How Do You Rate This One?

Shermae, it's not a stain, but rather a trivial "inclusion"

It can only be a matter of time before they write, for some other item, "Tear down the middle, mentioned for accuracy but does not detract". Sheesh.

cj -
essayk - I would love to have your beautiful stamp in my album . Thanks for sharing this example of grading, very interesting to read different takes on grading.

The short perfs, rust/stain ("inclusion") and the general problem with ink/print detracts for me. The somewhat strict Scandinavian system would probably give penalty first of all for the short perfs, believes something like 2/5/4 out of 5/5/5.

Overall condition: 2 (several 1/2 perfs, the inclusion and the eye-candy-problem by poor inking/print)
Centering: 5 (or maybe 4, not as strict with centring as in US, so this stamp might get a clean 5)
Cancellation/mint: 4 (or 3? full gum, but not original gum)

I am obviously unfamiliar with US grading because I can't comprehend it's graded 100. Find it fascinating how people are grading that differently. If problem to get away with the stamp - feel free to send it to Norway
Jon

In coins and stamps both the graders have made it so only the novice likes the grading system.it ended up Poor and inconsistant, its really a shame because it was a good idea it just went bad.

I voted this stamp a 100 because I knew PSE is terrible at grading. I went with centering more than the stain or inclusing. Do we know who the other person is that gave it a 100. Newby.

Hi essayk,
I saw your post/poll and was unable to give a grade, as I am certainly unqualified to do so. However I believe I am qualified to speak
in regards to PSE. I agree with some earlier criticism of PSE.Wow,yes they did take 82 stamps from me at the NYC show in 2009.I had no idea what to give them or whether or not to ask for grades. They sent me certs with grades as low as 5. I did mention this in an earlier thread. At least 12-26s & 12-65s along with many other worthless stamps. It cost close to $3,000 If they are so great, why did they not send me home. Grasshopper! Are you kidding me. I think they are rats. They offered to fly east and get some more.
Sounds like I am venting? Would you feel any different?
By the way, I loved your stamp post. Beautiful!
Bob

100 is supposed to be perfection. The inclusion and the short perf at top disqualify it.

I meant to say Happy 1200th post essayk,
Sorry to vent over spilt milk with PSE.
I do value some of their work. Maybe they
should contact me and offer, a will work
for respect contract. I might now know some
things to send them.

Peace in the Valley,
Bob

I'd grade it 80, MAYBE 85. It lacks eye appeal except for the centering and selvage. The ugly shortish perfs, the inking problem, that nasty inclusion, and the fact that it's re-gummed are ALL good reasons to not have given it the perfect grade.

Just wondering if there was something else going on...like the owner of that stamp was somehow "involved"? Not sure how likely or possible that is though....


I can tell you this: That stamp is the ugliest, worst looking Gem 100J I have ever seen. Grade 100 stamps in general are supposed to be "gems". In other words, they're supposed to be perfect! This stamp... is by no means perfect.

By the way, congratulations on your 1,200th post essayk!

Of course there is another scenario. We are just taking essayk's word that it was graded at 100. How about posting a scan of the certificate?

Of course if PSE actually wanted people to know their work, they would have a searchable database instead of the nearly useless thing they have. Then anyone could check that without needing to see the cert.

I've always wondered why PSE was unwilling to make their database searchable (like PF's.) IMO it could be a very useful resource.

You can view the stamp at Kelleher auction lot #1097 taking place on Dec.,9. The stamp is pictured as a 100J and comes with a 2012 PSE certificate which is not shown. You will have to ask auction house to send a picture of the certificate.

The PF is a non profit, the database is part of that. PSE is for profit, and they are giving nothing away.

I think it would help PSE's bottom line to give it away, so still don't understand their stance (unless there are just too many skeletons in that closet.)

Many collectors wonder what grade their stamp might achieve -- I get asked to opine on that all the time. Being able to search PSE's database by Scott number would be a VERY good comparative tool - you'd know exactly where your stamp stacks up and have a increased confidence level spending the money to grade it. They should look at it as a promotional tool, not an asset to protect.

...and FWIW, since they already make the certs searchable by cert number (with all relevant information present: Scott #, grade, image, etc.,) it probably wouldn't take a high-school kid more than 30 minutes to write a script that goes one-by-one and mines the entire database (i.e. it's not like they're really protecting anything anyway.)