Stamp Grading - Of Value To You Or A Marketing Ploy?

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Perhaps the problem is that stamp collecting has been punching him in the face:

https://goscf.com/t/65162&whichpage=5#567261




Cheers,

/s/ ikeyPikey

I suspect that a statement like that one could cause problems for the writer. That could be construed as an accusation of fraud.

Perhaps even if he was referring to graded stamps.

I have seen plenty of graded stamps in the 90+ range that I wouldn't want at any price. That's not an accusation of fraud but rather a realistic assessment of the actual value of graded certificates to many collectors like me, and even you, for that matter.

And it isn't that I don't need or like graded certificates per se, it's that really ugly stamps sometimes achieve high grades.

Certification and grading of stamps serves four purposes at minimum:

1. Properly identifying items that are particularly difficult to identify. These are often stamps that are of subtle variety differences or stamps where there has been forgeries. All of this makes sense only to the extend that the stamp is of meaningful value such that the certification serves to some extent as a guarantee to the buyer.

2. For some stamps, certification has been used to identify valuable stolen stamps, such that the stolen item can be returned to the rightful owner.

3. To grade a stamp for quality.

4. To check for stamp alterations, such as regumming, reperforation, fake cancellation, or other.

I find all these four to be unnecessary except for exceeding rare situations.

Many of the above issues are easily handled by the informed and the attentive stamp collector. For any stamp I sell, I always grade it using existing software tools, and do so often on multiple different software systems. Identification issues are generally solvable, although it may take some work. Issues of condition (such as a tear or pinhole) of a stamp are usually obvious as long as one has reasonable resolution image (I like 600 dpi images).

Certification of a stamp does not necessarily guarantee a higher value for a stamp than otherwise, in my opinion. And the certification companies do not provide the owner with any value assessment in their grading documents. They are certainly interested in charging customers based on the estimated value of the stamp being graded. But they wont pass on estimated value as far as I know.

I figure that any certifications are a crutch for buyers, but not of significant value generally.

I couldn't disagree more. There are many stamps out there that one dare not purchase without a cert, or if you do, and it's not on extension or with a return privilege, you're being foolhardy. Simply having "the right software tools" and/or references is no substitute for decades of firsthand experience when it comes to determining genuineness.

I've been specializing in U.S. revenues for just a bit over a decade now, and comparatively speaking, I'm a complete newbie when it comes to many/most revenue issues. I know many revenue specialists that have been collecting for 30-40 years that still wouldn't take the risk on certain stamps.

Depending on the area you collect, fakes abound. Not an exceedingly rare situation at all.

Stamp grading and stamp expertization are two drastically different issues.

" Nick Kirke, who was mentioned earlier in the thread as an early enthusiastic proponent of grading supposedly lost at least 3 million when he sold his graded US collection."

1) Supposedly

2) Let's assume that is true. $3M out of how much spent? Out of 4M, then a problem. Out of 10M, then not such a big % loss. Almost all of us are going to lose when we sell our collections.

As usual, this is the single most important distinction to remember in posts such as this one.

Jim

Thank you... I think?...

I said supposedly because I can't prove it true, but I heard it from a number of sources who have better info then I have. And he was buying at the very height of the market that he helped to create. I don't know the percentage; when losing that kind of money it doesn't really matter. It's a lot until you are talking over 30 million cost.

Thanks to CraigK for posting this in another thread...

https://www.stampcommunity.org/uplo...hot35700.jpg

(If someone could post the picture, instead of a link, that would be great!)

A stunning example of everything wrong w/grading.

Beyond everything else - it seems centering is their only criteria. What about perfs? The perfs on this stamp are not perfect - look at the upper right corner. This stamp is far from a 'gem' by any logical standards.

The only way to stop this is for all of us to submit all of our copies of #282 for grading. Once there are numerous 'higher' graded copies, this stamp goes back to being worth $1.

Only problem is none of us is willing to pay the cost to 'grade' common stamps.

It's a perfect con. PSE, congrats - well done. Siegel et al also a huge beneficiary.

Mdroth - What is the con? I have no use for grading but I do not see any deception here.

I'll use PF or APS to verify that a stamp is genuine/not altered. Grading not concern at this point (no plans to sell within the next 10 years). Appeareance to me is what matters. I have seen many PSE high grades that really don't look that great - specifically washed out non-engraved areas of stamps (poor plate wiping between impressions?). I'll take a VF stamp with great color and white margins anyday!