Greater Weight In Stamps

just curious, as a beginner in stamp collecting and hoping to raise up to some level of seriousnes, there comes a collecting question in mind.

Assuming one has to choose among four of the same rare & valuable stamp: (1) One unused still with gum; (2) the second one used and still glued to it's envelope cover; (3) the third is used but soaked and without gum; and (4) the fourth is used but with still residual gum. All un-torn and no unsightly marks.

How would you arange them in order of value? which would be most number one collectible and which would be the least?

Only speaking for myself nic,
The example on cover holds the highest ranking, then for me, lies the unused
without gum. Chosen as initially it is really the best condition for long time archival, but probably more importantly, it will be 40% to 60% cheaper.
I only save gum for the reasons of resale, or to indicate a variety.

From a Scott's catalog point of view the answer is - "It depends."

It depends on the relative scarcity and desirability of the individual item. In the German area, for example, some legitimate postally used items are valued at 100's of times a MNH item. In other instances, a MNH item is worth more than the same MH item which is worth more than a used item.

With covers there are the same factors to consider plus "the look" of the item. Covers are much more difficult to value and I don't even try.

If we are talking about stamps valued at a several dollars or more, then #2 is always worth at least as much as #3 or #4, and probably more (maybe a lot more). I don't think there is much if any difference between #3 and #4 in terms of value.

I'm sure someone will find and point out an exception to these thoughts.

swabbie's point is the reason why there can never be a hard and fast rule as to whether mint or used is more valuable for any particular stamp, because it depends upon the history of the particular stamp.

This is why some sort of catalogue is so important; consecutive numbers in the catalogue can have wildly varying values for mint or used, going back and forth between mint being more valuable and used being more valuable.

Of course, some collectors are choosing a different route...they focus on mint, or they focus on used, and they only have to look at one column in the catalogue.

Collin

thanks guys. very curious because here, say a particular stamp, four of it, each in a category of the four I mentioned, are all sold at the same price. So might as well pick the one that is accepted as best condition by the majority of collectors.

so it's the stamp (#2) used and still glued on it's envelope, that's the best pick of four- (all the same)- stamps?

Hi nic,

There are always a lot of ifs when valuing any stamp.

IF a stamp on cover (cover = envelope) (envelope 'covers' or protects the communication being mailed / posted) is canceled nicely, that is it looks nice to the eye, which is rather subjective as laswabbie says, AND the hand writing is nice AND the other cancels are of interest AND the stamp is used in period AND the stamps used show a usage for a desirable rate (such as normal mail uprated to registered or international) AND the cover is 'clean' (free from stains or other blemishes) AND the back of the cover has interesting cancels (for me) OR the cover is addressed to or from someone of interest or has been used in a period of interest OR just looks nice AND you don't have any other covers from that period so this one is the best until a 'better' one comes along THEN it is better. IF you like covers that is. PLUS numerous other factors harder to explain.

Postal History can be fascinating.

To answer your first post: it depends on your collecting interest and your personal choice, what you prefer over another stamp/

A mint (unused with original gum) stamp presents well (looks nice when you first see it, your first impression, or even your second or third impression after close scrutiny and study) BUT some people do not care for them for different reasons. Usually it is valued more.

A used stamp (without gum, but sometimes a stamp, because of not being stuck completely down when first attached to the cover, still has some gum remaining, which is alright because, being used (with cancel) the stamp can usually be safely soaked and the gum removed) IS usually valued less than a mint stamp which presents better.

Whether mint or used OR unused or used OR canceled lightly or socked on the nose (bulls-eye cancel) AND whether you have decided to just collect unused or used THEN it always ends up with the question of how a stamp (or cover) 'presents' to the collector. You.

If you are concerned with value in years to come, especially to other collectors, then you must try not to get too personal with the stamp or cover and look at it with an impartial eye.

If I remember correctly you like cancels. Thus I would assume you would like postal history (covers, etc) that show usage within periods of postal history OR to and from interesting places or via interesting modes of transport (railways). That makes it an easy choice then. Look for that. Interesting cancels or covers.

My grandmother kept stamps 'on cover' (and other stamps in cover!) and had boxes and boxes and boxes of them. My aunt told me she kept them that way because stamps were 'worth more' if left on the cover. Well, they are IF some of the conditions above are met BUT if it is just one of literally millions of the same stamp used millions of times on cover (also depending on age and how many survived to this day) then 'usually' it is not 'worth more'.

BUT and this is an IMPORTANT but, if you do not know why a cover might or might not be important to someone (and here it is always hard to know everything) then it is best to keep stamps on cover until you know more and can then sort through them and at that time (possibly) keep only the ones that are 'valuable'.

Sorry for writing so much, but I think you can get an idea of how confusing and hard it is to judge these matters. There are a lot of concerns to be considered.

But who is to tell what exactly, 100 years from now, will be appealing to a stamp collector especially items of recent history? Things can change, opinion can change.

If it presents well then it is worth more. (Usually!)

Not really off topic but to put it in a perspective or sorts, lets consider something else other than a stamp and see how it compares.

Consider a sword. From the Roman era. A Roman short sword. How valuable is that?

Depends.

To a historian it is valuable. To a sword collector it is valuable. It's history (if known) makes it more valuable to them.

What about used or unused?
Depends if you want a 'good looking' sword or if a sword used to kill Julius Cesear means more to you or not. (I know, daggers were really used, but . . .).

Well, if you kept a sword made now a days, should you keep one that is used (uck) and chipped and worn or one that is brand new and looks really nice?

Stamps are not swords but a rose, to a collector, is always a rose.

A rose of a different colour.

Do you appreciate certain ideas or things or do others share that appreciation?

Which rose is more valuable? Or sword? Or stamp?

thanks puzzler, that truly is an in-depth look at the best pick.

for me I'm just an ordinary stamp OFEC collector

Sorry I didnt mention, but my curiosity is realy to get a stamp piece that would have a high chance of being interesting for trade with another collector, that's so I can complete my 194 piece OFEC stamp album

given a choice of the same four stamps, all same grade, same color and fineness, which would you choose? maybe I can get that for you

At this time nic, I personally would choose used without gum or even with residual gom because I can always soak it and remove the remaining gum. Same difference.

(With a nice circular cancel preferably but if not then one with a partial cancel leaving the picture clear so you could see it.)

But I do admit an unused stamp with gum is mighty attractive looking.

The one on cover would be more valuable if it was a rare stamp.

I like used. I would pay more for a nice used stamp (canceled nicely) than for a mint unused one. Personally. Most people wouldn't.

Thanks puzzler, same here, I like used stamps as their history can be read from the creases and from the edgy frayed perfs

there's a local auction here this coming sunday. there's an item -a lot of 50pcs old miscl covers from worldwide, starting bid at US$3 and then another item, a stamp packet of 100 miscl stamps starting also at US$3

guess I'll go for the covers