Love Or Hate Slabbed Stamps

interesting discussion - IMHO some how it just seems wrong to "slab" a stamp - would I buy one? - nope

Ok, I have to admit I had to look up what a slabbed stamp was. I can only think, why would you bother?

I think the entire concept of slabbing anything, and it's not limited to stamps, is idiotic and anyone who buys one or has it done is a fool. This is just another way for the gullible to get ripped off by slabbing companies and people who have zero expertise in a collectable to feel better about remaining ignorant.

An old valuable coin I can sort of see. If for no other reason than it's grade and grading "criteria" are preserved from digs, bag-marks, scratching, and incorrect handling in general. but with stamps it just don't work.

As a collector of coins, but one with far less knowledge than of stamps, I buy only slabbed coins that fit my grade criteria and budget. When I get them home, however, I crack them out carefully and place them in my Dansco albums so they can be stored more easily and enjoyed along side other coins. I also keep the PCGS and NGC slips so I have a record the coin was once graded professionally (which can help a little down the road with resale). I also have to pay a fair market price for the coin in every instance... there are no sleeper deals with professionally graded coins, but I know what I am getting. However, most coins are not slabbed and most coin collectors know, think they know, or don't really mind about grade accuracy when buying as long as they like the coin and price savings of not having the coin professionally graded. Collector knowledge runs the gamut.

With stamps in capsules it is much the same. Most stamps are not slabbed but there is a strengthening market for encapsulated stamps. Interestingly, dealers see two phenomena: 1. Collectors insist on buying a slabbed stamp and having it removed from the slab, converting to a paper graded certificate, so the stamp can go into an album (they buy the slab because they trust it is graded accurately and still in the same condition as stated) and 2. Collectors buy graded stamps with paper certificates and insist on having them converted to slabs before taking possession. These "conversions" are arranged by dealers and the major auction houses. Depending on the stamp and how it might be handled, the group of #1 folks run the risk of making a foolish decision should the stamp become damaged. The #2 folks are decreasing risk substantially for a very modest extra fee. Both, though, can be good stewards of the history they are tasked with enjoying and preserving.

Having collected stamps for 35 years, I know much more in this area than of coins. I appreciate albums for most collections and collectors, and respect that way of collecting, but I love the benefits a capsule provides for certain types of stamps. It will be another 10 to 20 years before the magnitude of value capsules provide is clear. But for sure, those stamps that have been in capsules will be in the same condition then as they are now, and recertification likely won't be needed.

Hopefully this discussion has sparked some great thought and provided a more balanced view of slabbing that others may find beneficial!

Add me to this list of those who hate slabbing of stamps.

I think 'slabbing' is not common anywhere other than US?
I've never seen it here in UK and think it is not something I'd be interested in.
I do find it interesting though how certain criteria are more prominent in certain countries e.g. grading in US.