Jay Tell - Rare Stamps and Coins

1.      Jay Tell has 46 years experience as a rare stamp and coin dealer. He has also handled large quantities of gold, silver and platinum coins and bullion, important autographs, rare documents, and is a former newspaper publisher, editor and professional writer.

2.      Born in No. Bergen, NJ (1944), Jay is president of Americana Stamp & Coin Galleries, Inc, 16060 Ventura Blvd, 105A, Encino, CA 91436. Ph 818.774.9997, 818.515.1222/ cell; Fax 818.774.9996. Email: americanacorp@sbcglobal.net (primary) or jaytell@hotmail.com (back-up) He is the proud father of three beautiful daughters and is a new grandfather.

3.      For about 30 years, Jay owned and operated five retail stamp and coin stores in Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley. He has handled 75,000 transactions, for tens of millions of dollars. Same bank since 1970 problem-free. A booth-holder at major shows since age 14, Jay started with the very first New York Interpex Stamp Expo in 1958.

4.      Jay made philatelic history when, in 1999, he sold the only unique United States stamp, Scott #164. He dubbed it "Lost Continental 24-cent" as it was printed by Continental Bank Note Company in 1875. The Poway, CA original discoverer was unable to sell it for 31 years, 1968 to 1999. The 24-cent Winfield Scott purple adhesive was rejected, belittled, blackballed by the nation’s leading stamp dealers and auction houses. They convinced major stamp collectors and dealers, to "stay away,” as they disparaged its legitimacy and rarity. In three decades, the highest offer for #164 was only $2,000.

When approached by the frustrated owner in Oct 1999, Jay was immediately certain the stamp was authentic. He did comprehensive research into its history, consulted more than 20 experts, and began a major national editorial and advertising campaign at his own expense. He boldly took on powerful interests in the philatelic establishment who were protecting another stamp, the 1868 one cent "Z" Grill, Scott #85A, which had been widely promoted for 30 years as “America’s rarest stamp.” But alas, there are two known examples of the legendary "Z" Grill. If Jay’s stamp, Scott #164, was validated with a meaningful sale, with only one example known to exist, it would drop the world-famous "Z" Grill to second place! Despite millions of marketing dollars spent for 31 years on thousands of ads and press releases falsely promoting #85A as the “rarest” U.S. stamp, the "Z" Grill's lofty perch was about to topple.

Jay’s comprehensive research was summarized in press releases and a four-page Tell Tales column (Dec 17, 1999), in America's oldest stamp weekly, Mekeel’s & Stamps Magazine (est. 1891). His stories and advertising made a convincing case for the 1875 ribbed paper classic. Jay’s campaign was backed by editors of the major stamp papers.   The romance and excitement of the "Lost Continental 24 cent" earned impressive full-page stamp editorials and exciting news coverage. After 31 years of ridicule by self-serving ‘experts’ with ulterior motives, Jay sold #164 in just eight weeks, in a one-lot Internet Auction (Dec 21, 1999), for a world-record Internet price, $397,838.00!

Early researchers, legendary philatelic authors (Luff, Brookman, Chase, Ashbrook, Perry, etc), were pioneer stamp experts of the late 19^th/early 20^th century. But they only surmised that Scott #164 should exist since no one had ever found one! Undiscovered since 1875, lost to the sands of time until 1968, it was not acknowledged for 124 years, until 1999. News of the historic sale of #164 rocked the stamp world. It is by far the foremost philatelic showpiece ever marketed on the Internet. It was front-page news in the philatelic press, banner news in daily papers and on the Internet, and was featured on three TV news programs. In Jan 2000 it was exhibited for three days (with armed guards), at the 28^th annual SANDICAL Stamp Expo, Scottish Rites Center, San Diego.

Scott #164 is now recognized by the renowned Scott Stamp Catalogue (est1868) as the only UNIQUE United States postage stamp. It is certified as the only authentic U.S. #164 by the highly respected N.Y. Philatelic Foundation (est.1945). Its been celebrated in the Court of Honor as AMERICA’S RAREST STAMP by the 50,000-member American Philatelic Society (APS), America's oldest, largest and most respected stamp organization (est.1886). Purchase and sale of the "Lost Continental 24-cent" stands as Jay’s crowning achievement in his 46-year career, begun at 14 in 1958 in his attic.

5.      As a licensed, bonded California auctioneer, Jay has never been the subject of a complaint.

6.      Jay was the first stamp editor of the Las Vegas Sun daily newspaper (1962-63), creating a weekly double-page spread in the Sunday magazine. Some of his columns were reprinted in Linn’s Stamp News, the world’s largest stamp newspaper. At that time, age 18-19, he was a student at Nevada Southern University (later UNLV), and the editor of the college newspaper. He worked nights as a bus boy/waiter at the Sands Hotel, during the legendary "Rat Pack" era of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr.. In 1962, he helped manage his first political campaign, the surprise victory of unknown Ted Marshall for District Attorney, still regarded as one of the biggest upsets in Nevada political history.

7.      In 1964 at the age of 20 he moved from Las Vegas to downtown Los Angeles, and opened an office. He soon opened the first of five retail stores. In 1965, he became the first stamp and coin editor of the Los Angeles Times, creating “Stamp & Coin Corner,” a popular column which ran for 30 years. In 1965 at 21 he moved to the penthouse office of the Lesser Building, on Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills, where he installed the first nationwide coin teletype system. In 1965-69, he operated a store in the Fairfax district of LA, Stamp & Coin City. In 1970-72 Jay published and edited a weekly newspaper.

8. His next three retail stores were in LA's San Fernando Valley: Sherman Oaks, 1973-74; Studio City, 1975-83; and for eight years, 1984-92, his largest store was in Tarzana, CA. This was a beautiful 2,000 square foot retail showroom, featuring rare stamps and coins, gold and silver, jewelry, and popular floor and mail auctions. This remarkable success story suffered a major setback in 1992. After nearly 25 years of marriage and three wonderful daughters, a surprise, costly divorce blindsided Jay, disrupting his children and career.

9.      Jay’s long-time memberships: American Philatelic Society (APS) since 1983. American Numismatic Association (ANA) since 1964. National Stamp Dealers' Association (NSDA), United States Stamp Society/ Bureau Issues Association (USSS/ BIA), American First Day Cover Society (AFDCS), American Airmail Society (AAMS), American Topical Association (ATA). Also, the New York Philatelic Foundation (NYPF), Numismatic Guarantee Corp (NGC), Error Collectors Club (EFOCC), etc. He has served on SANDICAL’s Board of Directors, San Diego’s oldest and largest Stamp Expo.

10. Jay has been an advertiser since 1958. From 1965 to 1968, when in his early 20's, he ran many double-page spreads in color, in Coin World, the world's largest numismatic newspaper. With more than 20 employees at that time, his firm grossed millions annually.

11. In 1983, Jay ran the largest advertisement in the history of Linn’s Stamp News, 10 pages, the world's largest philatelic publication. It was the largest rare stamp mail auction in history, the first to top $1 million. It featured 1,639 lots of U.S. and worldwide classics, rarities, major errors, gems and showpieces. In this unprecedented, lavishly photographed, sale were four world-famous inverted centers, 15c and 24c 1869 Pictorials, a 1901 Pan American, and a 1959 Canadian Seaway invert, each a coveted philatelic treasure.

12. He has been the author of Tell Tales columns, in the oldest weekly stamp publication in America, Mekeel’s and Stamps Magazine (est. 1891), permanently archived in philatelic libraries in major cities. These columns are available gratis, via email.

13. Jay is a former newspaper publisher and editor. In 1971, Federal Judge Roger Foley admitted Jay's weekly newspaper The Las Vegas Free Press into evidence in the famous billion-dollar Howard Hughes proxy case. Foley said the Free Press was "…the only paper in the nation to get the story straight." Jay exposed the fleecing of billionaire Howard Hughes of more than $20 million by Sun publisher Hank Greenspun and Robert Maheu, then chief of Hughes’ Nevada operations. Jay's outspoken newspaper created stunning election upsets. He opposed the wisdom of the Vietnam War but supported our troops, and mourned his brother-in-law and 58,000 American soldiers who tragically died there.

14. Jay’s newspaper opposed drug abuse, supported woman's rights, the environment, natural foods. His fearless investigative reporting championed civil rights, labor causes. Jay was the first Nevada publisher to vigorously support the Public Defenders office and the Legal Aid Society to assure every accused the Constitutional right to an attorney. He supported expansion of Medicare coverage, and equal housing laws. Jay supported Muhammad Ali’scontroversial quest to regain his boxing license long before his famous Supreme Court victory. In 1970-72 Jay owned Nevada’s first health food restaurant Food For Thought.

15. Bobby Darin (‘Mack the Knife,’ ‘Dream Lover;’ 150 songs ) was Jay’s close friend and business partner. The entertainer’s career had been quiet, so in 1970-71 Jay negotiated Bobby’s highest-ever salary, $40,000 a week, for three major Las Vegas main-  room resort runs. This revived his career and led to two NBC-TV primetime variety shows, before his tragic passing at only 37 in 1973. In Dec 2003 Jay wrote the “Bobby Darin 30^th Anniversary Tribute” which has been published on 15 websites. (Tribute gratis via email.)

16. Jay's late father Jack Tell was on the editorial staff of The New York Times. Jay’s uncle was the stamp editor of The New York Post. Jay grew up in both the journalism and philatelic communities. In 1961-62 the Tell family owned and published Mark Twain's Territorial Enterprise, a world-famous newspaper in Virginia City, NV. Jay attended Reno’s University of Nevada. At 17 Jay cut his journalistic teeth writing, editing, and setting hand-carved wooden fonts for headlines. He helped run a century-old flat-bed press, and an historic "line-o-type" machine which melted lead “pigs” for "hot type" galley proofs. Since 1965 the Tell family has owned and continuously published the highly respected Las Vegas Israelite.

17. In 1975, Jay was the first dealer in history to buy and sell a coveted Nobel Prize.

18. In 1966 at age 22 Jay helped innovate the listing of $1,000 bags of silver dollars on the NY Mercantile Exchange, where he held a commodities trading seat. This earned a large spread in Fortune Magazine. Jay was interviewed on radio and television, including the ‘Joe Pyne Show’ (200 stations nationwide). Jay strongly urged investments in choice stamps and coins and uncirculated silver dollars which have since appreciated several thousand percent.

19. Jay's career spans 46 years. His first major “find” was in 1958, an 8c Liberty plate # block with one plate number instead of two. It was refused by major NY stamp dealers who were sure it was a fake. The owner knew otherwise, since he purchased it at the post office. Veteran dealers suggested he see a certain “error specialist” across the Hudson. Surprised he was visiting a home, the man was shocked to learn “Mr. Tell” was only 14! Jay’s three attic rooms also had elaborate Lionel trains, model planes and soldiers, which amused the visitor. The man’s asking price for the plate block was only $3.75. After inspection, Jay purchased the error, and soon was thrilled to obtain a Philatelic Foundation Certificate of authenticity. Jay soon sold it for $250, a fortune for a kid in 1958. This was the first of only five one-number Liberty errors ever discovered; Jay has handled three. (Tell Tales gratis)

20. In 1959 at 15 Jay published a 16-page illustrated price list, the first ever booklet solely devoted to stamp errors, now considered a classic in the field. Many newsworthy stamp and coin milestones followed. Over the years Jay has announced dozens of major new finds including rarities and stamp errors not listed in any Catalogue.

21. In March 1999 a major discovery of Jay’s was again banner news. The 20-cent "Love" stamp (1982), plate # block of four, with the only two copies known to exist with purple 100% omitted. It was a unique treasure, a one-of-a-kind showpiece. After front-page PR it sold for a record $22,000, and is now listed in the Scott Catalogue as a major error.

22. Jay is a former consultant/contributor to the prestigious Scott Postage Stamp Catalogue (est. 1868), in most libraries worldwide. It is the stamp collector’s “bible,” the standard, the premier annual philatelic reference for virtually every collector and dealer.

23. In 1967 at age 23 Jay outbid all others, and purchased the famous Whitney-Green coin and stamp collection for $350,000, a profitable and highly celebrated purchase. This landmark acquisition was banner news nationally. The collection was also featured in multi-page color spreads in “Coin World,” the world’s largest numismatic newspaper.

24. In 1979 at age 35 Jay outbid major dealers and purchased for $15,500 a brilliant uncirculated MS64, 1913-S (key date) U.S. $10.00 Indian head gold coin, the highest grade ever discovered. He sold it for $35,000, a $19,500 profit, in just seven weeks.

25. In 1987 at 43 Jay was philatelic consultant, broker, and exclusive buyer for a member of the Rockefeller family. Jay handled the late billionaire John D. Rockefeller’s grandson’s major philatelic acquisitions, as recounted in a Tell Tales column (gratis).

26. Jay, an internationally known dealer, has handled some of the world's most valuable stamps. He has bought and sold hundreds of world-class rarities, 19^th and 20th century classics, rare errors, proofs, essays, and covers. A unique 1968 Disney 6c plate block error, a one-of-a-kind showpiece, is available for a fortunate investor. Jay has bought and sold more than 150 U.S. inverted centers, probably more than any dealer. Most collectors and dealers have never even seen one of these coveted treasures in their entire lifetime.

27. He has bought and sold valuable autographs for 40 years, such as ribbon-bound U.S. Presidential patents (1825, 1833, 1846) signed by John Quincy Adams/ Henry Clay, Andrew Jackson, and James Buchanan. Also, an Albert Einstein handwritten letter, a signed Einstein 1932 photo, letters by Ty Cobb, JFK, FDR, etc. A fabulously rare 1834 Jose Figueroa (Mexico’s Calif. Governor) historic four-page letter was rejected by top autograph dealers. Jay sold it for a record $20,000. An investment-grade Official baseball signed by the famous 1957 New York Yankee entire team, including Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford, Don Larsen, Turley, Carrey, etc, is currently in inventory.

28. Of the 85 originally compiled by President Teddy Roosevelt, and of the nine believed known to exist outside of museums, Jay is believed to be the only dealer to have bought and sold two leather-bound, gilt-edged, 1904 Roosevelt Albums of complete U.S. stamp proofs 1847-1903. Others are in the Smithsonian, Sagamore Hill, Hyde Park museums.

29. Jay is a polished expert witness, experienced consultant, and incorruptible strategist, available for conferences, document review, witness preparation, courtroom testimony.

30. Jay has a broad range of business, advertising and marketing knowledge, an accomplished background of proven integrity and ability. His career has produced a wealth of "front line" experience including rare stamp and coin expertise, mail order, auctions, advertising, publishing, sales, marketing, and public relations.

31. Jay's 1991 Elvis Presley driver's license promotion generated impressive national newspaper and broadcast exposure. Including priceless publicity for Americana and Jay, such as an entire Liz Smith column, internationally syndicated in hundreds of papers.

32. Jay is also a lifelong professional writer, researcher and crackerjack editor. A former newspaper publisher-editor and crusading investigative reporter, his fearless stories impacted local and state elections, and actually changed results for district attorney, city council, etc. Jay is the author of hundreds of published news and feature articles on politics, current events, philately, entertainment, civil rights, show reviews, etc.

33. Jay’s Sept. 13, 2001 Open Letter to Osama bin Ladin was written two days after the numbing 9-11 World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks. It was published in two newspapers and on many web sites. (Gratis via email.)

34. Emphasis is always on the extremely profitable BUYING of stamp and coin collections, estates, gold and silver coins, bullion, rarities, rare autographs, etc. Profits start with the BUYING, Jay’s strongest lifelong talent. "Once its bought right, selling is easy" is one  axiom. And “You make a profit when you buy, collect it when you sell.” And “Once you purchase at the right price, selling is immediate to a hundred eager buyers.” Jay prefers rarities, but also purchases large quantities. One profitable purchase was 33 cartons.

35. Jay’s three daughters (Robyn, Jennifer, Jackie) live in LA. Robyn (b.1970), a UCSB grad, has a Masters. Since 1996 she’s been married to Will Reinhart, a UCLA grad with a Masters. Dedicated educators since 1998, they have a lovely San Fernando Valley home. In Nov 2002 they made Jay a proud first-time grandfather. Jennifer (b.1976), a UC Berkeley honors graduate, is a law office manager. She is currently in law school, and is a gymnastics and certified yoga instructor. Jackie (b.1982) is a student.

36. Jay has returned to Los Angeles to be closer to his family and to grow his business. With its enormous population LA and surrounding areas offer the west's most lucrative stamp and coin market. A seasoned, century-old collector base offers unlimited buying, selling, marketing and other profit-making opportunities.

37. Jay’s reputation, experience and client history stem from five LA retail stores starting in 1965 with thousands of satisfied clients. When properly financed, impressive sales and profits are assured in any economy. A steady stream of people need to sell hard assets for immediate cash. A veteran buyer, Jay’s polished, proven skills will continue to expand his once “gold mine” of a business. Details and impressive documentation available. Four decades of solid accomplishments await the next chapter. The saga is not yet finished, “the best is yet to come.” ###

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