U. S. Scott #891 - Used - Graded G/VG (LA01-0053-03-03)

Item Specifics

Country

United States

Catalog Number

891

Stamp Type

General Issue

Condition

Used

Centering

F/VF

Stamp Format

Single

Certificate Grade

65 & Below

Year of Issue

1940

Item Description

Stamp Evaluation – Scott #891 (Used, Never Hinged – Single Stamp)
3¢ Purple – Cyrus Hall McCormick, 1940
(Famous Americans Series – Engraved, Perf 11x10½, Unwatermarked)

Design Overview:
Scott #891 is the 3¢ denomination from the 1940 Famous Americans series, issued to honor Cyrus Hall McCormick, inventor of the mechanical reaper and a pivotal figure in advancing American agriculture. The stamp features a finely engraved portrait of McCormick in purple ink, framed within rectangular borders, with his name and denomination presented at the left side above an agricultural motif. The present example is postally used, never hinged, and has no original gum.

Grading Breakdown:
Centering Grade: 77 (Fine/Very Fine)
The design is free of perforation intrusion, though the margins are unbalanced. The top margin is the narrowest, the bottom the widest, and the right margin slightly narrower than the left. According to the PSE centering scale, this placement falls within Fine/Very Fine centering.

Soundness Evaluation:
The stamp displays the following faults:
Very Minor Fault: Light cancellation bleed-through
Very Minor Fault: Light dirt smudging/spotting on back of stamp
Extremely Minor Fault: Pencil writing on back of stamp
Together, these constitute a Minor Fault classification.
Soundness Deduction: –20 points

Perforations and Margins:
Issued with gauge 11x10½ perforations, all perfs are intact. Margins are uneven, with the top margin the tightest and the bottom the widest, consistent with Fine/Very Fine centering.

Cancellation Evaluation:
The cancellation is a black wavy-line machine strike, covering the portrait but without fully obliterating design details. While clearly visible, the cancel obscures much of the face, qualifying as a Heavy cancel under PSE definitions.
Cancellation Classification: Heavy Cancel

Collector’s Note:
Machine cancels are standard on this issue. Lighter strikes are more desirable, but heavier cancels like this example are typical for used Famous Americans stamps and reduce market appeal.

Eye Appeal Adjustment:
The stamp retains its strong purple impression, but the heavy cancel obscures the central portrait and diminishes balance. Per PSE guidelines, this warrants a deduction of –10 points.
Eye Appeal Adjustment: –10 points

Final Numerical Grade Calculation:
Centering Grade: 77 (Fine/Very Fine)
Soundness Deduction: –20 (Minor Fault)
Adjusted Base Grade: 57 (Very Good)
Eye Appeal Adjustment: –10 (Heavy Cancel)
Final Grade: 47 (Good/Very Good – G/VG)

Final Summary:
Scott Number: 891
Condition: Used, Never Hinged, No Original Gum
Centering: 77 (Fine/Very Fine)
Soundness: Minor Fault (bleed-through, dirt spotting, pencil writing on back)
Perforations: Perf 11x10½, intact
Cancellation: Heavy wavy-line cancel obscuring portrait
Eye Appeal: –10 deduction
Final Grade: 47 (Good/Very Good – G/VG)

Final Verdict:
This example of Scott #891 exhibits Fine/Very Fine centering but is impacted by minor back faults and a heavy machine cancellation. These factors reduce the grade to Good/Very Good under the 2009 PSE Grading Guide, making it a collectible yet lower-tier representative of the Famous Americans issue.

Seller Information

Seller

jamisonenterprises (827)

Registered Since

03/18/2005

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Store

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Item Location

California, United States

Ships To

Worldwide

Returns Accepted

No

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