The "Condition" of Stamps

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Stamps come to us in different "conditions". Is the stamp torn? Is it dirty? Those are undesirable conditions.

Is the stamp bright? Are all the perforations there? Is the image in the stamp well centered with respect to the perforations? Is there a nice cancellation mark that is easy to read? Those are signs of a desirable stamp.

Most of us want to collect the best stamps we can. We want to be able to say: "Hey, this stamp is in great condition. I want it for my collection." Or, we might say: "This stamp is in poor condition, because it has a small tear in it. However, I will keep it until a better one comes along."

Because my idea of a healthy stamp might be different from yours, stamp collectors try to use the same ideas to describe the health, or condition of a stamp. They use words like "poor", "good", "fine", "very fine", and "superb" to describe the condition of stamps. This is because sometimes we cannot actually see the stamp we are interested in obtaining.

Suppose your stamp-collector friend in a different city tells you she now has that stamp she knows you want, and she will trade it to you. It would be very useful for you both to be able to describe the condition of the stamp. You cannot see the stamp, so she tells you it has "very fine" condition. That makes you happy and you decide what you are going to offer as a trader for it, because you want that stamp!

The only way that will work is if you both can agree about what "very fine" means.

Sometimes we look for a standard to go by, such as might be provided in stamp catalogues, or by dealers. Below is a table taken (adapted) from a stamp catalogue published by Unitrade. There are many others, but this one serves as an example.

"condition"descriptionexample
Very Fine (VF)gum In early issue, part of gum or no gum; later issues, complete undisturbed gum; no faults except hinging

colour Fresh and bright, no fading

paper Free of all defects

centring Design well centred, distinct margins on all sides

cancellation Light, clear, well-positioned
Fine (F)gum May be disturbed slightly, due to heavy, multiple or improper hinging.

colour Not as fresh as VF, but no fading

paper No tears, thins, creases, etc. in the paper

centring Considerably less margin on one or two sides, but must be clear of stamp edges on imperforate issues, and clear of perforations on other issues.

cancellation Any clear postmark is acceptable.
Very Good
(VG)		gum Disturbed or partially missing

colour Some fading

paper Defects such as creases or staining are apparent

centring On imperforate issues, the frameline is just cut into by the edge of the stamp on one or two sides. Perforations touch or cut the design on other issues.

cancellation A medium cancel covering more of the design than in Fine condition. Cancellation not necessarily legible.
You will also see stamps that are called "superb", which means they are even nicer than VF; and stamps called "good", which means they are not as nice as VG.

Here are several used copies of the same stamp, a 3 cent red stamp showing King George V, issued in about 1930 or 1931. Even though this stamp is almost 70 years old, you can still buy a decent used copy for much less than a quarter, because they made so many of them. Who says collecting old stamps has to be expensive?

Which of these stamps would you prefer for your collection? Counting from the left, forget the third one over (call it #3). It is badly torn and not worth even being a "space-filler". If you don't like cancellations, you might like #5. But it is a bit low in its centring, with a larger space at the top, between the stamp and the perforations.

If you like a nice cancellation, particularly a circle with readable names and dates (called CDS, circle-date-stamp), try 1, 2, 4 or 7. Which is the best centred and the most pleasing? Number 1 has that nice "selvage" connected to it at the left and bottom edges, but again, centring is not great. Number 4 has great centring and wide margins on the sides, but is that a damaged perf top left? For me, 2 and 7 are the best of this group, but I know both you and I can do even better, so keep looking. But take the best one you like for now. Condition continues.

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