PF Vs PSE Grading Experience

I got to thinking about the jumbo designation and decided to try a test. I found a block of six, scaled the vignette to match the block and pasted into the group. The perfs do seem a lot larger on my single. Is this a valid test?

The margins on yours are big, but big enough for a J grade? Tough call there...

If it doesn't have any faults and they don't call the blunted perfs at upper left, 85-90. If not for those I'd say good shot 95, lock 90.

txstamp:

I trust the PF to recognize a filled thin better than I can, but still had a nagging doubt. Ended up selling it, at a decent profit.

Filled thins show up in fluid, usually as a white spot. That top margin perf on the stamp being discussed here appears to have two small sealed tears though.

The stamp has big margins but comparing it to stamps in that block, especially the right column, does little good because they are quite small due to a straight edge (probably not natural) that has been reperforated.

To grade or not to grade?

I would not get that stamp certified (IMO).

First, the color is too weak, almost as if another stamp had gotten stuck to the face and gently pulled free.

Second, I found this stamp on ebay for $57 (BIN). The centering is about the same and the colors are more vibrant. It would cost you $30 plus $23 shipping = $53. Also, there are a lot of well centered examples around.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/US-297-5c-...!47150!US!-1

Looks like a 90/90J to me, with an outside shot at 95/95J. Margins are large for issue, so a decent "J" candidate. For sure worth a graded cert if NH. If OGph/OGh, then borderline (IMO) but still probably worth it. How confident are you that it's sound? If 95%+, I say send it in.

It's clearly centered low, so a 90 is tops IMO. I would check the perfs real close too.

Right side might be reperforated, face has issues as stated above, I wouldn't bother with a grade. Only a 90 if completely sound anyway.

It is never hinged. I'm 98% sure it is not a regum and gum is original. As far as a reperf goes I'm not 100% sure but why would a stamp with margins like this tempt someone to do that? So I'd say I'm 90% sure it's a sound stamp. I've never sent anything in for grading, probably because I collect and don't sell and what I do sell is duplicates. I have a few items though I would be tempted to submit if the returns justified the cost. I have a 30¢ Columbian that I'd be tempted to do since I have an unused NH copy for my collection.

If NH, definitely worth submitting for a graded cert IMO (I'd set a minimum 90 grade, so if for some reason they'd give it a number less than that, you'll only get a regular cert, not a graded one). Good luck - let us know how it turns out.

Why would a stamp with margins like this tempt someone to do that? Because only three margins were like that originally, and the right margin was wider. So you had an 80 or 85 stamp that someone tried to make into a 95 but were off just a bit so it's only a 90. Alas, I have seen a number of example where this has been done.

The perfs look fine to me.

They look awfully round and clean to me, but it's possible that they are genuine.