PF Vs PSE Grading Experience

Whereas I am instantly drawn to the stain or inclusion in the lower right corner. Ick. Then you've got what appears to be a perf tear, albeit minimal, at the upper right.

All else pales in comparison to centering. I think I'll pass.

I agree with revenuecollector -- how did that 523 get a clean cert with the big stain/inclusion in the lower right corner? IMO, that should have been called.

On a related note, that's another big issue with a (single) numeric grade -- how much SHOULD something like that be discounted? I think you can come up with a pretty good number for centering (based on measurements; not subjective) and most collectors would accept it, but there's a much wider range of opinions on how detrimental a very visible stain/inclusion like this should be. To some, deducting 2-3 points would be appropriate. To others, it would completely eliminate the stamp from consideration (i.e. "minus infinity").

There's no way a single number can make everyone happy on a stamp like this.

Not when the question is 98-100 v. everything else.
If you take off 1 point for everything you can name, it will quickly fall into the "everything else" category.

Centering xx%
Color intenseness xx%
Color registration xx%
Evenness of perforations xx%
Condition xx%
Freshness of paper xx%
etc.

I agree - that 523 is a bad stamp. And Ben is looking at me out of the corner of his eye and smirking. Bad stamp.

John,

Yes yes yes. I agree 100 percent. Unless it's a massive vignette shift that would qualify as a grounded plane or fast train, etc. grading should definitely incorporate the centering of the vignette. I have noticed this phenomenon as well and glad you brought it up.

Wow, a lot has been posted since I checked in yesterday.

excuse me for not going back and looking up who posted what...

I agree with the people who have a problem with a 100 grade when the stamp has a short perf or other imperfection - perfect should be perfect. I'll take less than perfect centering with no imperfections over a perfectly centered stamp with an imperfection.

Someone said no upgrade is given for a sharp impression etc - not quite true - while not a numerical upgrade, at least one of the services adds XQ for extra quality.

I really agree with the people who say it is impossible to please everyone on quality issues because we all gave different views on what is more important and one type of imperfection will drive you nuts and barely bother me while it will be the other way around for some other feature.

I definitely agree with the person who thinks the cancel is very important on a used stamp. I am quite happy with a FVF centered stamp with a cancel I like, but I would be less than happy with a FVF mint stamp in most cases.

Bottom line, numerical grading isn't perfect and it will never be perfected, but it isn't worthless.

Grading is worse than worthless, it is a cancer on the hobby. It is a contradiction in terms to claim something is good while at the same time causing so much irreparable harm. Any supporter of grading has no business endlessly carrying on about other things that damage the hobby or even the so-called imminent demise of our hobby.

Does that include Siegel? #128515;

#128515. What does that mean? What is your question about Siegel?

Eye,

Good point on XQ. Forgot about that for PF only grading (not PSE)

However a 90 XQ is like my kid getting a 90 on a math test with a note from the teacher saying "good effort"

Unfortunately a 90 XQ is still a 90. Would be better if 90 XQ upgraded to 95 and leave out the teacher notes.

Sinclair - I agree with you on grading being detrimental to our hobby. I do not support it but it is a reality of life at this point. Siegel thrives on graded stamps and thus supports them. Are they causing irreparable harm in doing so?

What does it all mean?
#128515
#9996
#65039
#128526

As best I can tell, people are trying to insert emojis into their posts, and the codes are getting transformed or rendered incorrectly into garbage.

The irreparable harm is being caused because dozens of scarce, rare, and unique multiples have been cut up for graded singles for several years now. Simply so that some super rich "collector" can boost his ego and say "my collection of certificates is better then yours".

Kind of interesting that there is all of this discussion and controversy over the merits (or not) of two firms, and the specific pluses and minuses of what is basically a tiny piece of printed paper.

Meanwhile, other collectors of other collectibles have seemingly no issues whatsoever with their own particular grading scheme.

And their collectibles are much larger and are made up of many more pieces of printed paper.

And the differences between the grades is also extremely relevant as to the final sale price of the item.

In other words, if collectors and dealers in other fields can figure all this grading stuff out, why can't stamp collectors?

Jim

https://www.cgccomics.com/grading-scale/