Stamp Grades and Their Importance to Stamp Values


If you're serious about stamp collecting and want to have the best stamp collection that you can, be aware that the most important factor in any stamp's value is its grade.

Stamp grading is determined by a variety of factors, but those factors do not include a stamp's subject matter, rarity or age. To the contrary, a stamp's grade is determined by how its design is centered between its perforations or, if it's an imperforate stamp, its margins. Both horizontal centering and vertical centering are taken into account. Grade also refers to the condition of the stamp's gum (if it's a mint stamp) or how the cancellation of a used stamp affects its design.

Grading stamps takes some experience - looking at a lot of stamps in a variety of different grades. After you've looked at just a few stamps you may be able to distinguish between stamps with a high grade and those with a low grade. Given enough time and experience, you'll begin to be able to tell differences in grading in most stamps.

Stamp grades are somewhat standardized, ranging from superb at the high end, to poor at the low. If you are going to become a serious stamp collector and invest some serious money, it's crucial when buying a stamp to know what grade of a stamp you are getting. The better the grade of stamps in your collection, the better and more valuable your collection will be.

Grading Stamps - Part III

We've already mentioned that grading stamps is a subjective art, with experts disagreeing on some of the finer points of condition. But always keep in mind that the overall quality of a stamp is the most important factor when grading stamps. For example, Extra Fine copies of early stamps that have large margins and no faults often command much higher prices than what you will see in a stamp catalogue. On the other hand, attractive Very Fine stamps with thins or corner creases sell for lower prices. For example, The Stamp People's online stamp shop features Very Fine and Fine stamps, but also has a "Bargain Stamps and Markdowns" category that offers stamps that have been severely reduced in price for this reason.

Five different criteria are often used when grading stamps: gum (for mint stamps), color, paper, centering and cancellation (for used stamps). This post, we'll talk about what makes a "Very Good" stamp.


Very Good:

Gum: Gum is disturbed or partially missing.

Color: Some fading of the stamp's color may be apparent.

Paper: Paper defects such as staining or creases may be present.

Centering: Perforations cut into or touch the design. The frameline is just cut into by the edge of the stamp on one or two sides (this latter pertains to imperforate stamps).

Cancellation: A medium cancel covering more of the design than a stamp that's in Fine cancellation. The cancellation is not necessarily legible, with perhaps an obscured date or postmark location.