PLEASE SEE NEAR THE END OF THIS SECTION FOR EXPLANATIONS OF CODES USED IN HEADINGS. (If the heading is clear, then ignore the code section.).

I am aiming to realize about one third of catalog (for USA, 40%), more or less, depending upon a bunch of judgment factors such as cancel quality, logical grouping, thins, etc. (I am now listing lots with a minimum of 8 cents. This means that minimum priced stamps, when I don't have a convenient companion for them, will be 40% of catalog.) One of the main considerations in many cases is minimum catalog items, which I often list at much less than one third catalog when grouped together. (These stamps are normally in good condition or I would have not attempted to market them this way.) The Scott Catalog value for this listing is $1.40. (I have been having difficulty getting the Scott Catalog year straight, as the wrong year carries from listing to listing. Right now, I am using 2009 for Vol. 1; 2007 for vols. 2,3,4; 2006 for vol. 5; and 2008 for vol. 6.)

Remember, only the one stamp lot on an order with the highest postage listed pays postage. All the additional lots are free postage and handling when ordered at one time and paid on one invoice, unless otherwise noted in listings.

You will get the exact stamp(s) shown in the illustration, unless otherwise noted as part of a multiple listing of the same issue (which is usually also noted). Please note that multiple listings of mint stamps which look identical (unless you examine them inder a microscope) will not specifically mention that the stamp received is not the one pictured, but you will not notice it.

The next paragraphs are what I would call the fine print. Important information for THIS listing will appear above.

As a general disclaimer, which will hopefully appear on all my listings from here on, - I cannot tell normally, unless I have the help of a reference work, whether a stamp is forged or not. Relatively speaking, very few stamps are forged. Some types of printing, eg. lithography, is more easily forged than others. Cancels are sometimes forged as well. Overprints may cause a problem in this area, as they are more easily forged. Assume that my stamps are 99.99% genuine unless I indicate that I may "smell a rat". If Scott says that counterfiets or forgeries of an issue are plentiful, I will usually indicate in the listings that I cannot vouch for its authenticity. I believe that my stamps will be as genuine as any others you will find on the market unless otherwise noted.

As for cancelled stamps selling at much more than unused copies -- when this happens, I usually list the cancelled stamp at the unused price, and will usually note that I cannot vouch for the postally used status of the stamp. Many of these cancels are genuine cancels applied to significant numbers of remainders by the post office. These cancels are genuine, but the postal use of the stamp is questionable. Only an expert can tell the difference. (And on a stamp listing for $5.00 used and $2.50 unused, who can afford to get expert opinions?) In cases like these, I will usually price the stamp somewhere between my typical pricing (one third), based upon my (un)educated guess of the issue involved. In the case of the $5.00/$2.50 example, I would likely charge $1.25 - less than one third of $5.00 and more than one third of $2.50. You as the purchaser must determine as always what the stamp is worth TO YOU.

Other explanations, especially of the codes in the title lines: (Please note that I may spell things out in the title line if there is sufficient room.)

A All, as in group listings, for example ATh means all stamps in the listing are thin.

BC Blunt corner.

Bgd Banged - Something bumped the stamp, usually on an edge or corner, and weakened it.

BL Bottom left

BR Bottom right

C Corner

CTO Cancelled to order. These stamps usually have gum on the back, but are cancelled. They have not been postally used. I price these as used stamps per the Scott listings. Some countries issue stamps cancelled and without gum. CTO stamps usually have a quarter circle cancel in one corner, but not necessarily. Full gum on a used stamp usually means CTO, regardless of the position of the cancel, though I have seen some stamps come off package paper after postal use and still have full or nearly full gum.

F Fold

H, or MH Mint hinged

LG Limited gum. Much of the original gum is missing on this stamp.

MTh Miniscule thin. These are thins that might not be readily noticed, but can usually be spotted when holding the stamp to allow the light to pass through.

NG No gum. The stamp so listed is presumed to have been issued with gum, and no longer has it. This the stamp could be either used or unused. In these cases, I will price the stamp as the cheaper of the two, but if it is listed with other stamps it could be listed with either a mint or used group.

NH or MNH Mint never hinged

P Pinhole

PC Perfs cut the design of the stamp on one or more of the sides. This can normally be seen in the picture.

PP Pulled perf(s) (see picture)

SF Small fold

SON Socked on the nose.  Generally refers to cancellations.  These are often more desirable. 

STh Small thin

Stn Stain

Th Thin

TL Top left

TR Top right

U Used. (Many times this will omitted in favor of simply looking at the picture which will usually make this obvious.)

V Value in USA dollars as listed in the Scott catalogs. I almost always use the Scott catalogs for my pricing guide, and any exceptions will be noted. The year of the catalog used will be noted in the descriptive paragraph above which gives my valuation principles as best as I can identify them.

Codes contained between commas and together with Scott numbers will apply to the stamps between the commas only. Codes at the end of the numerical listings and outside commas separating numerical listings apply to the entire lot listed. Example: COUNTRY 75, 76 NG, 77, H, can be interpreted as follows: all stamps in the lot are mint hinged, but number 76 is also without gum.

It is my hope that the use of these codes will sufficiently free up listing space so more information can be included on the Title line, with the aim of making lot scanning much simpler for you the user. Also, I hope that this will make listing more efficient for me so that I can put up more lots in less time. Your comments, pro and con, will be appreciated.