I recently bought several fifteen stamps described as "mint, hinged." The description did not in any way indicate any residue or remainder. Each of the stamps had the entire hinge still attached, and I was wondering if "hinged" also meant stamps still had entire hinge attached. I received a discount on the purchase price and took it as returning was not offered. Tried to upload photo but they were too large, so will take again and try to upload. Thanks
I would also like if possible to get some advice an removing the hinges as most seem to be on rather tight and was not sure about putting them in water as some suggested. Thanks again
Soaking would remove the gum, and probably also the hinge. Then, the stamps would be "mint, gum removed" or something like that.
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Harvey I think, therefore I am - I think! 17 Feb 2021 11:33:59am
re: Stamp descriptions/advice
My Opinion is that I'd rather take the hinge off myself (carefully) than have someone else remove it and leave a thin area on the back of the stamp. Hinge remnants don't bother me at all so all I would do is take the folded over part of the hinge off anyway and live with what's left.
To me a mint hinged stamp is a stamp in any of these conditions:
1. has the complete hinge still attached to it
2. has a partial hinge or hinge remnants
3. has no hinge remnants but a noticeable trace of a hinge on the back in the form of disturbed glue
Then there is this possibility:
4. hinge removed in a way where the stamp was thinned and damaged
In my opinion your received the best quality of all options - #1
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Harvey I think, therefore I am - I think! 18 Feb 2021 11:13:34am
re: Stamp descriptions/advice
I totally agree with Jules - better to have the complete hinge than have it removed badly! Some hinges come off very easily, not usually the older ones that have become welded to the stamp over the years.
If I find a stamp on-line that I want, and the description and any images are inadequate, I usually ask to see an image of the back. Generally, i can live with small hinge remnants or damaged gum, but I won’t buy a stamp that has been visibly warped by its hinge or hinges.
Warped, buckled, whatever you call it to me is a defect and if sold should be noted. I've been breaking up a large collection for sale and the cheap "warped" stamps are being tossed or relegated to a floor sweepings box. The better stamps/sets are being soaked and sold as no gum (or kept for my collection).
I bought 70 or 80 mint stamps out of an approval book and probably three quarters of them ended up being tossed with large noticeable buckles. At 10 cents each the loss is minimal but .........
Anyone else feel that warp (buckle) caused by excessive moisture (fat tongue) should be noted?
MINT means the stamp is in the same condition as when it left the post office. It has never been hinged or cancelled and has full original gum.
All other uncancelled stamps are UNUSED and may have been hinged, have a hinge remnant, or disturbed original gum that shows where an earlier hinge (since removed) was attached.
USED stamps are self-evident and the same hinging conditions apply to these as to unused stamps.
Where it gets tricky is with unused pre-cancelled stamps bearing full original gum. I don't collect these so I don't worry about it.
My interpretation of unused is no-gum; uncancelled; unfranked.
Whatever the case, the difference is small. I am always tempted to soak stamps with disturbed gum, so I get rid of hinge remnants and avoid possible issues with the gum over the years - toning, foxing, cracking, sticking to other stamps are some possibilities.
If you are buying stamps, I would double check the seller's definition of Mint or see how they use the term. Using Mint NH ensures clarity in an inconsistent world.
Now, as a Brit I have always taken Mint to be as issued. MNH to be mint never hinged rather than mint not hinged, which could mean that it had been hinged but that it has been removed.
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