What Does A Natural Straight Edge Means For Grading And Price, Example Scott 100 F Grill

i am just wondering about 2 things:

if you submit a natural straight edge stamp for grading it is considered a fault. but to what extend (how many points) does it effect the grade?

how mutch does it effect the price of the stamp?

example, below a scott 100 F grill.

i know it has various thing that can be pointed out on this stamp, but what % would you deduct for the straight edge? 50%? less to an simulair 4 sides perfed one?

In this specific case, it looks like an unfortunate scissors cut...which would be damage, rather than a natural feature.

The left side is scissor-cut (note the irregular waviness), it is not a natural straight-edge. Thus substantially damaged in the mind of most collectors.

Natural straight edges are "straight" - your stamp appears to have the perfs cut-off with a pair of scissors and the stamp would be a spacefiller worth only a small percentage of catalog.

thnk you all for the reponses, but what if it were traight, what would it do in grading and price.

sorry, I just used a bad example

I think it is an interesting question. I don't remember ever seeing a natural straight edge stamp with a grade. Here's one (a photo not a scan - sorry). I would like to think it would get a high grade. What do you think?

From PSE grading definitions...


http://gradingmatters.com/all-about-grading.html
Don

They (PSE) needs to reconsider that.
A natural straight edge is the method of manufacture, not a defect.
But that leaves nicely centered, straight-edge stamps cheaper for me.

The original question is a good one. About the only classic straightedge stamps you see are Sc. #s 65 and 114. The re-perforators have been quite busy over the decades.

So, I agree with jaxom100. Genuine, higher value, straightedge classics in faultless condition should not be considered as faulty, or penalized for being what they are.

Along the same lines, "all things being equal, does the reperforated stamp still command a premium over the straightedge stamp?"

in my opinion, the definition of a fault should never include straight edges. I agree also that with all the reperfs of classic stamps, a true straight edge could command a premium if collector preferences should change. ON the other hand, a reperf stamp should be considered a fault.

If a straight edge stamp is fault and reperf is a fault, then sheets will have 19 flawed stamps from a fresh plate, top or bottom and centerline row. That is 1/4 of each sheet. Wouldn't all full sheets also be considered faulty because of straight edges?

According to the PF grading manual they will not grade a stamp with a straight edge.

"What Items Will Not Be Graded?

• Multiples, except coil pairs
• Covers
• Booklet panes
• Stamps which have faults, other than trivial flaws
• Stamps which have been repaired
• Stamps with straight edges
• Fakes
• Altered stamps"

Would reperfing (a straight edge) be considered a repair?
That leaves 1/4 of each sheet as 'faulty by manufacture'.
Hmmm....


I wonder if you list an item to them as 'faulty by manufacture, ie straight edge', if they would confirm it in the same words...

Years ago, I believe PSE deducted 25 points for a natural straight edge. I'm not sure if that's still the grading ruberic. You can find some beautiful straight edge stamps at bargain prices, as most collectors prefer full perforations. There are of course exceptions (e.g., straddle margin examples).

Matt

How would they grade two similar stamps, one with a straight edge and one with perfs on all four sides, within the same grading parameters. It is impossible and thus the desire to effectively exclude the former.

I find the premise of not choosing to grade a NSE, equating it to a fake, altered or otherwise faulty stamp, absolutely ludicrous. This is the way that the stamp was made. If collectors determine that this variety is less desirable than a fully perforated counterpart, then so-be-it. But, that is a "preference" and one that the market has a way of sorting out. It is the job of the grading services to ascertain authenticity, detect faults, and if requested assign a numerical grade equivalent. It is not their job to decide which "as-issued" stamps they do and don't want to certify.