Stamp Grading Services

Curious as to how many stamp collectors use grading services to determine value. I don't see much authentication going on with items online like I do with coins (using PCGS, NGC, etc..).
But Caspian has directed me to Spiegel's valuation page that make me very curious, as I usually come across albums where the valuation may be higher due to condition, as per this example I recently picked up.
The Colombians here are especially crisp with no hinge. Would something like this be worthy to grade?
Thanks

I'd have to say no. The Columbians are not especially well centered.

Thank you for the response. Would the centering of a stamp affect its numerical grade? Meaning is their more than just physical condition that affects a numerical grade?

I'd also like any feedback on people's experience with grading.. Is it not worth it?
I don't see many stamps with certification from a third party grader being sold as I do with coins...

I hope quality stamps do not go the way of coins---that is, buried in plastic slabs by grading services. At present people are collecting special coin holders---I do not feel that is numismatics, and certainly not philately. Getting a coin or stamp graded is good, burying it in plastic is not---yet one needs to preserve the integrity of the grade? A conundrum.

Grading is accepted by some in this hobby and not accepted by others.

For example, a significant 'unintended consequence' is the breaking up of early rare, imperf multiples to 'make' a highly graded single stamp. There are many other 'pros' and 'cons' to this issue.
Don

Most definitely. When you see a stamp described with F, F/VF, XF, etc that's an imprecise measure of centering, and has nothing to do with it being hinged (or not). Submitting a stamp for grading will most definitely take centering into great account, and will for good and bad remove any wiggle room around judging the specimen's centering. It may also slab the stamp, as at least one service does.
My belief is, most hobbyists are satisfied with expertising (opinions of genuineness) for anything of value, and while the market for graded stamps obviously exists, it's certainly no where near what you see in numismatics (including currency) or sports cards. You'd be much better served just having these shown genuine (and not graded), IMO. If even that.

Grading can be beneficial if you are trying to sell to someone else who thinks grading is important. As was mentioned, your Columbians are not well centered so the grade will certainly reflect that, just guessing 75 or lower. I put more importance on certification that the stamp is genuine, not regummed or reperforated or any other thing other than what it should be. I can decide my own grade. Just my thoughts. YMMV

Oh wow! I seriously need to transition my mind away from coin collecting, where a coin's grade is determined by its physical state after leaving the mint. What's more, an off-center specimen is considered more valuable!! Totally the opposite with stamps..

That's very interesting and good to know. Certify it based on authenticity over grade (as there are probably many counterfeits).

I do like that though. The grade is more or less determined by the collector. As YbT points out, the slabbing of coins has sure done it's part in wrecking the hobby.

So if a stamp is well-centered, but has a slight flaw (like a tear in the corner), is it more sought after than a flawless, yet off-centered stamp in the eyes of collectors?

Grading takes many other things into consideration beyond centering. Ultimately, grading is a 'paid for' opinion, and opinions can vary.
https://www.philatelicfoundation.or...ess/grading/


Don

Not necessarily, depends on the collector. Since philately hasn't fallen down the "numbers mean everything" rabbit hole that American numismatics largely has, each buyer decides for themselves what matters (as do the sellers, when they price something). Some collectors would find a tear (fixed or not) unforgivable, some don't care; everyone would at least want to know that there was a tear, though. Everything is a matter of informal degree: how long is the tear? does the tear impinge on the design? how off-center is the stamp, relative to others of its ilk?
There are examples of example of stamps that are worth more used, than new/unused (usually when the stamp is withdrawn quickly, or the issuing authority was short-lived, etc). 99% of post-war stamps lose almost all their value if unused but hinged, but hinging is much less a problem for stamps issued before 1900, when it was the universally accepted way to mount them in an album.
TLDR; it depends.

Coins are not stamps, stamps are not coins; production methods vary greatly and have a quite wide range of results not to mention with very, very rare exception, stamps are printed on paper not struck into medal. Stamps are based upon a transfer of ink (color), coins a transfer of topography from one metal to another.

Each, coins and philately, have their own unique terms of art, grading considerations, collecting methodology and interests.

If one wishes to find something which overlaps the collecting of stamps and the collecting of money, you need to look to printed (generally on paper) money with fractional currency being the true overlap.

Edit: As to the contents of your photos, except for the Columbians and Byrd sheet, the best return for the dollar on the stamps shown would be use as postage. That is difficult for you as you are not in the USA and as to the UN material near New York City. Thus it would cost you money to get them to the USA for someone to use them as postage, hence why mixed postage trades at a percentage of face.

Now if you have all basic 28 stamps for the Great Americans issue you may be able to move it, as a set, at over face before the costs associated with the sale. Yet face is nearly on half of the current 2022 set price of $33.90, Mint, VF and NH.

That may be true for you, but my experience is that most collectors who think this soon discover they are usually wrong in their grades. Over grading is endemic among collectors who are not experienced at doing it.