Admiral Scott #116 Certified In France

I had previously purchased two uncertified Scott #116's online had to send both back because of problems that were not disclosed.
So I purchased my first stamp that has a certificate however it was purchased from France and the certificate is from there. I wouldn't expect them to send their stamps over here for certification.
Is this a worthless certificate or is it respected over here?
It's a beautiful fresh stamp with excellent gum I'm very pleased with the stamp and it's a keeper for sure.
Would you agree with the grade assigned on the certificate?

This ebay seller has a poor reputation and issues his own certificates that are worth nothing. he has been accused of rampant shill bidding and "certifying" all kinds of stamps that are not real or have bogus cancels. There is a discussion of him on another stamp forum from down under. Anyway, the stamp looks nice regardless of the certificate.

Edit to add: Far from XF.

Not an expert by any stretch of the imagination, but grading this as XF seems a bit high. The centering is too far to the right and downward. Still, a nice copy.

Grading isn't ordinarily practised in Europe. The design here leans to the right and to the bottom of the stamp, which I presume wouldn't translate into XF in the US.

The more I look at the perf tips the more convinced I am that this stamp is regummed. Look in particular at the fibers. Definitely look at the upper right corner perf (looking from the front) and the accumulation of gum. That should not be that way.

I don't think the cert will carry a lot of weight for people who pay real money for Canada.

For comparison, here is Unitrade's pictorial representations of centering on admirals:



Top to bottom, XF then VF then F/VF.

In the verbal description, "Extremely Fine stamps are close to being perfectly centered."

There is something funny going on in the third "A" of Canada...anyone have their Marler close at hand?

He has a rare Japan airmail overprint for sale with one of his certs. It is fake as the day is long.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/125174584024

A Scott 73 that is supposedly MNH that is absolutely regummed and again is called XF. It also has one of his "certificates".




https://www.ebay.com/itm/125132288531

Hounddog - I would return the stamp.

The T in postage, Ink pull?

The Admirals are a great issue to collect. They are all around and in auctions regularly. I myself would never seek out one that is certified, just pick and choose based on centering and gum. For Canada, unless the Scott number is in question ie. 1 vs 4, or a tricky Small Queen, I wouldn't bother.

rogdcam— I would agree that the admiral looks fishily regummed in perhaps an obvious manner (perhaps). What's your argument that the queen is also regummed? (Asking not to be contrarian but as a learning moment)

The perf tip fibers are loaded with gum. You can see it much better in the listing using the magnifier feature. It is 100% regummed. I called this guy out on a couple of his spurious listings, one being a fake Japan 1919 airmail overprint with his cert and asked what his credentials for issuing certificates were. He came back full of bluster and stated that his feedback was his credentials. LOL He has operated under at least two other ID's that have been shut down. He sells lots of fake overprints with certificates. Avoid this character.

In the Admiral, look at the upper left corner and the bottom left. Fibers are caused by breaking the paper and should not have gum on them.

The Leaves stamp looks to have gum inside the perf holes at top and parts of the sides. Perfs are normally punched after gum is applied (certainly for this issue) so this cannot happen unless regummed or sweated.

I'd chip in that I lean towards it being regummed, on first "gut reaction" from the scan. Has an unnatural whiteness and surface shine. I'd caution it is always better to see the item in person before finalizing one's opinion.

The Admiral has had its perf tips filed and fluffed too, methinks.

The 10c Leaf, I'd not offer any opinion on just a scan.

Seller creates his own certs, definitely a buyer-beware situation. You will note he has no AIEP accreditation.