Philatelic Foundation Application Form Questions

As soon as the Canadian postal strike ends I will be receiving an item that I want to spin quickly for a cert. It is a cover (Folded letter) and I plan on using the PF.

When submitting their form asks for the catalog number. Is that what I think it is or what I hope it is? I'm submitting it hoping they tell me what it is. Or do you have to submit as a specific catalog number and then they either say it is or it isn't?

Their form isn't very clear.

Just put it in as either X or Y with a question mark, and it will be determined and certified that way as what it actually is.

I don't think there is room on the form (or in the database) to list alternate catalog numbers "X or Y ?"

You are supposed to give it one number that you think it is, and they will correct you if they believe it is something else. You are free to include a note with the item to say "I think this is an X but it may be a Y".

The initial fee that you pay when submitting the item is based on what you submit it as, but the final fee will be adjusted up or down if necessary depending on what they determine it is.

Keep in mind the PF certificate will show both what you think it is, as well as their opinion. You could submit a stamp as a 63b and the certificate could say "It is not Scott No. 63b, rather it is Scott No. 63, genuine, with a pulled perf at top." A PSE certificate on the other hand will only list their opinion, it will not include what you submitted it as. This has sometimes led to confusion on the PF certificates because two Scott numbers are listed, with the submitter's ID more prominent. Careful reading of the certificates is necessary.

That may impact your decision on what to submit it as. If this is an auction extension of a more valuable item that you may be returning, you should submit it as what the seller says it is not what you think it is.

I anticipate others may have additional thoughts.

I would like the option to cert it what it is.

It is a folded letter I took a shot at in a Canadian auction. The description only described the stamps as 3¢ US stamps.

I posted it here

https://goscf.com/t/85543&whichpage=3

I do not have it in hand yet ( Canada Post strike) but I like the looks and the date is correct. Just hoping to submit it and hope it comes back as one of the Pink 64's

Really nice cover - keep us posted. Having just had my own 64 expertized by the PF, the process as described above is correct.

Although I can attest to the fact that the application form can be a little confusing in spots to a first-time applicant - nothing a quick phone call didn't clear up, but I don't know why they don't make some of this clearer.

Also, they ended up mis-typing my address on the return FedEx shipment, with the result that my envelope was headed to a non-existent address. Fortunately, I saw the wrong address when I received a shipment notification email from FedEx and was able to redirect it to a FedEx store location near my house for pickup. Hopefully a rare clerical error.

Obviously, if one is only putting in one item, then one has a whole form to write a note.

Trying to avoid including the wrong fees and delaying the process over paperwork. I sent a Canadian Cover for a cert to the Greene Foundation and they could not have screwed it up worse than they did so once bitten, twice shy I guess