How Do I Certify Stamps Won At Auction

I am a general worldwide collector, and not an expert at anything. However, I still like to have complete sets and a nice looking collection, which means occasionally I may have to spend a little bit of money by buying stamps at a traditional auction house.

Reading some of the other posts on this forum leads me to believe that it is not unusual to get something other than what the auctioneer is claiming. I want to be sure that what I am buying is genuine.

I read the terms and conditions for Kelleher and it says you must send back the stamp within 4 weeks for a refund. I am not sure how feasible it is to get a cert issued within 4 weeks, even if I submit it overnight to an expertizing body.

How do people manage to get their purchases certified in 4 weeks?

Place the lot on Extension.

7(c) Quality. Any lot which a purchaser considers to be incorrectly described may be returned to Kelleher within two weeks of its receipt by such purchaser ("Returning Purchaser"), provided, however, that the same is received by Kelleher within four weeks of the date of the auction; however, Kelleher may, in its discretion, refuse acceptance of such returned lot. If an opinion of a mutually acceptable authority is desired, the period of time within which a lot must be received by Kelleher will be extended in accordance with Condition of Sale 8. In the event that a dispute cannot be resolved by reference to a mutually acceptable authority, and Kelleher thereupon undertakes to re-offer the lot with a description identical to the description disputed, the Returning Purchaser shall be liable for the deficiency, if any, between the proceeds of the sale to the Returning Purchaser and the proceeds of a sale to a subsequent purchaser, as well as for all costs and expenses of the resale, including commission, and all incidental damages. Any lot, the description of which is disputed, must be returned intact and in the original packaging and in the condition received (unaltered) by the purchaser. The following lots are not returnable except at the discretion of Kelleher: (i) lots from purchasers who attended the exhibition of the lots; (ii) lots examined by postal viewers; (iii) lots on account of their appearance, if they are illustrated in this online catalogue; or (iv) lots described as having repairs, defects or faults for any reason. (v) lots containing more than ten (10) items.

Thanks! I don't know why I somehow didn't read the sentence you highlighted.

It also may help to notify the auction house that you will want an independent certification if you are successful in obtaining the lot. I'm aware of one mail-order-only auction house that asks for this on the bid sheet.