On US Classic Stamps What Minor Faults Would You Accept On Rare Stamp.

I would argue that MAJOR FAULTS vs. MINOR FAULTS are divided This way:

MAJOR FAULT VS> MINOR FAULT

Clipped Perf vs. Missing Perf.
Altered Color vs. Surface Scrape
Large Thin vs. Tiny Thin
Regummed vs. Gum Skips
Tear vs. Bent Perf.
Re-Perforated vs. Short Perf.
Crease vs. Natural Inclusion
Overall Toned vs. Spot Toning

Major faults discounted 10-20% of their catalog or fair value.
Minor faults discounted 50-60% of their catalog or fair value.

What do you think about this?

Is this related to your other thread and the certification you are seeking? https://goscf.com/t/70469&whichpage=1
Don

What do you think about this?

I am confused/question lines #1, #9 and #10.

As to line 9 I am guessing he meant discounting 80-90% of the value.

Chipshot you are right. I should have been more clear.

51Studebaker I hope not. I want a clean certification but with old classic stamps like 70s there are very few ones that come out sound due to handling over 150 years. I am a realist on this issue.

For me. Major fault, heavy obliterative cancel. minor fault unclear or somewhat unattractive cancel.
Major fault, very poor centering. Centering is the most often overlooked aspect for many collectors and dealers. A sound no fault srsmp that is average centering might be worth 20-30% of catalog value if catalog is for a very fine example.

Also a scarce stamp may sell for a higher percentage of CV with a small or major fault as collectors compete more for it. So an attractive but very common used scott 114 with small thin might sell for 5-10%, while an attractive used same fault very scarce scott 122 might fetch as much as 30-40% of CV.

What is interesting but out of scope on this thread is the premiums that better than VF condition are commanding. Exceptional centering, freshness, color, sharp even perforations, super pleasing cancel, etc. while faults decimate stamp value (which is great for many of us to be able to afford rarities) premium condition stamps also magnify in unexpected ways.

There are no hard and fast rules. There is no magic formula. Visible faults are more likely to impact the value and marketability of a stamp than unseen ones, e.g., a thin may be more acceptable than a crease or short/pulled perfs.

It also depends on what you collect. For example, as a cancel or plate variety specialist, or looking for specific usages on document or cover, if a stamp has a very rare cancel or plate variety, the faults are far more secondary than if I were a "fill in the album spot" collector. That doesn't mean that I don't factor the faults into my consideration of how much I'm willing to pay, but just because a stamp has faults, even major ones, it doesn't necessarily mean that I will pass it by.

Another case is if it is a stamp that I could not otherwise afford. For some of the revenue stamps with catalog values in the 4- to 5-figure range, obtaining a sound example just isn't an option. Add to that factor potentially also wanting a particular cancel, and one is forced to make choices.

If a stamp has otherwise redeeming characteristics, I will acquire a stamp even with multiple major faults. The stamp below is an example I have shown before. To the condition purist, it will give them convulsions, as it has multiple major faults. Scott #R84a catalogs $12,000 and is frequently faked. This example is not only 100% genuine, but it is the only example I have ever seen or even seen record of, with a red handstamp cancel.

To the investor or high-grade collector, this stamp would never be acceptable, but for me as a cancel collector, it's perfect... it has "character".

Nope.

Your A vs. B list could be sharpened (e.g., short perf vs. pulled perf), but it isn't worth it.*

A. 'Acceptable' faults are in the eye of the beholder; and
B. Valuation isn't science. We will all see it differently, and maybe differently for any particular purchase.

* i.e., "Worth it" as a group project. You can and certainly will set your own guidelines.

I am somewhat more tolerant of minor issues with used stamps since they are harder to find nice with no issues between the cancel and the travel thru the mail. Short perm maybe, pulled perf no. Corner perf crease maybe, bigger crease no. There are too many things I don't have that I could afford faultless (one at a time) that I do not want to go for faulty examples of items I couldn't afford faultless and I would rather have a hole in my collection that something that hurts my eyes.