Question On Expertizing Scott 243 $3 Columbian

I recently purchased the stamp shown below. It was described as having Disturbed Original Gum (crazed gum). With the stamp in hand, I am not convinced it has original gum at all and am considering sending it off to be expertized. In general, I do not care about the back of a stamp as much as the front, but I am also not inclined to pay for something that is not there. Thoughts are welcome as to whether it is worth it to have the stamp expertized, and if so by whom.

Everyone has their own thoughts on this. Here's mine. It depends on what you paid for it and what your ultimate plans for it might be. I personally would not buy a stamp like this without a cert already present. If graded, assuming sound and ignoring the gum, would likely grade 80. Even if gum OG, likely the best you could expect would be part or disturbed og opinion. Either of these or regummed would have impact on value.

If you plan to keep it and did not pay much for it then I wouldn't worry about it and would not send off since opinion would not change anything (you had planned to keep it anyway). If in the other hand you paid a fair amount for it then I would send it in but with the seller agreeing that if opinion diverges from the description prior to sale, either item will be returned for refund or price adjustment. I would start by looking up value on SMQ for VF 80 unused but either DOG or regummed to get an idea of the maximal value of the item on a good day.

Difficult to tell, but, at first blush, this looks more like marking to the gum from hinging or something else, rather than crazing.

With margins like that shown for this stamp I would bet on reperforation going on and I would bet on a regum. The soaked perf tips in particular are not usual for this stamp.

If you are not comfortable with the purchase, see if it can be returned as is. Otherwise you may need the certificate to pressure a return but the seller needs to understand you want a cert at which time you will find out what the seller's position is on certs. If the cert is good, you are set to some day sell it; if bad....

Looks like the stamp may have been hinged, and the stamp as a whole maybe adhered to something, and there was an attempt to remove it (moistened?), with whetted perf tips resulting. Still lovely centering and color. No real need to certify it unless you plan to sell it soon.

I paid $500 for the stamp, which seemed about right if OG and not reperfed. The seller will take any stamp back that is not as described. If I choose to send it in, which of the expertizing services would be best?

My recommendation would be the Philatelic Foundation.

Generally speaking, whenever someone recommends a particular certifying body they should disclose any relationship/association they have or have had with said body.

Since it is not a revenue stamp, my association is immaterial in this case. I simply feel they are the best for this stamp.

Assuming that there are no faults I don't think that $500 is an outrageous price to pay even if this was a no gum unused copy

The gum could be anything - disturbed OG or RG. Doesn't look like typical gum for a Columbian, but after it got disturbed, it likely wouldn't anyway. If otherwise sound, you didn't do poorly. For a Columbian, I would send it to the PF - I have no affiliation.

And, of course, let us know what happens!!!

I think a grade of VF 80 to be conservative. Could go as vf-xf 85 as well or even xf 90 maybe a push but possible. Then paying for an opinion would be worth it. Like others have said if you are keeping it $500 was not to much to pay either way. If you bought it to flip then opinion would be best as the new owner more than likely want a certificate. It is a very nice stamp on its face and would be presentable in most any collection. I personally do not see that you have over paid for the stamp no matter what it came back. The question is where are you going to find another as good for the price you paid.

Keep in mind that a "grade" is NOT just a centering score. (Nor was it part of the original poster's post.)

Also, a "good vs bad" certificate as grounds for a return for a stamp "not as described" can be a gray area. This is something to be very clear between the buyer and seller before hand. What findings are acceptable and what ones are grounds for return? Specifically, we already know there are gum issues. If the cert states disturbed original gum, then it is likely "as described", while "regummed" would seem to be a returnable condition. Will reperfing be a returnable condition? Who pays for the cert if it is deemed bad? Etc.

Bottom line, it is far less hassle to buy stamps like this with existing certificates rather than the other way around. Neither sellers nor buyers want to go through the return process. It would be easier to discuss with the seller before a transaction ever takes place "I would like to buy this stamp but only after you obtain a certificate for it, to cover both of us."

Nothing about the perfs has set off any alarms to me.

John Becker: agree completely. I think all know generally which issues should be offered with a cert. my antennae for problems always rises when a scarce or expensive stamp is offered raw suggesting hidden perfs or prior negative official opinion which was tossed, trashed, or shredded. The 243 unused would be an example of such an issue.