Someone Please Explain This Stamp Grading To Me.

How exactly does this Stamp grade out at a 95 ? From my understanding for imperforated Stamps that even for XF that the margins need to be 1/2 the distance between stamps...am I wrong ? or is this to be considered that nice of a piece ?

Grading can be a very subjective term and what may be graded by one professional or professional organization very often can differ from that of another. Since your stamp was apparently graded by PSE, I suggest you download their "Guide to Grading and Expertising Stamps" at this link. In particular, refer to page 14 where they address the grading points related to an imperforate stamp:

http://www.psestamp.com/pdf/2009_Gr...e_092009.pdf

Unfortunately, there is often going to be a difference of opinion in grading, so I look at it more or less as a guide, just as a catalog value is used as a guide. The bottom line is what you are willing to be happy with in terms of eye appeal and what you are willing to spend (and what a seller is willing to take) for a given specimen that will determine its true market value.

Yes, WT1 I understand it's a Gray area. It's not my Stamp nor am I thinking of bidding on it. I'm not saying that it does not warrant a grade of 95, I'm asking what characteristics make it a 95.

Fom ebay Stamps
"Imperforate stamps are graded on margin width and margin balance. Full margins for a single stamp are 1/2 the distance to the next stamp on the sheet. The full distance is called the gutter. (Figure 1) shows the full gutter at the bottom. The top of the next stamp below on the sheet is visible. Measure the with of the gutter and divide by 2. Balance is the centering of the stamp within the margins. (Figure 1) is a four margin copy but is grossly out of balance."

So I guess my question really is.... On the Stamp shown are we talking about Margin balance here ? Top and bottom appear to be equal and the 2 side Margins appear to be equal as where I was under the impression that the 4 Margins were to be equal. Or do the rules change with imperforated Stamps.

PSE will sometimes give a stamp a 95 if the top is equal to the bottom, and the right is equal to the left, even if the top/bottom doesn't equal left/right.

Matt

Thanks Matt, I was under the impression that for such a high grade the margins were to be symmetrical. Or is this just the case with imperforated Stamps ?
Which of course brings me to my next question. If an imperforated stamp has symmetrical margins, does that detract from the grade ?