U. S. Scott #296 - Used - Graded Fair

Item Specifics

Country

United States

Catalog Number

296

Stamp Type

General Issue

Condition

Used

Centering

F/VF

Stamp Format

Single

Certificate Grade

65 & Below

Year of Issue

1901

Item Description

Stamp Evaluation – Scott #296 (Used, Hinged – Single Stamp)
4¢ Brown & Black – Automobile Mail Wagon, 1901
(Pan-American Exposition Issue – Depiction of Modern Urban Mail Transport)

?️ Design Overview:
Scott #296 from the 1901 Pan-American Exposition commemorative set features the Automobile Mail Wagon, one of the earliest U.S. stamps to depict a motorized vehicle. The black vignette showcases a driver seated atop a wheeled, roofed postal wagon in an urban setting, enclosed in a rich brown ornate frame. The stamp honors rapid mail delivery in modern cities, an innovation during its time. This example is postally used, previously hinged, and has no original gum.

? Grading Breakdown:
Centering Grade: 76 (Fine/Very Fine – F/VF)
The stamp has full margins with adequate white space visible on all four sides.
Margins are slightly narrow on the left and bottom, but they stay well clear of the design.
This aligns with Fine/Very Fine centering under the 2009 PSE grading standards.

? Soundness Evaluation:
Fault Type Description Category
Major Fault Cut corner at lower right affecting the margin Major Fault
Minor Fault Discoloration on the back (moderate, upper center) Minor Fault
Very Minor Fault Light cancellation bleed-through visible on reverse Very Minor Fault
Extremely Minor Fault Pencil notation on the back (light, partial) Extremely Minor Fault
One Major Fault, combined with a Minor, Very Minor, and Extremely Minor fault, still results in a Major Fault deduction under PSE soundness guidelines.
The corner cut is limited to the margin area and does not enter the design.

✂️ Perforations & Margins:
Perforations are mostly intact, though the bottom right corner has been cut, shortening or removing part of one or more perforation tips.
No other trimming or perforation issues are observed.
Margins maintain a narrow but clear separation from the design.

?️ Cancellation Classification:
Type: Black Cancel (Bold, Heavy Application)
The cancel appears in a dense pattern across the center and upper left of the vignette, obscuring a large portion of the wagon and driver.
This qualifies as a Very Heavy Cancel, as it significantly diminishes the stamp's visual clarity.

?️ Eye Appeal Evaluation:
Factor Evaluation Adjustment
Cancellation Very Heavy – strongly obscures design –15
Color & Freshness Slight mottling, but still clearly legible 0
Paper Condition Toning and backmarks already factored in soundness 0
Total Adjustment –15

? Final Numerical Grade Calculation:
Grading Component Value
Base Grade (Fine/Very Fine Centering) 76
Soundness Deduction (Major Fault + others) –45
Eye Appeal Adjustment (Very Heavy Cancel) –15
Final Numerical Grade 16
Final Adjectival Grade: Fair (FR)
According to the 2009 PSE grading scale, a score of 10–19 falls under Fair (FR).

? Final Summary:
Category Description
Scott Number 296
Condition Used, Hinged, No Original Gum
Centering 76 (Fine/Very Fine – F/VF)
Soundness Major Fault (cut corner), Minor (toning), Very Minor (bleed), EMF (pencil)
Perforations Intact except for cut corner (bottom right)
Cancellation Very Heavy black cancel obscuring central design
Eye Appeal –15 points (due to very heavy cancellation)
Final Grade 16 (Fair – FR)

? Final Verdict:
This Scott #296 exhibits pleasing centering and intact design margins but is significantly downgraded due to a cut corner, discoloration, cancellation bleed-through, and a heavy cancel that severely obscures the image. Despite its centering strength, these condition issues yield a final grade of 16 (Fair) under the 2009 PSE Grading Guide.

Seller Information

Seller

jamisonenterprises (602)

Registered Since

03/18/2005

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Item Location

California, United States

Ships To

Worldwide

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No

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