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Nick Kirke Collection - The Number One Finest Set of All Time

1857-61 Regular Issues (Used)

Weighted GPA : 93.76
% Complete:  96.43%
Set Rating: 88.40
% Jumbo: 11.11

Registrant's Email Address: kirke@philatelist.cz

Owner's Comments:
For my money the very toughest issue for grading to apply with anything like the same criteria as used with most all other U.S. issues. The settings of the perforation machinery simply did not generally allow for such generous margins at the top and bottom as at the sides so balanced margins of equal size on all sides are a virtual impossibility. This disadvantage is most evident on the better 1c values where the bottom characteristics are so crucial in assessing type. I am pleased to say grading has developed somewhat to accomodate this peculiarity. The key stamp is Sc19 with full scrolls at bottom. For this to grade 95 or higher the stamp must be centred which means that the scrolls at bottom which are so important to the type are invariably lost/partly lost being punched out by the perforation machinery. A stamp centred high shows the full ornaments at bottom perfectly but grades low. There is one notable exception. A glorious 98J which defies all the normal characteristics of this issues by having simply huge margins of equal size at the top and the bottom. In my view this is one of the most extraordinary U.S. classic stamps that exists. The Sc24 in my set is equally extraordinary, although hugely less valuable. It has large 'broadwalk' margins of EQUAL size on ALL sides. Of all the stamps in my collection I would rate this stamp as the one that gives me the most pleasure. Just shows how unrelated cost is to satisfaction.

Nick Kirke Collection
Item Scott No. Issue Date Denom Color PSE Grade Pop* Pop
Higher*		 J Pop
Higher*		 Condition Owner's Comments
1c 18  1861  1c  Blue  95  8  0  0  Used   
1c 19  1857  1c  Blue  90  4  3  1  Used   
1c     1c  type Ic            
1c 20  1857  1c  Blue  95  3  0  0  Used   
1c 21  1857  1c  Blue  95  9  0  0  Used   
1c 22  1857  1c  Blue  95J  2  0  0  Used   
1c 23  1857  1c  Blue  95  4  0  0  Used   
1c 24  1857  1c  Blue  98J  1  0  0  Used   
3c 25  1857  3c  Rose  98  1  0  0  Used   
3c 25A  1857  3c  Claret  85  7  1  0  Used   
3c 26  1857  3c  Claret  98J  3  0  0  Used   
3c 26A  1857  3c  Brownish carmine  98  1  1  0  Used   
5c 27  1858  5c  Brick red  90  17  6  0  Used   
5c 28  1857  5c  Red brown  98  2  0  0  Used   
5c 28A  1858  5c  Indian red  95  1  0  0  Used   
5c 29  1859  5c  Brown  98  2  0  0  Used   
5c 30  1861  5c  Orange brown  90  6  5  1  Used   
5c 30A  1860  5c  Brown  95  15  3  1  Used   
10c 31  1857  10c  Green  95  7  0  0  Used   
10c 32  1857  10c  Green  95  20  2  0  Used   
10c 33  1857  10c  Green  95  14  3  2  Used   
10c 34  1857  10c  Green  95  4  0  0  Used   
10c 35  1859  10c  Green  98  6  0  0  Used   
12c 36  1857  12c  Black  98  3  0  0  Used   
12c 36B  1860  12c  Black  95  14  1  0  Used   
24c 37  1860  24c  Gray lilac  98  6  0  0  Used   
30c 38  1860  30c  Orange  95  11  3  3  Used   
90c 39  1860  90c  Blue  85  6  3  0  Used   

* Pop (population) values are the number of stamps graded by Scott number and condition for each item listed.
Pop Higher values represent the number of stamps which are worth more points in the Registry, taking into account bonus points for Jumbos whereas 80J = 83, 85J = 88, 90J = 93, 95J = 97, 98J = 99, 100J = 102. J Pop Higher values are the number of Jumbos graded higher for each item listed.