USA 292 - Should I Send For A Grade?

I have never sent a stamp to get a grade - does this look like it could get a good grade? Some blunted perfs at lower right and has a natural straight edge at left.

What kind of grade do you think it would get from PSE? How is its centering for this issue?



Thanks!

For starters, the PSE considers a natural straight edge a fault. Add in the blunt perfs and you have a very low graded stamp. Save your $

http://psestamp.com/pdf/2009_Gradin...e_092009.pdf

I could never understand that (SE = fault). On the 1c Franklins, I will pay extra for the line showing. I pay extra for center line blocks. So, according to PSE, 25% percent of every sheet is faulty (top & bottom rows and side stamps). Top and bottom row stamps are worth more, not less. So every top row stamp would get a faulty cert? I bet that ugly writing on the side with the plate number would lower the value of the block as well (by their standards).

I'll bet if you found a top or bottom SE with a plate number or BEP inscription attached you would have something pretty special! Left or right SE is not possible for such. In my years of collecting SE I have never seen one. Cheers! Wolf-==-

Not on this issue. According to the Scott US Specialized catalog the Trans-Mississippi issue was printed as sheets of 100 (10x10 subjects) cut vertically into panes of 50. Left and right arrow blocks of 4 are also listed. Surviving straight edges are vertical unlike Columbians with horizontal straight edges.

Yikes, thanks for pointing out the PSE guidelines, I was not really aware of them. To me it looks like a great stamp as I don't mind anything that is just part of the stamp's natural production process. So I guess this will not be going for a grade or cert.

Apparently the guideline at the top (or is it part of the design of the stamp above?) is also considered a minor fault by PSE as they say it detracts from the "eye appeal" of the stamp.

The stamp in the picture was purchased from an auction in Germany, perhaps because it was from a European collection there was less of a chance it would be reperforated to fit US collecting tastes?

I'm with what most everyone else who's posted here feels. I would much rather have a nicely centered stamp with a natural straight edge than a stamp which has perforations on all sides but is less well centered.

Another consideration, ashuber, is that a stamp which HAS a natural straight edge is far less likely to have other alterations to it in my experience as that seems to be the first order of business when someone decides to "improve" the appearance of a stamp.

The catalog editors and grading/certification services need to drop this nonsense about straight edge stamps being somehow damaged, as that is clearly not the case.

Also, collectors should not shun straight edges either.

Ashuber, you DO have a great stamp! The balance is good, and since it's part of the normal production process, I don't think the straight edge detracts at all.

In my opinion, unless you are trying to sell a stamp-- and think you have a high grade candidate--there's no point throwing your money away to get it graded. The grade doesn't actually change anything about a stamp you already have.... It is just an artificially created assessment that includes some subjectivity and debatable guidelines (e.g. disparaging straight edges).

Enjoy your wonderful stamp!

This catalogue and certifiers distaste for the straight edge stamps seems to encourage the "business" of reperfing them.

The top guide line and the straight left edge tell us this stamp is from position 65 on the sheet. Nice stamp!