Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
I note that Stanley Gibbons prices GB mounted stamps until 1936, from then pricing is based on MNH.
Looking at various sales websites, MNH is not as rare as I would have expected pre 1936.
How much would you value a mounted stamp as a % of MNH values?
Regards
Richmond
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.
"When does this become important from a collecting perspective? "
It really all depends on what you want to collect and what you want to pay for.
My decision was only to collect used for some countries and to collect what I could afford or desired for other countries. About 10% of the stamps in my collection are MNH and that is purely by accident.
"How much would you value a mounted stamp as a % of MNH values?"
Again this is up to you to decide. I am guessing about 50%-75% of MNH catalog values for hinged stamps.
Login to Like
this post
Up until 1938 Scott prices both hinged and never hinged for many issues. Taking a common 2c Columbian from 1892 the hinged CV is $15.00, NH is $40. The 1933 Byrd perforated issue is 60 cents NH ans 50 cents hinged. For post 1938 iaaues Scotts only says that they are worth
"considerably less".
For some countries the premium for NH can be substantial - take the common Germany 366 which catalogues 30 cents hinged and $2.10 never hinged. The set (Germany 366 to 384 catalogues $104.20 hinged and $1,080 never hinged.
Login to Like
this post
Antonio provides the correct response. It's up to you.
However, Scott begins to value stamps with MNH and MH sometime around the 50s (issue dates, not catalogue dates), acknowledging a change in collecting preferences.
Not all of us care.
Login to Like
this post
"Not all of us care."
I'll second that. My interest is exclusively in how the front of the stamp appears, since that is what shows in the album. I deliberately seek out stamps with "inferior" backs - heavy hinge remnant, no gum, regummed, etc. - in order to get a better price for a good-looking stamp.
As the others have said, it's all up to you to decide what stamp attributes are important to you.
4 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.
10:35:38am
" ... When does this become important from a collecting perspective? ..."
About ten minute after it beomes important to you.
" ... Looking at various sales websites, MNH is not as rare as I would have expected pre 1936. ..."
Nor post-1936. In fact, there are hundreds of stamps that are far more difficult to find nicely cancelled than MNH. There is also the factor that many of the supposedly "MNH" that people pay a premium for, have been carelessly, or expertly re-gummed. While not impossible to detect the difference, it does take some experience.
One thing that affects post 2000 issues is the changing customs of the country. The average person hardly ever sits down and puts an inked quill to paper any longer, judging from what I see in society, many can barely write a pen and ink sentence. NO I was not referring to "writing au natural."
Another complication is the recent habit of nations to run the stamp presses 24/7 but fail to distribute current stamps to postal facilities.
" ...How much would you value a mounted stamp as a % of MNH values? ..."
Generally -3%, after all, I have to wash the glutinous mixture off the obverse of the stamp. On a cranky day -5%.
Login to Like
this post
"" ... Looking at various sales websites, MNH is not as rare as I would have expected pre 1936. ...""
...And beware that many Classic-era MNH stamps, especially those that have high catalog values, have been regummed. Those stamps would not be considered MNH in a collector sense since they have been altered.
Login to Like
this post
There is a school of thought that says that 90% of MNH stamps dating from before the universal availability of hingeless albums are regummed!
Malcolm
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.
I was going to state 80%, but I wouldn't argue against the 90% number either.
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.
For my own collection I mainly purchase no gum on pre-1920 issues. I love natural straight edges on the early classics ("winged copies" for GB stamps I believe).
Login to Like
this post
Which is why I've chosen to collect these on cover. I believe my zeps and early airmailed are much more interesting that way. When you hold them in your hands you can imagine that cover has been on that zeppelin or old prop plane. And you can be pretty sure they are authentic.
2 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.
I can't really ever remember there being a time that MNH stamps was the only way that I would collect them. Of course I'm not trying build a retirement portfolio but simply enjoy the hobby. I believe that MNH is a difficult but admirable task especially for pre 1936 issues and is why so many collectors are willing to pay a premium for specific issues.
When I first started collecting I remember my grandmother soaking unused stamps to mount them in her album. I also remember asking her why she was doing that? Her response was to prevent the stamps from sticking to the pages because she was using hinges and to prevent them sticking together from humidity. Now I cringe when I think about it.
I couldn't agree more with Malcom's and Michael's assessment of 80% to 90% of all pre 1920's MNH stamps are re-gummed for the reason as I described in the previous paragraph.
Jeremy
Login to Like
this post
It is not my intention to build an "investment portfolio" if that is even possible. I just prefer mint to used. Of course on the very early stamps, the cost of mint would be prohibitive and would have to defer to used or 'space fillers on the very rare stamps.
I obviously either need to do more research on re gumming.
The responses have been very illuminating and have veered me away from looking for MNH on early issues.
Regards
Richmond.
Login to Like
this post
Checkout stamp smarter.com and grading matters.com for some great info about the topic of re-gumming stamps or even better than that checkout some of the old topics on this forum. This subject gets covered quite frequently here.
Jeremy
Login to Like
this post
I prefer mint or unused to used primarily because such stamps have not been defaced by a cancelling device. I do not limit my WW collection to either all mint or all used. Many stamps are unobtainable in either mint or used which highly restricts ones collection and greatly diminishes my goal of possible completion. I do not care about NH and will not pay the premiums for it. I consider gum as more a nuisance which increases the risk of damage to the stamps through thinning. No gum values generally are half of MH or MLH while values of MH and MLH are generally 1/2 to 1/3 of MNH. Even though real world values do not always reflect catalog values or percentages of catalog values, I am most willing to sacrifice gum for more stamps when catalog values are reflected.
To me, MNH prices are absurd and gum highly overrated.
The nicest representative copy of every stamp I can get my hands on, be it mint or used,
is my goal in collecting.
6 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.
Precisely!
Jeremy
Login to Like
this post
Thanks Antonius
Regards
Richmond
Login to Like
this post
I'm of the same opinion as many on here that you buy what you can afford and what you want as to how it looks generally. I have many MNH but again it's more by accident rather than design as I would buy that same stamp to let's say complete a set whether it was MNH,MH or MNG .
2 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.
My predicament is slightly different. I am still trying to decide if I should convert my MH stamps into MNGs.
Gum has its negatives to it. It can tone over time and make even the face of the stamp darker. If it gets wet, the stamp sticks to other stamps or other things.
The only small positive is, it is another layer over the stamp making it a little thicker and you still have the back of the stamp look authentic.
But again, in the case of MH, I hate to look at these hinge remnants.
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.
When does this become important from a collecting perspective?
I note that Stanley Gibbons prices GB mounted stamps until 1936, from then pricing is based on MNH.
Looking at various sales websites, MNH is not as rare as I would have expected pre 1936.
How much would you value a mounted stamp as a % of MNH values?
Regards
Richmond
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.
re: MNH
"When does this become important from a collecting perspective? "
It really all depends on what you want to collect and what you want to pay for.
My decision was only to collect used for some countries and to collect what I could afford or desired for other countries. About 10% of the stamps in my collection are MNH and that is purely by accident.
"How much would you value a mounted stamp as a % of MNH values?"
Again this is up to you to decide. I am guessing about 50%-75% of MNH catalog values for hinged stamps.
Login to Like
this post
09:32:51am
re: MNH
Up until 1938 Scott prices both hinged and never hinged for many issues. Taking a common 2c Columbian from 1892 the hinged CV is $15.00, NH is $40. The 1933 Byrd perforated issue is 60 cents NH ans 50 cents hinged. For post 1938 iaaues Scotts only says that they are worth
"considerably less".
For some countries the premium for NH can be substantial - take the common Germany 366 which catalogues 30 cents hinged and $2.10 never hinged. The set (Germany 366 to 384 catalogues $104.20 hinged and $1,080 never hinged.
Login to Like
this post
re: MNH
Antonio provides the correct response. It's up to you.
However, Scott begins to value stamps with MNH and MH sometime around the 50s (issue dates, not catalogue dates), acknowledging a change in collecting preferences.
Not all of us care.
Login to Like
this post
re: MNH
"Not all of us care."
I'll second that. My interest is exclusively in how the front of the stamp appears, since that is what shows in the album. I deliberately seek out stamps with "inferior" backs - heavy hinge remnant, no gum, regummed, etc. - in order to get a better price for a good-looking stamp.
As the others have said, it's all up to you to decide what stamp attributes are important to you.
4 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.
Silence in the face of adversity is the father of complicity and collusion, the first cousins of conspiracy..
11 Jul 2017
10:35:38am
re: MNH
" ... When does this become important from a collecting perspective? ..."
About ten minute after it beomes important to you.
" ... Looking at various sales websites, MNH is not as rare as I would have expected pre 1936. ..."
Nor post-1936. In fact, there are hundreds of stamps that are far more difficult to find nicely cancelled than MNH. There is also the factor that many of the supposedly "MNH" that people pay a premium for, have been carelessly, or expertly re-gummed. While not impossible to detect the difference, it does take some experience.
One thing that affects post 2000 issues is the changing customs of the country. The average person hardly ever sits down and puts an inked quill to paper any longer, judging from what I see in society, many can barely write a pen and ink sentence. NO I was not referring to "writing au natural."
Another complication is the recent habit of nations to run the stamp presses 24/7 but fail to distribute current stamps to postal facilities.
" ...How much would you value a mounted stamp as a % of MNH values? ..."
Generally -3%, after all, I have to wash the glutinous mixture off the obverse of the stamp. On a cranky day -5%.
Login to Like
this post
10:43:59am
re: MNH
"" ... Looking at various sales websites, MNH is not as rare as I would have expected pre 1936. ...""
...And beware that many Classic-era MNH stamps, especially those that have high catalog values, have been regummed. Those stamps would not be considered MNH in a collector sense since they have been altered.
Login to Like
this post
10:46:09am
re: MNH
There is a school of thought that says that 90% of MNH stamps dating from before the universal availability of hingeless albums are regummed!
Malcolm
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.
10:50:24am
re: MNH
I was going to state 80%, but I wouldn't argue against the 90% number either.
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.
11:35:00am
re: MNH
For my own collection I mainly purchase no gum on pre-1920 issues. I love natural straight edges on the early classics ("winged copies" for GB stamps I believe).
Login to Like
this post
re: MNH
Which is why I've chosen to collect these on cover. I believe my zeps and early airmailed are much more interesting that way. When you hold them in your hands you can imagine that cover has been on that zeppelin or old prop plane. And you can be pretty sure they are authentic.
2 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.
03:39:49pm
re: MNH
I can't really ever remember there being a time that MNH stamps was the only way that I would collect them. Of course I'm not trying build a retirement portfolio but simply enjoy the hobby. I believe that MNH is a difficult but admirable task especially for pre 1936 issues and is why so many collectors are willing to pay a premium for specific issues.
When I first started collecting I remember my grandmother soaking unused stamps to mount them in her album. I also remember asking her why she was doing that? Her response was to prevent the stamps from sticking to the pages because she was using hinges and to prevent them sticking together from humidity. Now I cringe when I think about it.
I couldn't agree more with Malcom's and Michael's assessment of 80% to 90% of all pre 1920's MNH stamps are re-gummed for the reason as I described in the previous paragraph.
Jeremy
Login to Like
this post
re: MNH
It is not my intention to build an "investment portfolio" if that is even possible. I just prefer mint to used. Of course on the very early stamps, the cost of mint would be prohibitive and would have to defer to used or 'space fillers on the very rare stamps.
I obviously either need to do more research on re gumming.
The responses have been very illuminating and have veered me away from looking for MNH on early issues.
Regards
Richmond.
Login to Like
this post
05:03:09pm
re: MNH
Checkout stamp smarter.com and grading matters.com for some great info about the topic of re-gumming stamps or even better than that checkout some of the old topics on this forum. This subject gets covered quite frequently here.
Jeremy
Login to Like
this post
re: MNH
I prefer mint or unused to used primarily because such stamps have not been defaced by a cancelling device. I do not limit my WW collection to either all mint or all used. Many stamps are unobtainable in either mint or used which highly restricts ones collection and greatly diminishes my goal of possible completion. I do not care about NH and will not pay the premiums for it. I consider gum as more a nuisance which increases the risk of damage to the stamps through thinning. No gum values generally are half of MH or MLH while values of MH and MLH are generally 1/2 to 1/3 of MNH. Even though real world values do not always reflect catalog values or percentages of catalog values, I am most willing to sacrifice gum for more stamps when catalog values are reflected.
To me, MNH prices are absurd and gum highly overrated.
The nicest representative copy of every stamp I can get my hands on, be it mint or used,
is my goal in collecting.
6 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.
re: MNH
Thanks Antonius
Regards
Richmond
Login to Like
this post
02:41:08am
re: MNH
I'm of the same opinion as many on here that you buy what you can afford and what you want as to how it looks generally. I have many MNH but again it's more by accident rather than design as I would buy that same stamp to let's say complete a set whether it was MNH,MH or MNG .
2 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.
re: MNH
My predicament is slightly different. I am still trying to decide if I should convert my MH stamps into MNGs.
Gum has its negatives to it. It can tone over time and make even the face of the stamp darker. If it gets wet, the stamp sticks to other stamps or other things.
The only small positive is, it is another layer over the stamp making it a little thicker and you still have the back of the stamp look authentic.
But again, in the case of MH, I hate to look at these hinge remnants.
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.