Represented As Sound Scott 404 Mh - Certify?

Still gearing up for the APS stamp show with the intention of submitting some of my stamps and covers to the PF.

I acquired this stamp a number of years ago before I knew much (still don't); I normally don't buy higher value stamps nowadays without a recent certificate. Having looked at it more closely, I am beginning to wonder whether it has been doctored - reperforated, regummed etc. It was represented as a 404 MH. Just trying to figure out whether to have the PF certify it or start considering it as one of my more expensive mistakes. The shortcomings of examining a stamp by a scan notwithstanding, would any of you more experienced folks have any observations? Much gratitude as always for your input.

I do not believe that it has been doctored perforation wise. I cannot speak to the gum from the scan. Given this stamps catalog value it needs to be certified if you wish to realize its full potential when sold and it will be sold at some point whether by yourself or your heirs. Certificates add value. Take any issue and research the hammer prices with cert vs without. Not spending cert money is a false economy. Heck, if you received a negative cert due to it being a doctored 400A you would not be charged a fee based upon the 404 value anyway. Cert it.

Given the size of the margins I doubt the perfs have been played with (people do turn 12's into 10's on occasion). It's a relatively high value stamp, so a cert is not a bad idea.

This looks legit to me too. I'd get a cert on it anyway. It is always a good idea to get certs on expensive stamps.

Hello; You might like this site - page, https://www.theswedishtiger.com/404-scotts.html

The Swedish Tiger has quite a bit of misinformation and errors.

Thank you for that info Rogdcam, I will consider it when I go to that site. It has great photos for the id of stamps and some history and meanings of the stamps depictions. I do not know how long it has been around but it seems a labor of love.

True, perfect example here in the write up on 404. The change from perf 12 to 10 was not because perf 12 stamps were hard to separate; they separated too easily. I also enjoy the misspellings of simple words; a good indicator of who you're dealing with

I'm going to go ahead and submit my 404 to the PF. Good or bad, I'd rather know what I got.

Would love to see the cert either way. Hoping for the best.