What Does "Mint" Really Mean?

Thank you Shermae. Well presented. Exactly my point. "Mint" requires a qualifier.

While purchasing for my Big Blue album,mostly ebay, I found "mint" to mean LH or hinged so I always had to ask.

There are 61 stamps offered at my ebay store ... and every one of them is listed as "unused". I have seen no compelling argument in this thread that would make me call any of them "mint".

Please define "unused." Much of the time I find "unused" means mint no gum.

As I said earlier in this thread,in my opinion, "mint" means Post Office fresh. Without a cancellation, and if it's without gum (soaked), been hinged, or re-gummed, I call it "unused".

Thanks for the refresh Carl. I agree with you. I just require a "qualifier" before I purchase "mint." Saves a whole lot of hassle for me. "Mint"requires too much mind reading.

As an aside after a lifetime of mint,unused,used etc. and albums,stock pages etc. I now collect US Beer stamps (NGAI) and faults welcomed but not encouraged in approval cards and sleeves. Satisfying.

No, no, no...

"Mint" is a common flavor found in chewing gum.

(That's all "Mint" means to me anymore)


-IBFS

Cool, IBFS ... and refreshing.

Parallel thread looking at an all Mint Never Hinged Canada & Provinces collection:

https://goscf.com/t/46818

I found the collection to be a stunningly beautiful group of pages, and I am shocked by the initial feedback...maybe fewer collectors are placing great value on "Mint"??

Mint used to mean never used, but in later years the word "mint" referred to stamps that were hinged and "mint unhinged" is obvious.

A stamp without gum is usually a stamp with damaged gum which could have been the result of rust or that the stamp is on a cover and have been cancelled, but it is usually the former, the gum is removed to prevent the rust from causing more damage to the stamp.

A regummed stamp is when gum is added to stamps that does not have gum or have cracked gum, this is done professionally or amateurishly, it does not add value to the stamp, in fact it is officially an alteration and will devalue the stamp.

It is quite easy to detect a regummed stamp.

Rob