U. S. Scott #1164 - Used - [LA01-0076-01-03]

Item Specifics

Country

United States

Catalog Number

1164

Stamp Type

General Issue

Condition

Used

Centering

VF

Stamp Format

Single

Certificate Grade

65 & Below

Year of Issue

1960

Item Description

Stamp Evaluation – Scott #1164 (Used – Single Stamp)
4¢ Blue & Carmine – First Automated Post Office, Providence, 1960
(Rotary Press Printing – Engraved, Perf 11)

Design Overview:
Issued in 1960, this commemorative honors the nation’s first automated post office, located in Providence, Rhode Island. The engraved design features the modern processing facility in panoramic view, surrounded by landscaped grounds and set beneath a clear sky. The bottom inscription in carmine highlights the milestone in U.S. postal mechanization.
The submitted example is postally used, previously hinged, and no longer retains original gum.

Grading Breakdown:
Centering Grade: 81 (Very Fine)
All margins are fully clear of the design, with the left margin the narrowest and the top the widest. The right margin is slightly narrower than the bottom. The margins are balanced enough to meet the PSE criteria for Very Fine: comfortably full margins on all sides despite noticeable directional imbalance.

Soundness Evaluation:
This stamp displays multiple significant faults:

Major Fault: Large thin and multiple areas of thinning across the back
Major Fault: Large stain and several smaller stains
Extremely Minor Fault: One shorter perf, about half normal length
Extremely Minor Fault: Paper adhered to back

Under the 2009 PSE Grading Guide, two major faults (plus additional extremely minor faults) constitute a Severe Fault classification.

Soundness Classification: Severe Fault
Soundness Deduction: –55

Perforations and Margins:
Perforated 11 on all sides. Aside from a single short perforation, the remaining teeth are intact. Margins mirror typical rotary-press proportions for this issue: widest at the top, narrowest at the left, all clearly clear of the framing lines.

Cancellation Evaluation:
The cancel is a standard machine cancel, light-to-average in intensity, with broken strokes across the vignette and lower inscription. It does not obscure the design heavily and does not meet PSE’s definition of a Heavy, Very Heavy, or Obliterating cancel.
Cancellation Classification: Neat / Clean (Average Cancel)
Eye Appeal Cancellation Adjustment: 0

Collector’s Note:
While nicely centered, this example suffers from extensive structural damage. Clean, sound used examples of this issue remain common and collectible; severely faulty copies such as this one serve primarily as placeholders.

Eye Appeal Adjustment:
Color remains acceptable and the cancel is not penalizing, but the severe back damage dominates the presentation. No additional eye-appeal adjustment beyond soundness is applied.
Eye Appeal Adjustment: 0

Final Numerical Grade Calculation:
Centering Grade: 81 (Very Fine)
Soundness Deduction: –55 (Severe Fault)
Adjusted Base Grade: 26
Eye Appeal Adjustment: 0
Final Grade: 26 (Fair/Good)

Final Summary:
Scott Number: 1164
Condition: Used, Previously Hinged, No Original Gum
Centering: 81 (Very Fine)
Soundness: Severe Fault (large thin, stains, adhered paper, short perf)
Perforations: Perf 11, intact except one short perf
Cancellation: Standard machine cancel (no effect)
Eye Appeal: No adjustment
Final Grade: 26 (Fair/Good)

Summary:
Though attractively centered, this used Scott #1164 is heavily compromised by multiple major faults and significant back damage. The cancellation is ordinary and does not affect grading, but the structural condition firmly places the stamp in the Fair/Good range. Despite its issues, it remains identifiable and complete, but far outside the condition tier sought by quality-focused collectors.

Seller Information

Seller

jamisonenterprises (1014)

Registered Since

03/18/2005

Feedback

100%

Store

Jamison Stamps & Books

Item Location

California, United States

Ships To

Worldwide

Returns Accepted

No

Public Questions