Opinions On Regummed Stamps

Hello, I am somewhat of a stamp collecting noob... This has likely happened to everyone before (whether they know it or not) but I just purchased a US #211 stamp billed as MNH and even my untrained eye can tell it is regummed by the edges of the perfs. My thought on a regummed stamp is that you may as well clean the gum off and make it a MNG. It was added "illegally" so it shouldnt count for much as far as value goes? unless you are going to try and pawn it off as the same MNH (not condoned or recommended). I just want to know what other folks think about removing the gum, as far as the value of the stamp goes...
Thank You

I have had only one experience with a regummed stamp and I returned it to the seller -- it was described as MNH but really was used with cancel removed and regummed.

As to valuation, the 2011 Scott Stamp Values lists a CV of $1050 for a VF MNH Scott #211, $300 for unused OGph, and $100 for unused NG. That differential holds across the other grades (e.g., Fine $390, $130 and $40). As long as the stamp is identified as being regummed, most collectors are going ot value it in the No Gum state.

If you opt to keep the stamp rather than return it for being misrepresented, I see no harm in leaving it in its regummed state unless the spillover in the perf area detracts from the stamp's appearance.

Thank you, maybe I shouldnt assume everyone buys the way I do. The person I bought it from on ebay said he knew little and was going on what he was told over the years. I got it for $50 so I took the chance...

I prefer juicy fruit.

That one was for FredCDobbs.

it took me a minute but I got it!

If you decide to keep it, and to leave the new gum in place, then I'd watch it carefully over time to make sure it doesn't start to have a reaction.

Who knows what the regummer added when mixing up the new gum? And who knows how that will affect the paper over time?

issuarian,

Cjd makes a good point regarding caution for possible adverse effects of the new gum.

Glad to hear that your purchase price wasn't well over CV.

Steve

well since you make this point of a reaction it would seem that there may be a good reason to remove the gum... I guess I could re-ask my question like this...
is a stamp any more valuable regummed than with no gum?

First up, I don't have any experience with regummed stamps. Hinged vs unhinged isn't really an issue in the Indian States I collect. However, if the regumming job is so bad as to be obvious, I'd be offended by the sight of the stamp every time I looked at it. I'd return the stamp, regardless of what the seller says, or wash the gum off, regardless of any possibility of reactions from the new gum.

As to value, I'd think a poorly regummed stamp would be less saleable than one without gum. Who wants an obvious fake in their collection? (Unless you're a collector of fakes, that is.)

the only time a stamp is more valuable regummed, is when someone is buying it as MNHOG.
otherwise, it's worth as much as a no gum stamp..
and if you see "expertly" regummed, it's a BS term.

Thats exactly what I figured stampvirgin, thank you, though I always like to hear from multiple people on anything. I am just going to clean it and keep it for what it really is...which is worth much less than it was supposed to be!!

I would leave it alone, leave the gum on it.
two reasons..
1: the gum may hide some flaws that were covered up.
2: soaking at this point won't really help it, but it could hurt it.

Ok then... the piece looks very sound/fresh but I will leave it. thanks again

Reguming adds nothing to the value of a stamp and can hide a fault so there may be a qualification on a certificate, even if certified unused, that a fault may lie beneath. This would not be the case if certified with no gum. I would say that if you are CERTAIN that the stamp has been regummed or is used with cleaned cancel, and are adept at soaking off the gum without damaging or creasing the stamp, then I would do it. Certainly clear evidence of a washed cancel under UV would seem to make this a no brainer, but if there is no evidence of a cancel, I would want to be sure that what you think is regumming is not infact OG, disturbed OG, or redistributed OG before washing it off.

Firstly we are all noobs,
just some are noobs with regard more stamps
than others.

Once again, I would agree with Tony,
I'd be returning it at $50, it would irritate me
every time I looked at the scam.

Just one word of caution, please do show it to a dealer
to confirm your suspicions first.
Gum is not stable, and may have become viscous
at some time in its past care.

Bumping this post up, would someone re-gum $5 stamps and sell?

I recently received a bunch of 1949 UPU Omnibus stamps that
have a weird glue mark on the face mostly at
the top left corner.

The same stamps have a stiff perforation
as well.

When I asked the seller from UK he replied:
............
Hi - None are regummed - a couple of the low values
have gum marks on the front
Best regards
............

These are UPU 1949 Omnibus sets and nothing costly. Would someone really re-gum them?