Condition

The condition of stamp collectibles is a description of a stamps paper, gum (when dealing with mint stamps), and ink characteristics. The most adequate description of a stamp should be concise but still use as many words as necessary to properly describe the stamp. For example, a early British colonial stamp issued from the tropics might have many faults that need addressing, and the stamps description may be as long as a paragraph to note this. Despite this, old issued stamps with faults may still yet be very valuable due to price or rarity of pristine examples, or their possible lack of existence.

Positive Conditions -

• The stamp collectibles should have a crisp and clear printing impression that is on a line-engraved issue,
• The stamp should possess wide margins between the separations and the design itself,
• The stamp collectibles should possess rich colors as if it were hot off the press,
• There should be selvage that is attached to the stamp, especially when it comes to older issued stamps,
• Used stamps with rare or usual cancellation,

Faults -

A fault is anything that has damaged, altered or otherwise changed the stamp or the appearance of the stamp since the point in time where it was printed, except for postal marks such as a cancellation, pre-cancels and overprints.

• Gum faults include mint copies that have been re-gummed, or uncancelled copies that do not have any gum. If there is something stuck on the gum, like a fingerprint or dirt, this is also considered to be a fault for stamp collectibles.
• Paper faults include pieces that are missing, tears or holes, creases or folds or stains on the paper. If the paper has thinned because the stamp back has been peeled away in part or completely, this is a paper fault. Another paper fault involves heavy hinge remnant in stamp collectibles.
• Color faults on stamp collectibles include chemical changes in the stamp color or stains. Attempting to remove a cancellation may also change the color of a stamp.
• Perf faults include shortened perforations or perf tips that have been cut off in order to create a straight edge which indicates that the stamp was cut with a scissors. Other perforation faults include perforations that are notably shorter than others or perforations that were clearly pulled off.
• Face faults include when something is stuck on the stamp, or when the stamp is scuffed or has non-postal marks on it such as crayon marks, pencil marks or pen marks.

Stamp conditions can vary significantly from one country to the next, and the standards are not typically the same across the board based on printing technologies and region. Sometimes you will buy a stamp that is not in high condition with a note that mentions that it is very fine for the country, which explains that it will be hard to find stamps of the same high quality in that region.

Photo credits: karen horton

Originally posted 2009-11-20 03:00:50. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• Stamps of Greece   Stamps -> Europe -> Greece Stamp collectors who collect world stamps usually have a fondness for the stamps of Greece, with the bold designs, and the history they represent. The first stamps of Greece are called Hermes head stamps, because they feature a profile of the Greek god Hermes......
• Collecting Commemorative Stamps A commemorative stamp is essentially a stamp that was created in order to honor something, such as for example a special occasion, a special person or a special place. Most commemorative stamp varieties are printed in very small batches, and sometimes they are only printed one time and then never......
• India Stamps stamps -> Stamps -> Asia India stamps were first used in 1852, and were known as the Scinde Dawk stamps, during the country's postal system reform. This came after centuries of messages being carried in India on foot by runners who followed paths, and about a year of horses......
• Post Office Stamps Stamps -> United States -> Collections Post office stamps are a great collectible for kids to enjoy, and luckily, it isn’t all that hard to start a collection. Before you start building your collection, it’s a good idea to make sure that you have all the supplies you’ll need. This......
• Benefits of Collecting Old Stamps Collecting old stamps, especially vintage postage stamps can bring great value. Collecting old stamps can be fun and educational, it can be affordable, and it can bring about understanding of history, art, travel and many other areas of culture as well. Here is an explanation of why collecting old stamps......

• How to Get More from Collecting Chinese Paper Money Those who enjoy collecting currency are delighted to start collecting something like Chinese paper money. This is because of how rare some of the item can be as well as the history regarding the currency itself. There are many people looking to collect this kind of currency so that they......
• Must Have Supplies for Collecting Paper Money Currency Collecting is a great way to pass the time no matter what it is that you are interested in. If you are into history at all, there are hobbies like paper money collecting which will allow you to do something which is both fun and potentially profitable. Of course, in......
• How to Get Started with Collecting Paper Money Often, there are two different kinds of collectors. There are those that collect paper money as well as those that collect coins. There are a few that collect both, but these are rare. The most common currency collector collects coins. This is because there are far more coins to collect......
• Wine Collecting Hobby As long ago as in the 1700s, it was recognized that wine had a powerful hold on people, and that great friendships could spring from good wine. The art of wine and wine collecting has a truly long and interesting history dating as far back as 4000 years BC. There......
• The Value of Paper Money Those who are into coin collecting often fail to think about the value of paper money. While they think about coins and how to add them to their collection, they fail to see the benefits of the other side of currency. Many who have stuck with coin collecting for years......

• Mint Sets Coins: US Coins & Paper Money
• Country Music Memorabilia Entertainment Memorabilia
• Color 1970-79 Photos Television Memorabilia Entertainment Memorabilia
• Non-Country Specific License Plates Automobilia Transportation Collectibles
• Postal History Covers United States Stamps