New Online PSE Certification Database

I am pleased to announce that a searchable PSE certification database will soon be available to the hobby, I think that having this resource will allow hobbyists make better informed buying decisions.

First, a huge thank you to SCF member widglo46 who invested his time compiling the data and images; without his efforts this project would not exist.

Second, thank you to PSE for granting permission for this project to move forward and to use their images. PSE has requested that we limit the search function to the last 10 years because presenting grading information before that time period would have limited value.

Here is where the development currently stands. I have completed designing and implemented the database and queries on a SQL server. This is a very large database which includes all USA, Canada, Hawaii, and CSA certifications from 01/01/2009 thru 01/13/2020. The database will be updated periodically through the year with the newest certifications. I have been uploading data/images for the last few weeks and have written the code for the user interface webpages. The total development scope of work is approximately 150 man hours and I estimate that I am about 50% complete as of today. I am targeting a completion date of 02/22.

Rather than having a single webpage which searches across all USA, Canada, Hawaii, and CSA certifications (which frankly would be the easiest development), there will be a separate webpages for USA, Canada, Hawaii, and CSA certs. Here are two screen captures which will give you an idea of how it will work.


Finally, if anyone would like to help development by testing the interface before release please let me know and I will send you links.
Don

Wow! Just spectacular Don. Many thanks to Lorry, yourself and PSE. This is an extremely useful tool. For myself it can be a game changer. It will help flesh out the history of so many stamps and other items especially when used in conjunction with the PF database and Siegel Power Search. And Canada too? Awesome!

Fantastic! Thanks for all of your work.

I'm intrigued by this project, thanks for posting, it could prove quite useful as a research tool, I'd be interested in a link to the Canada data and finding out if / how I can help.

Fantastic work Don et al.

I would love to help however I can? Please let me know. From a newbie perspective??

Great job!

Thank you, Don and widglo46!

A wonderful development, Don.

In past I have been involved in usability testing from several angles so I would volunteer to pound on it at some appropriate point and provide reactions.

- Jonathan

Great job, thanks.

I use the Philatelic Foundation's cert database all the time to research material. Not just for checking history of a particular item, but as a way to see what items exist. Its very useful for that, especially in combination with searching auction house catalogs as well.

This will be a welcome addition.

Wonderful news! Great work, Don et al.

I do have one comment though. Re:




While *grading* information that old may not have value, I believe that the expertization information (real vs. fake, faults, etc.) would still be of value, as the PF database is.

Do you think they might agree to inclusion of that information if the numeric grade information was redacted?

After the ten year period they will start to run into the days when someone else owned PSE, and others were doing the expertising. Eventually including outside help, as they did for some years in the beginning. I think that this is where the real problems occur.

This is huge news!

Status: All data is loaded but I am still uploading stamp images. Since uploading 300,000 images is going to take a number of weeks, please find below links for the USA and Canadian search tools. Everything works but you may notice some missing images, you can work-around this by simply clicking on the PSE cert which will open a new browser window and show you the cert on the PSE website.

The 'simple' search views are the first few tabs. The USA section has an 'Advanced View' which is an incredibly powerful filtering/searching tool. It has a learning curve but feel free to click around on things until I put together a short instructional video on how to get the most out the this tool.

http://stampsmarter.com/learning/pseview.html

http://stampsmarter.com/learning/pseviewCAN.html

Feedback/suggestions welcome.
Don

Again, many thanks Don. Thank you also to PSE for being so transparent and being onboard with this endeavor and kudos to Lorry. This is a game changer as far as I am concerned. Great research tool AND learning tool. So, so many ways to use this information.

I add my thanks and appreciation for the work done by all concerned on this great service to the hobby. It merits recognition in our major publications.