U. S. Scott #504 - Used - Graded Good

Item Specifics

Country

United States

Catalog Number

504

Stamp Type

General Issue

Condition

Used

Centering

F/VF

Stamp Format

Single

Certificate Grade

65 & Below

Year of Issue

1917

Item Description

Stamp Evaluation – Scott #504 (Used, Never Hinged, Partial Original Gum – Single Stamp)
5¢ Blue – George Washington, 1917
(Washington-Franklin Series – Offset Printing, Perf 11, Single-Line Watermark)

Design Overview:
Scott #504 features a left-facing portrait of George Washington surrounded by laurel leaves and framed in a double-line rectangular border. This offset-printed issue from 1917 substituted for engraved production during wartime. The denomination “5 CENTS” appears boldly at the bottom of the design in serifed font. The offset printing and perforation 11 format distinguish this from other Washington-Franklin issues.

Grading Breakdown:
Centering Grade: 79 (Fine/Very Fine)
The stamp exhibits visibly balanced spacing on three sides, with the right margin slightly tighter than the others. White space remains between the frameline and the perforations on all sides. The overall impression is above average, consistent with the Fine/Very Fine (F/VF) classification.

Soundness Evaluation:
This stamp is free from major defects such as creases or tears, but the following faults are present:
Minor Fault: Partial original gum (only partly present; considered a fault under PSE guidelines for unused stamps)
Very Minor Fault: Slight discoloration (visible near lower-right edge)
Very Minor Fault: Light ink transfer on back
Very Minor Fault: Light cancellation bleed-through on back
This combination of one minor fault and multiple very minor faults qualifies the stamp as having Fault soundness under the PSE grading guide.
Soundness Classification: Fault
Soundness Deduction: –30 points

Perforations and Margins:
Perforated 11 as standard for this issue. All perforations are intact. Margins are sufficient and show no clipping or intrusion into the design.

Cancellation Classification:
This stamp bears a seven-bar horizontal machine cancel across the design. The cancel is dark and crosses through the central portrait of Washington, partially obscuring the face but not rendering it illegible.

Cancellation Classification: Heavy Cancel
Eye Appeal Adjustment: –10 points
The cancel, while typical for the era, slightly dulls the visual appeal due to its dark, centrally placed presence.

Final Numerical Grade Calculation:
Centering Grade: 79 (Fine/Very Fine)
Soundness Deduction: –30 (Fault)
Adjusted Base Grade: 49 (Good/Very Good)
Eye Appeal Adjustment: –10
Final Grade: 39 (Good)

Final Summary:
Scott Number: 504
Condition: Used, Never Hinged, Partial Original Gum
Centering: 79 (Fine/Very Fine)
Soundness: Fault (partial gum, discoloration, light ink transfer, bleed-through)
Perforations: Perf 11, intact
Cancellation: Heavy machine cancel (central)
Eye Appeal Adjustment: –10
Final Grade: 39 (Good)

Final Verdict:
This example of Scott #504 shows strong centering but is impacted by multiple soundness issues, including partial gum and discoloration, and a heavy cancel that reduces its eye appeal. With deductions for both soundness and eye appeal, the final numeric grade is 39, placing it in the Good category per the 2009 PSE Grading Guide.

Seller Information

Seller

jamisonenterprises (644)

Registered Since

03/18/2005

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Item Location

California, United States

Ships To

Worldwide

Returns Accepted

No

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