Grading Confusion: Request Opinions Please

Hello Everyone,
I guess this topic has come up many times but I really need some help and have photos so you all can look a them and tell me, what grade you would give them?

When I pick out MNH stamps to auction off, I only pick the ones with absolutely NO flaws, no marks no dings or anything.

With that said, can any of the below (photos) be considered MNH? And if so, how would I describe the backsides?

Below each photo, I have pointed out what I see wrong with the backside. Please note, the front sides are MINT, totally clean... I thank each and everyone who can help me out.



(1) Notice the bottom center, this stamp is not bent, but if you hold it in a certain angle you can see it looks slightly bent. Is this not a MNH? Or is it MNH with slight flaw, or fine or very fine with exceptions?





(2) Notice the slight round mark? The gum is on the whole backside, just slight mark. How would you grade this?






(3) left corner, it's bent, but full gum, MNH, what would the description be, or just as I wrote it "left corner bent" or would this not be considered MNH any more?





(4) MNH, OG, however you can see it looks like this stamp has very small speckles of black.





(5) You can see a small black dot on the backside. I just need to know how exactly to write up descriptions or how to use the VF, Fine, and what other terms are there used in grading stamps so I can auction them off with the correct wording.

Thank you all sooooo much!
SueStamps

I do not sell mint for the reason you have mention here and a whole lot more reasons. I find mint collector can be fussy to the point of it being a very bad sickness......

The 1st stamp: Using a bent set of stamp tongs or tweezers if you very carefully, firmly stroke the face side of that very minor crease and that bend will come out.

Hi KGV Collector,
Thank you so much for the great tip on how to remove the minor crease in photo #1.

You know, I suppose I could just offer stamps in an auction as used and leave a comment or take a group photo of the backsides with a description stating something like "MNH, minor backside flaws, but offering as used, please view photos".

I looked around online and most conversations about grading are for the front side of the stamps. I want to try auctioning off stamp here on SCF, so I did the monthly donation but still waiting my status change to "site supporter".

Thanks again SO much, great tip!
SueStamps

It's better if you place the stamp in a plastic holder before you use the tongs to get the bend out. Much safer.

Hi Sue

In a mint stamp description "has some very minor faults" gets the describer out of a lot of trouble.


#4 Could say "Very Fine has some very small spots on gum see image"

Very Fine is the top grading in Australia and I do know your grading has different words but I have never used them or know them.:)

If there is not enough room to describe your stamp in the title description area use the description area to finish your description.

With used stamps I just call them that and give an explanation on what is the definition of used in these listings in the description area.

Giving a stamp a grading become argumentative straight away. I try very hard to stop this type of thing happen with my buyers. So I keep it very simple!

Good to see you on SCF again. KGV

F-VF,VF refers to the centering of the stamp and does not pertain to the gum side. I buy lots of MNH and showing both sides is important. Sometimes the bends,creases, inclusions,gum skips are mentioned sometimes not. They are still MNH. If I am not sure about the condition I ask the seller more specifically and for a better scan.

In my opinion, "mint never hinged" describes the general state of the stamp with respect to gum. You need to separate that in your mind from any flaws or faults and treat those separately. Those do not affect "MNH".

All of the above stamps are MNH. Some are worthy of additional descriptors.

Here is how I would dscribe them based on what I can see in the images without examining the stamps in hand:

1. MNH, minor gum bend at bottom center.

2. MNH, gum disturbance at center.

3. MNH, creased perf at lower right corner (lower left when viewing from the back).

4. MNH. (those speckles are so minor, I wouldn't even mention them)

5. MNH, natural paper flaw at center (assuming it's not a pen ink dot)

Sue... anytime you want to try to remove
a crease from a stamp, never-ever stroke
or touch the stamp directly... lay a
glassine envelope on top of it, and use
a smooth/blunt object to work on the
crease... I usually use the top of my
tongs, which is round and smooth (not
the open end), and you can work out
most creases. Don't be afraid to use
a reasonable amount of pressure, as
you can estimate as you go... as long
as you have the glassine covering the
stamp, you won't damage it...

They are all MNH.

#1 - is NOT a gum crease (gum bends and gum creases come from tension between the gum and paper - if you look at the gum on a stamp with a gum crease you will see a difference in the tiny gum cracks in the area around the crease vs the rest of the stamp) - this one is due to being bent - can't tell from the image if it is just a bend or ot there is an actual crease, but I'm guessing just a bend.

#2 - hard to say if it was produced that way or if the spot occured later. Might bug some people.

#3 - corner perf bent or corner perf crease (and a short perf at top)

#4 - the tiny speckles may be very minor setoff of ink from a sheet that was below it. So minor it is unlikely anyone would care.

#5 - the black dot may be a tiny gum inclusion

I can count 5 for sure that are HINGED!

Hi kevin504,

The SCF member: eyeonwall, who stated that all five are MNH, was referring to the very first post (the five photos of just the back side of stamps).

I have deleted the other post with the other photos. Sorry for the confusion.

SueStamps

I agree with the comments above. All the stamps are MNH, but some require description additions.

The bend will come out (as mentioned) - nothing to add

The ones with spot(s) on the gum: it will be good to determine what the spot(s) are. If a natural paper or gum inclusion, state it as such.

If it is foreign matter that was not there originally, state that.

When selling MNH stamps, (again as mentioned) buyers can be picky. Then, even with the best description, it still may not be good enough for some.

I recently sold an unused (no gum) 10c Small Queen. In good condition, it would be worth $100++. This one had three significant flaws: a tear, a crease and a thin.

I used the word "Mint' with unused (no gum). I know some may feel that I shouldn't include the word "mint", but it seems to be the common usage and I only put the word in (with clear qualifiers) for ebay search purposes.

I clearly noted these faults (both in the title, the item details and the description - and photos). I sold it as a "space-filler - faulty - damaged" - but it has a nice clean front face appearance (perfect space-filler IMHO).

It sold for about $10 (8 bids). I thought that was fair.

Well, the buyer e-mails me and says it is damaged and he will only give me $3.50 for it. (This is after it has been mailed and received).


I told him to the return it for a refund. The second high bidder might take it for $8.50.

But really, how much clearer could I have been?

Here is a link for anyone interested.

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...201113930374

PS: I love your cute avatar. Do you have a dog?

There was a multituded of other photos posted.
SueStamps has DELETED them after my reply.

... and I wanted to pick on you. Rats!

As you can see, Sue, the consensus is MNH, but there is not total agreement on the nature of the minor faults. I think KGVcollector got it right - simply state "MNH with minor (I would state "tiny") faults" and let the prospective buyers decide - lest you give someone a reason to complain.

Brian