Recently acquired this US Scott #14 from the APS Stamp Store. It came with an APEX certificate that it was a genuine used stamp with a removed cancel, which I knew when buying it. Thought it would be a good learning experience for people that have never seen a stamp with a removed cancel (sort of). It appears to me that the cancel removal occurred from the upper right lip in a line to the right of Washington's left eye (viewers right) and then a little to the left. This area looks whiter than the rest of the stamp so some ink was removed in the process. Interestingly, I can easily some black ink from a cancel on the left side of the stamp.
It´s a pity that a nicely cut stamp was treated like that. However if the price was right,like around 10% Scott for used, it is O.K. At least that would be the price here,where quality standards are rather high. Few decades ago I bought an unused Sc.121 (1869 pictorials 30 C.). I did not look suspicious to me,but I sent it for expertising. Result: removed pen-cancellation. I got my payment back and never looked for unused early US again.
Yeah, I have a personal policy that if I am spending more than $50 on a single stamp, then I'm buying a stamp that comes with a certificate from either PSE, APS or Weiss.
I think that is smart. Early U.S. is such a minefield that - except for Newspapers & Periodicals - I have somewhat navigated away from them.
I would say having it sent in for cert was a waste of time and money. You can clearly see the spot were the cancel was and still is. I have soaked a stamp before and some of the cancel came out. I was trying to remove the dirt and hing remnants, Live and learn the hard way.
