U. S. Scott #1208 - Used - [NA01-0219-01-01]

Item Specifics

Country

United States

Catalog Number

1208

Stamp Type

General Issue

Condition

Used

Centering

F/VF

Stamp Format

Single

Certificate Grade

65 & Below

Year of Issue

1963

Item Description

Stamp Evaluation – Scott #1208 (Used – Single Stamp)
5¢ Red, White & Blue – U.S. Flag and White House, 1960
(Flag over White House Issue – Engraved, Perf 11, Unwatermarked)

Design Overview:
Scott #1208 (1960) presents a patriotic vignette: a waving U.S. flag dominates the upper field, with the White House engraved in blue below. The strong line work and clean color separation are typical of mid-century BEP production. The submitted example is postally used, has no original gum, and hinging is not considered in the grading narrative.

Grading Breakdown:
Centering Grade: 78 (Fine/Very Fine)
With the unaided eye, perforation holes are clearly free of the design on all sides, but the margins are not perfectly balanced. The top margin is the narrowest and the left margin is the widest (least narrow). The right margin is narrower than the bottom. This distribution matches the Fine/Very Fine centering definition in the 2009 PSE scale.

2009_GradingGuide_092009

Soundness Evaluation:
Very Minor Fault: Light ink transfer on back of stamp
Soundness Classification: Very Minor Fault
Soundness Deduction Applied: –6
This fault is consistent with a Very Minor Fault category, and the stated deduction is applied directly as instructed.

Perforations and Margins:
Perf 11 is consistent for the issue. Perforations appear complete and evenly formed, with no obvious missing teeth or trimming. Margin balance reflects the 78 centering assessment, with the tightest spacing at top and the most generous spacing at left.

Cancellation Evaluation:
The stamp bears a machine cancellation with a bold horizontal element and partial lettering across the central design area. Placement is primarily through the flag and across the midline, leaving the overall subject recognizable but reducing the clarity of the central portions of the design. This is best classified as a Heavy machine cancel under the PSE eye-appeal framework for used stamps.

Collector’s Note:
This is a clean, correctly identified used example with respectable centering for the issue; the back shows only minor transfer, but the cancel style and placement will matter most to eye-appeal buyers.

Eye Appeal Adjustment:
The heavy machine cancel is visually dominant and crosses key design elements, but does not obliterate the stamp.
Eye Appeal Adjustment: –5

Final Numerical Grade Calculation:
Centering Grade: 78 (Fine/Very Fine)
Soundness Deduction: –6 (Very Minor Fault)
Adjusted Base Grade: 72
Eye Appeal Adjustment: –5
Final Grade: 67 (Very Good-Fine)

Final Summary:
Scott Number: 1208
Condition: Used, No Gum
Centering: 78 (Fine/Very Fine)
Soundness: Very Minor Fault (light ink transfer on back, –6)
Perforations: Perf 11, intact
Cancellation: Heavy machine cancel, centrally placed
Eye Appeal: –5 due to cancel dominance
Final Grade: 67 (Very Good-Fine)

Summary:
This used Scott #1208 combines Fine/Very Fine centering with only a very minor reverse-side ink transfer fault. The primary visual drawback is a heavy, centrally placed machine cancellation that reduces design clarity and warrants an eye-appeal deduction. Using the 2009 PSE Grading Guide sequence and strict arithmetic, the stamp grades 67 (Very Good-Fine).

Seller Information

Seller

jamisonenterprises (1021)

Registered Since

03/18/2005

Feedback

100%

Store

Jamison Stamps & Books

Item Location

California, United States

Ships To

Worldwide

Returns Accepted

No

Public Questions