Is This 376 Unused?

Hello. Is this stamp unused. I can't seem to see any marks.

Hi, Does it have any gum on the backside?

Backside...

Hello,

A quick observation:

Stamp appears to be Perf 12 which is Scott # 376.

Reverse appears to be un-gumed.

Without a clear blowup, it's hard to tell if it has any removed cancellation marks.

A good explanation of how to tell if a stamp has had removed cancellations is: http://www.theswedishtiger.com/remove.html

John

Is this better?

Yes, that is better, however, I would not say it was or wasn't unused without having it in hand. If it doesn't have gum on the reverse side and doesn't show any indication that it does or had any cancellation marks, it was probably soaked off of an envelope or something that did not receive a cancellation either by the Post Office or by someone putting it on an envelope and then not mailing it; which in my opinion makes it used. Most seem ready to call such a stamp, mint, no gum.

But, as it appears on your posts, it appears not to have been canceled.

John

That is not correct. If a stamp has never been cancelled and has no gum it is graded as unused, and you will see it so listed in most major auctions. If a similar stamp has original gum, then it may be called "mint." Original gum stamps have a few grades as well depending on the condition of the gum, all the way up to fresh nh (never hinged). A stamp which has been regummed should be thought of as the same as a no-gum unused stamp, since its gum is not original.

essayk, Normally I'd respond to a post with finesse, but I find your statements blunt, offensive and wide of the points made by maverickx and myself.




I will list my aversions here:

• 
  
  Quote:
  "Graded"
This term is extraneous reference maverick's question.


• 
  
  Quote:
  "as unused, and you will see it so listed in most major auctions"
  
  What do major auctions have to do with whether maverickx's stamp is used or unused? Heaven for bid we should have to reference Spiegle or Regency Superior, etc to discover the answer.
  
  I have seen in many places including but not limited to, ebay, BidStart, etc., the term "M NG" (mint no gum) used much more frequently than "unused", or even "canceled"



• I also stated: "In my opinion", which does not relate to your or anyone else's opinion. Neither is is a statement of fact!



• Your assumption that neither maverickx nor I know what the term "Mint" means is belittling, repugnant and uncalled for.



• What does the lecture on mint stamps, their associated grades, and gummed or regummed have to do with maverickx's question?

John

Actually essayk is 100% correct on this one (and usually is) I didn't think it offensive In any way at all?
It was to the point and he explained why too. So I don't see the issue? The stamp clearly has no cancellation and has lost its gum so it's not considered mint but is considered unused.

Maybe the stamp was stuck to an envelope or other stamps from humidity or simply floated off of an old album page? We'll never know but the factors are it has no gum and thus far in its history has evaded a postmark. Folks on ebay are trying to sell you something and want to put a positive spin or light on stuff or that reason. Catalogs and auction houses follow the same basic criteria for stamp as far as the nomenclature goes.

John,


I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, and I'm sorry if my attempt at brevity came accross as lecturing you. The language of your previous reply, not you personally, prompted the need for a corrective, and I provided it without regard to how much you claim to know about stamps. Nonetheless, there was nothing in my statements intended to demean or belittle you at all, and I'm sorry you came to feel that way.

That said, I am not going to alter what I said, since I spoke with precision and I can stand behind every point. I will not go through a detailed rebuttal or refutation of your comments, except for one thing:


What is seen on venues like ebay and Bidstart is hardly a standard of excellence and good information. Far too large a percentage of sellers in these venues are not well informed about the niceties of philately. Many of those who are not, are still desirous of putting a stamp in the best light for a better price (hyping), and care little about playing fast and loose with language. So of course you are going to see all manner of misrepresentation and misinformation. The established auction houses and dealerships that have stood the test of time have a vested interest in making sure they use language consistent with the evolution of the stamp market. They are a far more reliable source of information about such things as grading. The best advice will direct new collectors to those companies, their literature, and their online presence.

Speaking of grading, the term "grading" itself is a catch-all that addresses far more than the assignment of a grade. As the Scott Specialized intro points out, the noun "grade" in U.S. philately is limited to centering and cancellation. Other details are covered by the term "condition," including the condition of the gum. However, the PROCESS of evaluating the grade and condition of a stamp is covered by the verb "to grade." Here it is worth noting that Scott does not use the word "mint" at all in reference to a stamp's overall condition. It does however have longstanding use in the industry, is market based, and its use is rather consistent among the major auction houses. It is a shorthand reference to the condition of a stamp as it was first issued by the Post Office/Postal Service. The expression "mint, no gum" is a contradiction of terms unless the stamp was issued without gum in the first place. For that reason it is ambiguous at best, and inappropriate with respect to most stamp issues. It's all about hype.

I thank all of you for your expert opinions!