Is It #72 Or Something Better?

kingstonstamper - There is no such thing as "mint no gum." MINT means the stamp is in the condition the post office issued it. Full original gum (or NGAI - no gum as issued) ... period. For UNUSED stamps off cover, do not misinterpret the Scott listing being in the column we all call "mint" because if it has no gum it simply is not mint. Stamps on cover which were clearly never subjected to mail service, these are still just unused stamps.

As for unused postal stationary items with what may be a make-up rate stamp pre-affixed, there really is no way of establishing whether this was done by a PO unofficially, or simply by someone at home and it went unused. I am certain that everyone here has at least one such example in their accumulation.

Well, I learned something. NH means original gum without ever a hinge. I always thought NH could be applied to a used stamp. Where does OG (original gum) come into play?

An unused stamp with original gum retains the gum applied while that stamp was being produced. If a stamp has been hinged it is referred to as having hinged original gum or the gum has had contact with moisture it is referred to as disturbed original gum. A stamp with some gum loss would be labeled as having part original gum. A stamp with full original gum may be referred to as "mint" or "mint never hinged", but I prefer to say "never hinged" or "original gum never hinged".

Why the emphasis on original gum? Many classic 19th century stamps have lost all or most of their gum over the years. Unscrupulous dealers have added gum to the backs of unused (or used) stamps with varying levels of success. Such stamps are referred to as "regummed". In some cases, an air brush or a small amount of moisture is used to brush out a hinge mark and smooth the gum to resemble being never hinged. I recently found a US official reissue, issued without gum (no gum as issued or NGAI), that someone added gum to. I guess "regummed" would not a be strictly accurate description.

Now, used stamps: Almost all used or NGAI stamps can be soaked to remove hinge adhesive residue or attached hinges. Soaking should reduce the possibility of creating a new thin. Also, sending used stamps with hinges or adhesive should be avoided. Finally, if a dealer stock is full of used stamps with hinge remnants or gunk on the back, don't plan of finding stamps free of defects.

Clark