Mnh Vs Mh

OK, if I am looking to buy stamps from a someone/a dealer, what kind of discount over premium price will I be looking at when I buy Mint stamps that have been hinged?

If I buy from anyone on SCF, I expect to be treated fairly, but I walk to into a stamp store, does buying a mint stamp that has been hinged give me the ability to haggle a better price?

Do Scott unused prices reflect an expectation of MNH quality?

Apastuszak, there is I believe a premium for the stamps being mnh versus mh. I know in Scott's there is usually a separate listing for mnh versus my, yet this does not appear on every listing. It may depend on what particular stamp is being considered.

I would normally pay a bit more for a mnh versus a Mh, but it would not be much as to me the face of the stamp is more important nine times out of ten. Of course there will always be certain stamps I would prefer mnh, but I would be happy with a mh as well.

On modern stamps, Scott catalog price in the unused column is for VF MNH. On older stamps, the price is for VF lightly hinged with original gum. In some cases, when pricing information is available for older stamps, Scott will give the never hinged price (see US specialized or Classic Specialized).

Where does Scott make the break between H and MNH? On the modern editions, there will be a small paragraph near the country header (before the main listings) stating where the catalog prices change from H to MNH. Also, in the main listings, there will usually be a note distinguished by 2 lines, marking the break point.

k

As stated previously, there is no exact premium that can be placed on all stamps for MNH...it depends on the issue.

In the US, for the older 19th and early 20th century issues, my 2011 Scott Specialized Catalog of US Stamps has a grading guide that values stamps in various conditions. To give just three examples in VF condition, the stamps are graded as O.G. (mint, original gum) and N.H. (mint, never hinged):

Scott No. 285 1c Trans Mississippi: Mint, O.G. = $25; Mint, N.H. = $75 (a 200% increase)
Scott No. 292 $1 Trans Mississippi: Mint, O.G. = $1100; Mint, N.H. = $3400 (a 209% increase)

...and to compare the above to a very common stamp, take for example:

Scott No. 692 11c Hayes Rotary Press: Mint, O.G. = $2.50; Mint, N.H. = $3.75 (a 50% increase)

Although one can generalize and say the "better" stamps have a higher spread in value in MNH condition, the above examples prove that actual values do vary, so there is no hard number that can be applied to all issues.

As is typical for stamps or any other collectible, actual price ranges all depend upon supply and demand.

Also, it's not just MNH VS MH, as I'd take a very well centered hinged stamp with nice balanced margins over a poorly centered MNH stamp with no margins.

WAIT-A-MINUTE------------The biggest factor to concider is ,are you creating a collection of MNH stamps or if your mixing stamps in one collection.If you are mixing them than your wasteing money.Very few collectors are paying premium prices for MNH if they go into a general collection.The only place I can see MNH is Vatican,Isreal,U.N. and a few others but over all the MNH fad is dead to everyone but the dealers who still have inventory to sell.

I should add that the art of removeing gum from one damaged stamp and placed on a different like stamp has gotten so good that some certifying companies no longer comment on gum ,yes it is "original gum" ,when moved from like face stamps one to the other.

If you are an investor looking to turn a profit, then the premium may be justified. Or maybe you just want to display the back of your stamps, then centering, color, etc become a moot point. I don't collect gum! I collect stamps, preferably one that has seen legitimate duty as postage.

I don't stare at the back of my stamps, so I'm not glued to the NH idea. I just didn't want to get ripped off by a dealer that was charging MNH prices for MH stamps and I should beware. If there is no difference in value, then that's fine.

And I do agree, a hinged sample with good centering beats a MNH that's off to one side.

Sorry to be ignorant here, but re: floortrader's comment:

- If you are mixing them than your wasteing money. Very few collectors are paying premium prices for MNH if they go into a general collection -

I see collectors, such as myself, mixing them all of the time. Like most people I have a limited budget. If I can afford good, MNH I probably will buy that, but next in line is MH .. followed by used.

For example, I might be building a classic series of some sort and, most of the time, the lower-valued stamps are likely obtainable at a decent price for MNH, but when you get into stamps that cost $40 to $2,000 or more, well, I am backing off into used territory.

Regardless of the mix, I don't think the collection suffers at all to see 3 or 4 MNH stamps, followed by some used stamps. I think any collection is enhanced by the stamps that are MNH.

But that's just me, I suppose.

This is why I like the Unitrade Specialist Catalogue for Canada. There is a premium listed for MNH stamps and the difference can be quite substantiual in a lot of cases too.

Chimo

Bujutsu

Any time you can fill a box on your page, go for it. Doesn't really matter if it's MNH, MH or used. If I get used, I prefer a light cancellation. I've seen some used stamps that have such a heavy cancellation, I can barely make out the stamp underneath. That, to me, is worthless in an album.

Apastuszak- Agree completely. Especially with filling the spot on the page. With the higher priced stamps I will likely start with a used example to fill the spot while I continue to search for a mint stamp in my price range. I am constantly replacing used stamps in my albums with MNH/MH stamps. I guess the next step is to start selling off some of my used stock.