How to Grade the Condition of Stamps


Stamp collecting is a fun, educational hobby that always provides pleasure.  And it can, at times, be lucrative.  Serious stamp collecting requires a certain amount of knowledge.  This knowledge will allow the collector to build a strong stamp collection, not overpay and know the value of the collection.  A stamp collector should always determine the grade and condition of the stamps in his or her collection.

Stamp catalogs provide basic guidance on the grade and value of stamps, but all collectors should be aware of stamp varieties (almost always much more valuable than the most common version of a stamp) that in many cases can be detected only through a magnifying glass, watermark detector or perforation gauge.  It is therefore critical that collectors examine their stamps with these stamp collecting tools.  But that's not the only purpose of a close examination:  some stamp faults that seriously detract from the value of stamps can only be seen this way. 

Evaluation of condition and stamp grading involves centering, gum condition and cancellations.  Centering describes how well the stamp design is located:  ideal centering occurs when the design is smack in the middle of the stamp, mid-way between the stamp's perforations on all sides. 

Superb stamps feature centering that is as close to perfection as is possible. The margins between the design and perforations are precisely the same in each direction, all the way around the stamp.  The color of these stamps should be fresh and bright and of course no faults, even microscopic, should exist.

Extremely Fine stamps are close to perfection, with well-centered designs.  The color of these stamps should be fresh and bright and of course no faults, even microscopic, should exist.

Very Fine stamps are slightly less well-centered but still balanced.  This is the stamp grade used by many stamp catalogs, including those by Scott, for their stamp values.  The color of these stamps should be fresh and bright and of course no faults, even microscopic, should exist.

Fine, Good and Poor stamps feature increasingly more off-center stamp designs.  In poorly centered stamps the design there may be no margin on one or more sides, with the design entering into the perforations.  No faults should exist in Fine stamps.  Stamps may be graded "Good" or "Poor" because of centering, blurred or very heavy cancels, or the presence of a variety of faults.

Stamp Condition: Another Attribute Important to the Value of Stamps


Just like a stamp’s grade, the condition of a stamp can vastly affect its value. Although different than the stamp's grade, once again a stamp's condition does not refer to its subject matter, rarity or age: it refers to the physical characteristics of the paper the stamp was printed on.

Stamps in great condition are crisply printed with vibrant colors that appear to be just off the presses. Condition faults detract from the value of a stamp and include any type of alteration, damage or change since the stamp was printed, other than cancellations or other postal marks. Common faults include creases, tears, folds, holes, stains, missing corners or perforations, thins, and dirt or fingerprints on the gum, if the stamp is mint.

When looking at stamp condition, keep in mind that between two otherwise-identical stamps, the stamp in better condition will always be worth more. But also keep in mind that even stamps that are not in perfect condition can be worth a lot of money if they're scarce or if perfect-condition examples are extremely expensive. That's why some stamp dealers, like The Stamp People, offer severely marked-down vintage stamps for sale in addition to their perfect-condition stamps - to let stamp collectors buy stamps that they wouldn't otherwise be able to afford.