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

1902-03 Regular Issues (Used)

Weighted GPA : 97.54
% Complete:  100.00%
Set Rating: 97.54
% Jumbo: 42.86

Registrant's Email Address: kirke@philatelist.cz

Owner's Comments:
I regard this set as the 1st ornate, yet simplistic definitive issue. There are no varieties or complications. You simply need the set 1c to $5. Where grading is concerned I find it tough to grade. The central designs have few straight lines to line up with the perforations. Instead there are protrusions obstructing accurate 'pre-submission' assessment. So superbly centred appearing jumbo copies mysteriously grade a mere 90J. It was with this set that I woke up to the imbalances inherent in the early graded market frenzy. Did I really pay more for my 1c graded 98J than I did for my $5 graded 95? I will comment upon some of the earlier incautious prices which I, amongst others, felt obliged to pay. Not all the early 'graded dealers' were so money orientated. Those that were then, are so now. For example, I purchased a stamp on one graded site at $1,200. Trawling other graded sites shortly afterwards I saw the same stamp at $350. I remonstrated with the 1st dealer that his mark up was exhorbitant. His response? 'That may be so, but that's my assessment of the stamp‘s worth'. Now, I am open to criticism that the decision was mine to purchase. But one has to realise the pressure and attraction in the early days to complete sets at the highest grade. It WAS compulsive. But the dealer should have been more intelligent to keep my goodwill. He reminded me of greedy bankers anxious to make loans to folk to swell their bonus packets not caring a damn whether the loan made sense for their client. Like with one or two other graded dealers the flaw is that this dealer was never a serious stamp collector. He is in this game for the money - and nothing wrong with that. But it is difficult for him to resonate with collectors who collect for fun rather than monetary gain.

Nick Kirke Collection
Item Scott No. Issue Date Denom Color PSE Grade Pop* Pop
Higher*		 J Pop
Higher*		 Condition Owner's Comments
1c 300  1903  1c  Blue green  98J  5  2  2  Used   
2c 301  1903  2c  Carmine  98  3  0  0  Used   
3c 302  1903  3c  Bright violet  98  6  0  0  Used   
4c 303  1903  4c  Dark brown  98  3  0  0  Used   
5c 304  1903  5c  Dark blue  98  6  2  2  Used   
6c 305  1903  6c  Claret  98  1  0  0  Used   
8c 306  1902  8c  Violet black  98  5  3  2  Used   
10c 307  1903  10c  Pale red brown  98J  3  0  0  Used   
13c 308  1902  13c  Purple black  95J  1  5  0  Used   
15c 309  1903  15c  Olive green  98J  2  0  0  Used   
50c 310  1903  50c  Orange  95J  2  0  0  Used   
$1 311  1903  $1  Black  98  9  2  1  Used   
$2 312  1903  $2  Dark blue  98J  1  0  0  Used   
$5 313  1903  $5  Dark green  95  4  1  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.