U. S. Scott #338 - Used - Graded Good

Item Specifics

Country

United States

Catalog Number

338

Stamp Type

General Issue

Condition

Used

Centering

F/VF

Stamp Format

Single

Certificate Grade

65 & Below

Year of Issue

1909

Item Description

Stamp Evaluation – Scott #338 (Used, No Gum – Single Stamp)
10¢ Yellow – George Washington, 1909
(U.S. Washington-Franklin Series – Perf 12, Single-Line Watermark)

?️ Design Overview:
The 10¢ Yellow Washington stamp from the Washington-Franklin series features a side-facing portrait of George Washington inside a laurel-wreath oval. It was printed using flat-plate press techniques with a single-line watermark and perforated 12 gauge.

This issue was widely used on heavier domestic mail and international letters. The yellow shade can be particularly vulnerable to ink coverage and cancel bleed-through, which impacts visual presentation.

? Grading Breakdown:
Centering Grade: 76 (Fine/Very Fine – F/VF)
Perforations are well clear of the design on all sides but exhibit slightly narrower margins on the top and right.
Margins fall into the Fine/Very Fine category under PSE guidelines.

Soundness: Fault (-30 deduction)
The stamp shows a combination of multiple faults:
Heavy cancel bleed-through (Minor Fault) – severe bleed visible from the back.
Light crease visible from the reverse (Minor Fault).
Hinge remnant (Very Minor Fault).
Per PSE guidance, a combination of two minor faults and one very minor fault qualifies as a Fault. The deduction is -30 points.

✂️ Perforations & Margins:
Perforations are intact but somewhat irregular at upper corners.
Margins are full but uneven, especially top and right.

?️ Eye Appeal Evaluation:
Eye Appeal Factor Impact
Heavy Cancel -10 pts
Overall Appearance Faint crease, poor cancel clarity
Ink / Paper Yellow ink appears muddied due to cancel
The cancel significantly obscures the design and darkens the face of Washington.
? Final Eye Appeal Adjustment: -10 points

? Final Numerical Grade Calculation:
Grading Component Score
Base Grade (F/VF Centering) 76
Soundness Deduction (Fault: -30) 46
Eye Appeal Adjustment (Heavy Cancel: -10) -10
Final Numerical Grade 36 (Good – G)

? Final Summary:
Category Evaluation
Scott Number 338
Condition Used, Hinged, No Gum
Centering 76 (Fine/Very Fine)
Soundness Fault (Heavy cancel bleed-through, light crease, hinge remnant)
Perforations Mostly intact, slightly irregular
Cancellation Very heavy, obscures portrait
Eye Appeal -10 (Cancel severely impacts design visibility)
Final Grade 36 (Good – G)

? Final Verdict:
This Scott #338 stamp is centered Fine/Very Fine with full margins and a solid strike. However, a heavy cancel obscures the central design, and faults including a light crease and cancellation bleed-through significantly affect the stamp's integrity. The result is a final numerical grade of 36 (Good – G), reflecting notable but not disqualifying condition issues.

Seller Information

Seller

jamisonenterprises (896)

Registered Since

03/18/2005

Feedback

100%

Store

Jamison Stamps & Books

Item Location

California, United States

Ships To

Worldwide

Returns Accepted

No

Public Questions