The Philatelic Foundation Grading Upgrade

I did not grade those stamps, I showed them as examples.
Do you think a stamp gets grade 100 PSE if there is a small issue with the perforation tips?

No the 60's are not classics (yet). We just need to convince non-collectors it's the next great thing.

The stamp is shown on page 2 of Linn's July 29, 2019 issue. 2011 PSE cert.

They already think that those stamps are valuable. They get disappointed a lot.

true

The problem with this ideology is that there is such an abundance of stamps from the post classic era, where anyone can buy sheets, destroy 49 out of 50 stamps and get the gem or hunt the perfect PB at near 0 cost.
I have love modern stamps personally, and have instead chosen the path of acquiring minor scott #s. I wonder how far I will get striving for a complete 20th century collection over the next few decades.

The problem there is the genuine rarities of the 20's and 30's; the sheet waste and coil waste. Everything else is available without having to spend really serious money, at least for F-VF examples.

And the early coils, of course.

I got a few of my PF certs upgraded to include grades. . .Did I just support the desecration up of classic multiples? Or would I have needed to send them to PSE for that?


I thought I would have gotten a 90 out of at least a couple of those. In my eye, the difference between 85, 90 and 95 is very hard to discern. And even harder for 98s and 100s.

Judging grades by the naked eye is very difficult; even most professionals are not very good at it. There are a few people who are really good at it though.

You can guess a grade from the front but the back can have an impact. The extent of hinging has a sizable impact as do gum bends etc..

@rogdcam - I thought grading was only centering? That's what everyone on this post says, at least. . .

Phil - I have been pointing out throughout this thread that there are many other factors such as gum issues, paper toning, sharpness of impression, color etc. that are also considered when assigning a final grade. Some are hung up on jumbos and cutting multiples and so on which is just obfuscation and finding a reason to dislike change in the hobby and cannot have a rational discussion about grading as a whole.

Touchee!!

That is a bunch of crap, you are not psychic and see into anyone else's head. I know for sure that I have avoided supporting graded stamps for years based solely upon the ethics of it. The same way I do not support sellers who I think use deceptive practices. It has nothing to do with disliking 'change'.

The folks in this thread who are defending the grading have a vested interest in this debate. (Everyone in this thread who has posted that they supported grading are also owners of graded stamps.) The folks who do not support grading typically have no vested interest. So for me I tend to discount those posts which reflect a vested interest.
Don

'
If we "are not psychic and see(ing) into anyone else's head", let us allow that the owners of graded stamps supported grading before they sent in their checks, not only after.

Cheers,

/s/ ikeyPikey