Gallery

 

Letters to the Editor

I read Duke Day’s letter regarding missing perforation pins with great interest (Report 68, pages 16—17). A quick check of my collection revealed none. However, much to my surprise, a modest Danzig collection purchased from Beverly Stamp Co. of Dallas, TX, arrived this afternoon and disgorged three such items. Pictured below are Michel 189, 191 and 192, each missing the top perf pin on both sides. Also pictured is a copy of 190 with the bottom bar of the “u” of Gulden missing. Those items, together with a right bottom corner margin copy of 242b, a very scarce color, as well as a copy of 1871 (priced in Michel with a dash in the used column only), all mint, made for an exciting day.

I would be remiss if I did not say a few words about the DIMPS (Danzig—Infla-Memel-Saar) Sales Circuit, run by Marcel Jaffe. It just commenced operation in April (1990), but so far I have viewed about ten circuits, ranging from value of a few hundred dollars to over a thousand. There is a tremendous assortment of truly difficult colors, plate errors, varieties, and covers from Danzig, Memel, Saar, the plebiscite areas and the inflation era. Difficult Danzig items included 28 expertized Infla, 32 with a first day cancel, 581 * and used, 219c **, 259—61U *, Block 31 *, scarce plate numbers (HANs, too? —Ed.], and a host of other lesser gems. From Saar, there were literally dozens of colors, plate errors and proofs; from Memel over a hundred overprint types, mostly expertized; from Marienwerder, a number of very difficult overprint types; and from the Inflation era, dozens of covers, color varieties, and plate errors, almost all expertized. Prices generally ranged from 40% to 55% of Michel, well below the 60% to 75% range generally encountered in German price lists, and the condition is extremely fine. Many of the items are rarely offered for sale, even by the largest overseas dealers, and almost never offered here anymore.

The DIMPS circuits are also an excellent way to dispose of duplicates. While so—called “standard” items do not sell well, varieties of all price ranges do extremely well. Even though, so far, few members are participating, Marcel tells me that it is not unusual for 50% to 75% of a thousand-dollar circuit to sell in just two rounds ( 3 members per round). So, if you need better items to improve your collection, or if you have a pile of suitable duplicates to sell, write to Marcel Jaffe, DIMPS Sales Circuit, P.O. Box 55024, Metairie, LA 70055. I’m sure that you will be very pleased with the results, because Marcel runs the circuit for the benefit of the members and not his own.

— Lou Ricker
Devon, PA

 

Danzig Report Vol. 1 - Nr. 69 - October - November - December - 1990, Page 22.