back.
Minor Fault: Several ragged, fuzzy, or shorter perforations.
Very Minor Fault: Corner perf crease.
Under the PSE soundness table, two or three minor faults (or combinations of minor and very minor) constitute a Fault classification. Fault soundness combined with Fine/Very Fine centering yields a Good/Very Good (40–49) grade. A –30 deduction applies.

Perforations and Margins:
The perforations gauge correctly, but several tips are ragged or short, and one corner shows a crease. Margins align with the centering analysis: narrowest at top, widest at left, with bottom and right intermediate. No signs of reperforation are present.

Cancellation Evaluation:
The stamp bears a light-to-moderate black machine cancel across the upper third of the design. The cancel does not obscure the central bell or supporting figures but crosses the “MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE” inscription. This classifies as a Neat/Clean cancel with no eye-appeal deduction.

Collector’s Note:
Used examples of this joint-issue commemorative remain popular among U.S.–Mexico thematic collectors. While the back staining and perf issues lower technical grade, the front appearance remains reasonably clean, preserving much of the design’s appeal.

Eye Appeal Adjustment:
The color and impression remain strong. Despite back smudging, the face remains unaffected. No adjustment is applied. Eye Appeal Adjustment: 0.

Final Numerical Grade Calculation:
Centering Grade: 78 (Fine/Very Fine)
Soundness Deduction: –30 (Fault)
Adjusted Base Grade: 48
Eye Appeal Adjustment: 0
Final Grade: 48 (Good/Very Good)

Final Summary:
Scott Number: 1157
Condition: Used, Hinged, No Original Gum
Centering: 78 (Fine/Very Fine)
Soundness: Fault (–30)
Perforations: Correct gauge, several ragged or short, corner crease
Cancellation: Light/average machine cancel, no deduction
Eye Appeal: 0, strong face, back faults only
Final Grade: 48 (Good/Very Good)

Summary:
This used Scott #1157 retains a clean, vivid front with Fine/Very Fine centering, though a combination of faults—including back smudging, ragged perforations, and a corner crease—lowers the technical grade to 48 (G-VG). Even so, the stamp presents attractively from the front and remains a solid collectible example under the 2009 PSE Grading Guide.

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