Grading Used Stamps.

As a novice not particularly interested in the fine points of this hobby I would prefer to avoid having to grade stamps altogether because I just want to sell them online. When a scanned image is provided is that satisfactory for most buyers? I assume if there are questions, etc the prospective buyer would just contact me for more info.

At a very basic level I can handle mint vs cancelled, coil vs block or sheet, and hinged, but beyond that it gets beyond me. I guess it means that, just as KGV suggests it is better to undergrade, it is also best for me to underprice, given that my buyer will be harder to reach without the proper identification, grading, etc, of my stamps.

Tom,
I think it is wise not to mislead a buyer into thinking he is getting a certain condition stamp where he will not be and will be surprised and irate when it is time to leave you feedback or to buy again from you.

A good scan is nice. For old and expensive stamps a back scan is nice also unless the dealer is well known and trusted (my opinion only here) so that his guarantee of a 'sound' and free from defect stamp is enough. Even when you have a back scan some defects are not appanent. You really need to have the stamp with you andlook at it from all angles and light and shadow and close and far away to see the nitty gritty.

But that perhaps is just me. I like details and notice details. Buyt this is after years of getting stamps because they were just stamps and I didn;t have that one, which is a good portion of collectors. Even cancel collectors sometimes (me included) miss defects because they are paying attention to the cancel but not the stamp. You see what you are expecting to see sometimes.

Most people will not ask a question. Some will and that is a good thing. But most won't. So, if you think something needs saying, say it before they won't ask because they will move on. Not everyone thinks the same. Some don't want the details but some appreciate it.

I guess mainly it is up to you to decide what you want to do and have the time and inclination for.

KGV Collector,

Don't be discouraged or disgruntled with the goings on of other dealers. I think that the class and quality of stamps you are providing are top rank.

Except for calling CTO used, but that is just me. Most people do call them that because they look like that. And the stamps not cancelled being called used. Oh me oh my, my head. But at least you are leaving them in their received condition and not even thinking of tampering with them. That is a big plus. Big Big.

I agree with Rod in his assessment of using vigilance. Knowing of these doings and tidings does somewhat seem to muddy the waters but I think now that it is good to know and then when you buy or sell you are more likely to recognize something that isn't as it should be to your eyes.

It's like a spy knowing the room is bugged. It helps him make decisions and carry out his plans and goals without having them upset by the other guys.

This is probably not only true for countries, but for individual collectors. Grading of used stamps seems like it may not even be as important as in the past, since digital imaging is now so ubiquitous. Individual collectors are able to look at the stamp and decide whether or not they like how the cancel looks on a used stamp. I am surprised to hear that there are dealers drawing on cancels or using rubber stamps to fake a cancel. That constitutes FRAUD in my opinion and seems really no different than washing cancellations off used stamps, regumming, and calling them mint.

Thanks Puzzler for unpuzzling the issue a bit for me. I hear you saying there can be some very tricky aspects to fully grading a stamp, and that I had best be careful how I present them in the market.

Say hypothetically, and it's not a far stretch, that I cannot even begin to grade a particular stamp that you would consider to be Very Fine. If I want credibility I can only sell that stamp at a substantially lower rating (outside of getting others to help with the appraisal), but should I drop it down one grade or two, or even more? (Obviously I make less per sale, but I am sure I will still do better in the long run with credibility )

Just some of the cancelled to order stamps that have come out of kiloware that we have sorted.

This type of postmark seems to be only used on C.T.Os.

Gaff,
Yes I agree it is Fraud.


Tom,
Well, grading is, as mentioned, a personal thing. One person's very fine is not that to another. Generally it works.

For you there are two considerations I think. One, you are mostly dealing with modern (after 1950's) stamps (I think). Therefore most of them come from the printer centered fine to very fine anyway. That leads to the second consideration, the condition, as in defects or no defects.

If the stamp does has any defects then try to accurately describe them. Most people will not want it except if the stamp is rare, has a sought after cancel or usage on cover, or has something special about it. Otherwise it is postage or garbage. (my opinion)

If the stamp is sound and is defect-free (no thins, tears, rips, creases, pulled perfs or gum disturbances) then you can say it is sound in the title and description. If it isn't then don't.

I started grading and got pretty good at some stamps and eras but there are always stamps that look like they are good but are considered fine or very fine because of their comparison to other stamps of that era or age or series.

Easiest thing to do is Not grade. That means don't sell defective stamps so that everything you sell can be considered fine to very fine.

Saying a stamp is graded as good means it has some defects. Saying a stamp is in good condition means it is generally sound and has no major defects. Slightly different.

Look in the front of a stamp catalogue and see how they grade stamps. It can get pretty touchy. I know one collector that says he just ignores whatever grading the stamp is supposed to have, as stated by any seller, as usually that grading doesn't match his grading criteria, and just looks at the stamp and decides himself.

So, good pictures. I think a back scan helps as ebay says that extra pictures give you a 17% better chance of selling an item, and it is like you are saying, look, I want you to see that I care that you get a good stamp. It is extra work and most people don't back scan except in extraordinary circumstances. Depends on you again.

There was a good article on ebay somewhere about selling stamps by a seller. He said (relying on my memory here) that it was important to put the name of the country, the word stamp, the year, and a description of something important on the stamp that people would search for. The catalogue number is important only if people know your catalogue number to start with. You can, of course, put the number(s) in the description.

Look at the stamp and say, what are people going to search for when they want this stamp? Depends on why they want it and how they have their collection organized too. Topical or thematic collectors just might search for birds or ships for example. Depends on your market.

Some do, and I have learned to see this and mostly ignore it, describe stamps as F-VF or VF in their title. I feel that is dangerous and asking for it, but it does draw attention.

A basic selling idea is to under-promise and over-deliver. I think that is what you are trying to do and I think it would work just as well if you didn't use grading but just Always sent out nice (not defective) stamps and say that the picture is the stamp you are getting (or nice words to that effect).

Anybody who has read this far without cheating and skipping over the middle part can email me and get a Free (there's always a price to pay, isn't there?) long distance H you G.

KGV Collector John,

Those actually look nice. To some perhaps the nice orderly arrangement of a nicely placed cancel on all one's stamps would be appealing.

And I know that some collectors (me included) would be glad to have a stamp if they couldn't afford a better one. As long as the stamp is otherwise defect-free they are great for certain markets.

I ignored cancels for 15 years or so and was happy to have copies of neat stamps.

Now, with experience and knowledge and personal preference, I want something that at least looks like a real cancel if I have a choice.

Some days it is like, hmmm, should I have a real Monet painting or just a borrowed image off the internet? I haven't quite got to the real Monet yet (if I could even tell if it was real) so the other one will do just fine.

Top row: C.T.Os from 1913

Bottom row: C.T.Os from 1993

They are very distinctive postmarks, not easily missed. It looks like Australia Post has made sure the collector knows they are C.T.Os.

Rod I have never belonged to a stamp club and not because I do not like them it is something that has been out of my reach.

Stamp club members are sounding very much like they are very smart collectors. There is safety in numbers and for new comers to stamping a great deal of help in the process of finding the best quality stamps possible.

I can just imagine how a rip off dealer would be treated by a stamp club. So a big vote for stamp clubs. SCF is my stamp club and I am so glad of this!

Sorry to correct you John.
I think you will find your examples (excepting the roos)
are not CTO, but "Printed on mute"

There is a vast difference, the printed on mute are
produced at the time of the print process
and were used by Australia Post as display articles.

These printed on mute have never been catalogued, but there are vast numbers out there.

I will stand corrected if anyone can prove otherwise.
(perhaps CTO definition includes "printed on mute" ?)

The main difference the "printed on mute" has no date details.

If you look under microscope, or deep scan res, you can spot the difference.

Further,
here is a part commentary on some freebies that arrived
from the Australian Cinderella Club.

So, some at least consider these as "Cinderellas"

Hope this assists John.

Thanks Rod this is totally new to me!

This area of postmarks or more correctly cancels, is really turning into a can of worms!

Yes there are heaps of them out there! But what to call them? I think that CTO is probably going to give the best idea for the collector but I will wait and see! I am trying to keep a very open mind at the minuet. I want and need to get the whole area of grading spot on.

Rod I had not seen your posted cinderella club material before my last post but it still fits.

I do not think that many people know about the mute cancel and if they do they are not talking about it.

These said stamps are commonly described as CTO at auction.

In the distance you might be able to hear me saying. Where are my KGVs!