U. S. Scott #850 - Used - Graded Fair (LA01-0050-05-03)

Item Specifics

Country

United States

Catalog Number

850

Stamp Type

General Issue

Condition

Used

Centering

VG & Below

Stamp Format

Single

Certificate Grade

65 & Below

Year of Issue

1939

Item Description

Stamp Evaluation – Scott #850 (Used, Never Hinged, No Original Gum – Single Stamp)
2¢ Carmine – John Adams, 1939
(Presidential Series “Prexies” – Rotary Press Printing, Perf 11×10½)

Design Overview:
Scott #850 depicts John Adams, the 2nd President of the United States, who served from 1797 to 1801. The design shows a left-facing portrait framed within a rectangular border. “UNITED STATES POSTAGE” appears in the upper right, “JOHN ADAMS – 1797–1801” below, and the denomination “2 CENTS 2” along the bottom. Issued in 1939 as part of the Presidential Series, this was a widely used value during the late 1930s and early 1940s. The submitted example is postally used, never hinged, and without original gum.

Grading Breakdown:
Centering Grade: 60 (Very Good–Fine, VG–F)
The perforations touch or appear to touch the design at the top. The other three sides are uneven, with the left margin the widest and the right margin tighter than the bottom. This fits the Very Good–Fine centering classification under the 2009 PSE standards.

Soundness Evaluation:
Fault: Small (about 1 mm) tear
Very Minor Fault: Guideline prominent on one or two sides
Extremely Minor Fault: Tiny natural paper inclusion, not visually distracting
The tear places this into the Fault classification under PSE guidelines.
Soundness Deduction: –35 points

Perforations and Margins:
Perforations gauge 11×10½, consistent with the issue. All perforations are genuine, though not evenly balanced. The tear affects overall soundness, but otherwise margins conform to the Very Good–Fine centering grade.

Cancellation Evaluation:
The stamp bears a heavy black machine cancel with horizontal wavy lines covering the vignette and inscription. This qualifies as a Heavy Cancel under PSE definitions, as it disrupts the clarity of the design.

Collector’s Note:
As a lower-value “workhorse” Prexie, the 2¢ John Adams is most often encountered with heavy machine cancels. While this lowers eye appeal, it is fully representative of the stamp’s intended postal function and era of usage.

Eye Appeal Adjustment:
While the carmine color remains strong, the heavy cancel and visible tear reduce visual appeal. A –10 point adjustment is applied.
Eye Appeal Adjustment: –10 points

Final Numerical Grade Calculation:
Centering Grade: 60 (Very Good–Fine, VG–F)
Soundness Deduction: –35 (Fault classification)
Adjusted Base Grade: 25
Eye Appeal Adjustment: –10
Final Grade: 15 (Fair, FR)

Final Summary:
Scott Number: 850
Condition: Used, Never Hinged, No Original Gum
Centering: 60 (Very Good–Fine, VG–F)
Soundness: Fault (tear, guideline, natural inclusion), –35
Perforations: Perf 11×10½, intact but uneven
Cancellation: Heavy machine cancel across vignette, –10 adjustment
Eye Appeal: –10 due to cancel and tear
Final Grade: 15 (Fair, FR)

Final Verdict:
This used 2¢ John Adams from the Presidential Series exhibits Very Good–Fine centering, but a tear, guideline, and heavy cancel substantially reduce its grade. Its final numerical grade under the 2009 PSE Grading Guide is 15 (Fair, FR). It remains a representative “workhorse” example of the issue, showing the heavy usage typical of this low-denomination Prexie.

Seller Information

Seller

jamisonenterprises (854)

Registered Since

03/18/2005

Feedback

100%

Store

Jamison Stamps & Books

Item Location

California, United States

Ships To

Worldwide

Returns Accepted

No

Public Questions