Grading Scott 25. Opinions Please

Stupid post here. Understand grading is not popular topic, probably for very reason I'm posting this question. But... (I know there may be some sarcastic answers here, but I really want to know where approximately on spectrum of grading the specimen stamps lies) This is tough issue (Scott 25 and 26) to figure out from grade standpoint.

Bottom stamp (5th one down) is the specimen. It is Scott 25. It has face free cancel. It is sound.

top 4 stamps are comparisons with PSE certified grades. The exponential price at auction is on the multiple of 8x from grade 85 up to 98. (approx 400 to over 3200$)



above stamp grade= 85




above stamp grade= 90



above stamp grade= 95



above stamp grade =98




Now the specimen:






What would you grade this last stamp???:

90

Grading ruins stuff

When we are very young we are like sponges, learning is intrinsically fun. Until school and people apply grades and suddenly learning is no longer fun.

Now imagine if your spouse started grading your love making… 'gee honey, that was about a 85'


Don

85 - right side is definitely bigger than the left side, perfs are in at bottom and well clear at top. IMO the stamp is centered to the lower left. I would be interested in seeing the years that the above stamps received their grades.

Thanks for input. I think the reason I am jumbled up on this is grading standards for this issue are not like other issues.
In addition, the highest graded stamp at 98 seen in pic above ( I don't think there is a sample graded equivalent or higher) just looks unacceptable as a "best in existence".. I think the other stamps look better. Just don't understand where that 98 grade came from? Perhaps I am implying something that most of us feel generally about grading but based on these examples I'm still finding it hard to place this specimen.

Wtcrowe, much appreciate your expertise here as I'm aware your experience with expertization/certs. I have seen a bunch of your certs recently at auction and put 2+2 together with your name. Glad you are here to contribute. Not surprised you may me more harsh compared to others with grading...I'm curious what you think of that 98 above compared to other copies?

With this issue, I enjoy seeing all four frame lines. To me this qualifies above average centering.

Best to worst from my stand point is 3-5-2-4-1. My opinion , but placing the 98 as 4th in this grouping has got to be disheartening for those that love grading!! I think 3rd stamp down is by far the best of the 5.

I'll agree with Bill, it's an 85 IMO.

Personally, I have no problem with grading. What I disagree with is overgrading of extreme rarities (The "95" C3a), "net grading" of stamps with minor faults and grading many stamps 90+ that simply can't be graded that high technically.

IMHO certain 1857/1860 issues just don't exist in grades past 90. You see this with certain coins.. they just don't exist in superb gem grades due to strike or luster issues on that date.

I don't think any of stamps above should be better than a 90. I think third stamp down should be 90, and rest should be 85s. I just don't get the 98 graded one? Is mr. Crowe suggesting that earlier PSE graded stamps were judged under a different (perhaps more lenient) criteria than stamps graded in last 3-5 years????

You like good margins? Here's a couple for your consideration...

stampman I like the cancel on the second stamp.

I don't need PSE to tell me if a stamp is well centered. It would not surprise me if the last stamp pictured is graded 98J by them as often they only seem to take into consideration the centering with little concern about other things that make a stamp sound and desirable. I may be wrong, but I can't imagine a long time, experienced collector, as opposed to an investor, paying the massive bucks some of these high graded stamps bring at auction.

Sorry about the rant, but this has been bugging me for a long time.

Dave

Dave,

It bugs all of us, yet the market shows that if you find a super well centered stamp it may be worthwhile sending it in to get graded. I don't sell stamps, only collect. But for appraisal value for insurance reasons or to sell at some point in your life or hand down after you die, it makes sense that you understand the value of your collection. I'm just trying to understand how they graded the 4th stamp a 98, and the 1st stamp an 85 (with a value difference iif about 3000$ At auction.). I guess I'm trying to figure out how they grade these issues with tight perforations as I am not seeing significant differences between an 85 and 98 with my eyes. I'm not seeing what the graders at PSE are seeing. Other issues are easier to understand grading standards.

Stampman

Those are nice stamps. Scott 26, not 25. I find the 26 easier to find centered due to lack of outer frame line. That bottom stamp is nice jumbo. I would think 95J, But is it sound? Obvious perf issues at bottom and scissor cut versus reperf on left side. A graded cert at 95-98J would make it perhaps a 250-400$ plus stamp versus 10$. I'm curious what you would appraise the stamp value at?

Rg

I'd give it 80 with the margins but send it in. Im sure PSE would give it 98.

I am not trying to imply anything, but based on my personal experience (looking at over 300,000 certified stamps and other philatelic items) when it comes to the pre-1870 issues every finalizer has his or her own bias. I know that PSE looks at previously graded PSE certified stamps of the same Scott number with an eye towards consistency and I assume that the others have their own references. Each finalizer whether Randy Shoemaker (PSE and PSAG), Bill Litle, Mike Sherman, Scott Murphy (all PSE) or Lewis Kaufman (PF) have their own ideas of what additional features raise of lower the grade.

Looking at a scan it is only possible to grade centering. I can not tell the the color accurately nor the impression, both of which can be plus factors. I wondered what years the stamps were graded as it would give me an idea of who might have placed the final grade on those stamps which would give me a clue to their own personal tastes. To my eye there might have been some inconsistency in the grades which could be explained by knowing who did the finalizing. However, without seeing the stamps in person it is impossible to tell what the correct grade should be. Remember that under the PSE system there can be a tiny flaw (listed in their guide as an extremely minor fault) which can lower the grade and would not be mentioned on the certificate. Two identically centered stamps can receive different grades, but have certificates which read only genuine. A 98 centered stamp with a tiny flaw (such as a corner perforation crease or a slightly shorter perforation or gum skip) could receive a grade of 95. The problem is that anything other than genuine on a certificate crushes the value of the stamp. There are many buyers would not buy a stamp with a certificate which reads 98 centering, but with a tiny corner perf crease which gives a grade of 95, but would buy the same stamp with a grade of 95 and no qualifiers.

I apologize for my delay in responding to your questions, but yesterday was devoted to a grandchild's first birthday party.