Below are our classifications and explanations of various stamp attributes that you will come across in our Stamp Values and Stamp Identification sections of our website.
Condition
| Mint | The stamp has original gum or was issued without gum “NGAI”. |
| Unused | The stamp is not canceled and has no gum, or is regummed. |
| Used | The stamp has been postally used, indicated by a cancellation mark. |
| On Cover | A stamp that is postally used on an envelope or entire mailing piece. |
Gum
| Never Hinged | Full undisturbed OG. |
| Lightly Hinged | Indicates very minor gum disturbance of 5% or less of surface area. |
| Hinged | The stamp has a hinge remnant or disturbed gum between 5%-50% of the surface area. |
| Heavily Hinged | A hinge remant or disturbed gum over 50% of the stamp, or that which causes the stamp to warp or bend unnaturally. |
| Part OG | Stamp has less than 50% original gum remaining. |
| NGAI | Refers to unused stamps that were issued without gum “No Gum As Issued”. Condition is classified as “Mint”. |
| None | “None” can indicate an Unused stamp with no gum, or Used stamps which by default have no gum. |
Cancels
| Basic | Cancels that do not generally provide any added value. They can be hand stamped or machine applied. |
| Color | Colored cancels that add a premium value. |
| Special | A unique type of cancel, such as “PAID” or “Steamship”, that adds value to the stamp. |
| Fancy | Any type of pictorial or image based cancel that generally adds a premium value. |
| Pen | Manuscript cancels applied with a writing instrument by hand where the cancel type reduces the stamp value. |
| None | “None” indicates a Condition that is Mint or Unused and therefore has no cancel. |
Cancel Strength
| Light | Lightly applied cancels covering 5% or less of the stamp. |
| Normal | Cancels that cover over 5% of the stamp, and do not obstruct more than 50% of the stamp design. |
| Heavy | Obtrusive cancels that obstruct more than 50% of the stamp design. |
| SOTN | “Socked On The Nose” cancels are perfectly centered over the stamp, which adds value. |
| None | “None” indicates a Condition that is Mint or Unused and therefore has no cancel strength. |
Faults
No Faults
Stamp is generally sound with no faults. May still have natural occurrences such as gum skips, gum bends, short gum, or gum wrinkles which may slightly effect the value.
Minor Faults
Stamp may contain one or a combination of the following:
- Small faint or pressed out crease less than 5mm.
- 1-2 short perf that are less than half the height of the other perfs, but not shorter than the bottom of the other perf holes.
- Small shallow thins less than 5mm and undetectable from the front side when placed on black background.
- Small light stains or toning not distracting from the stamp design.
Moderate Faults
Stamp may contain one or a combination of the following and may also contain Minor faults:
- Reperforated on only one side.
- Faint crease more than 5mm that is not visible on front side.
- 3-4 short perfs where the height is below the middle height of the other perfs but not below the bottom of the other perf holes.
- One repaired perf tip.
- Medium shallow thins more than 5mm in size but undetectable from front side when placed on black background.
- Filled thins less than 1mm.
- Tears less than 1mm, repaired or not.
- Moderate stains or toning.
Major Faults
Stamp may contain one or a combination of the following and may also contain Minor and Moderate faults:
- Reperforated on more than one side.
- Heavy crease visible from front side of the stamp.
- Deep thin of any size that is visible from the front side when placed on black background
- Filled thins more than 5mm.
- Tears larger than 1mm, reparied or not.
- Holes of any size.
- More than 4 short perfs where the height is less than the middle of the other perfs.
- More than one repaired perf tip.
- Pulled perfs that are removed below the bottom of the other perf holes.
- Rebacked stamps.
- Heavy stains or toning.
