Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
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MNG are the bane of my life, I detest them. I consider them as used, unless the used CV is higher than the mint CV.
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Unused is the same as used.
% reduction my guess at least 75 maybe more.
1898
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Thanks Folks. Too bad because they are in excellent shape otherwise.
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10:11:05am
"How much of a reduction from Mint NH would you expect for an unused stamp with no gum?"
Not comparable at all to MNH. Depending on the stamp, unused, no gum is more comparable to mint, heavily hinged, because that's the immediately previous step. If the stamp is not scarce enough to have demand in mint, heavily hinged condition, then soaking the gum off will not increase the value, as anybody can do that in 5 minutes.
So it depends on the stamp. For classics (roughly pre-1890), the two conditions (MNG / MHH) might sell at nearly the same price level, although experience says the MNG may take longer to find a buyer. 1880s-1900 is a grey zone. Highly dependent on the issue. After 1900, ask yourself what the demand would be for any stamp in MHH condition. I think the answer is almost nil, except for the very highest values missing from most collections.
Roy
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So now if we soak the mint stamps to remove the gum, are we not getting the same as a used stamp that does not have a postmark, something I avoid buying for my used collection.
To my mind a mint stamp with the gum soaked off is not now mint. Which by definition means as issued by the postal authorities.
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Terminology, terminology, terminology. 
Anyway, we'll leave that aside for now.
I have recently enjoyed seeing an upturn in the sales/auctions of items like those in discussion here. Small lots of 'non-cancelled' stamps have been selling and I have made enquiries as to why ? Are they now collectable or in fact are they being purchased for re-use ? No one is going to admit to the latter but one or two enquiries I made from collectors of used stamps say they will put them in their albums.
Who'd have thought it.
Years ago they were frowned upon but is the trend changing ? Most postal services have problems cancelling their mail these days so maybe this is the alternative. Better than some ugly black marker line through the stamp, no ?
So, as an experiment I posted two lots in different places and sold them very quickly. Hardly any of my mail gets cancelled these days and the stamps were just sitting in a closet to throw in to future Kiloware sales.
Now maybe there is another outlet.
However, I would not be surprised if at least some of these stamps will once again find their way onto letters.
And let's be honest. Who could blame them.
Londonbus1
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Philately like most hobbies likes to think there are rules and terminology we should all adhere to.
There are differences in philatelic terminology even in the so called English speaking world never mind in French, German, Mandarin etc etc etc.
However it is a hobby for most folks and if one can fill a space in an album with a mint no gum rather than a MNH then I say go for it.
Collect the way YOU want to and never mind the rest.
They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder so is value. What I would pay $100 for the next guy might pay $50 or $150.
There are no clearly defined rules for value.
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@Brechinite
Well said, top drawer!
Thank you for some common sense, seems like common sense is rare here!
1898
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01:43:11pm
"Collect the way YOU want to and never mind the rest."
You are absolutely correct.
However, these questions of value, whether the term is used explicitly or not, are about market value, and that is independent of what any one individual collector thinks of the condition vs. value for his own collection.
It's really a question of "what can I expect to get" for an item if offered in a reasonably trafficked public venue, such as Hipstamp, ebay, public auction, dealer table at a stamp show etc. Of course there are still variables, but if something is common enough to be offered relatively frequently, one can zero in on a reasonable expectation. After all, we have frequent conversations here about what percentage of catalog items sell for in the Stamporama auctions and approvals - and that's a "market value" for this venue.
Roy
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02:24:26pm
"Collect the way YOU want to and never mind the rest.
They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder so is value. What I would pay $100 for the next guy might pay $50 or $150.
There are no clearly defined rules for value."
Well said Ian! We don't always agree but I'm with you 100% on this one!! I sort of prefer mint for Canada and the USA if affordable but I would have no objection to mint no gum in a lot of circumstances. Thanks for saying what you said so well!!
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You have to be careful what venue you sell on.
All the sales platforms are different. What will sell on Delcampe may not sell as well as Ebay. Stamporama may be less than say Hipstamp.
It all depends on what one offers, how long one is prepared to wait for the item to sell and whether the cows are jumping over the moon.
Even here on Stamporama all you have to do is pick half a dozen sellers here and you will see that the percentage of catalogue "price" varies within a sellers items never mind the variation between sellers.
We have a saying in Old Caledonia:- "You makes your choice, you pays your money and you hope for the best!"
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John, check the Scott US Spcialized, and Scott Classic for valuations for many unused no gum stamps from the 19th century. Also, remember some stamps were issued without gum. (I had to throw that in!) 
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"Collect the way YOU want to and never mind the rest."
100% agree unless you are investing rather than collecting. If you are investing you will have to follow someone else's rules and I'm not at all sure stamps are the best investment going TBH.
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How much of a reduction from Mint NH would you expect for an unused stamp with no gum?
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re: Mint No Gum Value
MNG are the bane of my life, I detest them. I consider them as used, unless the used CV is higher than the mint CV.
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09:22:21am
re: Mint No Gum Value
Unused is the same as used.
% reduction my guess at least 75 maybe more.
1898
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re: Mint No Gum Value
Thanks Folks. Too bad because they are in excellent shape otherwise.
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BuckaCover.com - 80,000 covers priced 60c to $1.50 - Easy browsing 500 categories
06 Jul 2023
10:11:05am
re: Mint No Gum Value
"How much of a reduction from Mint NH would you expect for an unused stamp with no gum?"
Not comparable at all to MNH. Depending on the stamp, unused, no gum is more comparable to mint, heavily hinged, because that's the immediately previous step. If the stamp is not scarce enough to have demand in mint, heavily hinged condition, then soaking the gum off will not increase the value, as anybody can do that in 5 minutes.
So it depends on the stamp. For classics (roughly pre-1890), the two conditions (MNG / MHH) might sell at nearly the same price level, although experience says the MNG may take longer to find a buyer. 1880s-1900 is a grey zone. Highly dependent on the issue. After 1900, ask yourself what the demand would be for any stamp in MHH condition. I think the answer is almost nil, except for the very highest values missing from most collections.
Roy
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re: Mint No Gum Value
So now if we soak the mint stamps to remove the gum, are we not getting the same as a used stamp that does not have a postmark, something I avoid buying for my used collection.
To my mind a mint stamp with the gum soaked off is not now mint. Which by definition means as issued by the postal authorities.
Login to Like
this post
re: Mint No Gum Value
Terminology, terminology, terminology.
Anyway, we'll leave that aside for now.
I have recently enjoyed seeing an upturn in the sales/auctions of items like those in discussion here. Small lots of 'non-cancelled' stamps have been selling and I have made enquiries as to why ? Are they now collectable or in fact are they being purchased for re-use ? No one is going to admit to the latter but one or two enquiries I made from collectors of used stamps say they will put them in their albums.
Who'd have thought it.
Years ago they were frowned upon but is the trend changing ? Most postal services have problems cancelling their mail these days so maybe this is the alternative. Better than some ugly black marker line through the stamp, no ?
So, as an experiment I posted two lots in different places and sold them very quickly. Hardly any of my mail gets cancelled these days and the stamps were just sitting in a closet to throw in to future Kiloware sales.
Now maybe there is another outlet.
However, I would not be surprised if at least some of these stamps will once again find their way onto letters.
And let's be honest. Who could blame them.
Londonbus1
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12:32:20pm
Approvals
re: Mint No Gum Value
Philately like most hobbies likes to think there are rules and terminology we should all adhere to.
There are differences in philatelic terminology even in the so called English speaking world never mind in French, German, Mandarin etc etc etc.
However it is a hobby for most folks and if one can fill a space in an album with a mint no gum rather than a MNH then I say go for it.
Collect the way YOU want to and never mind the rest.
They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder so is value. What I would pay $100 for the next guy might pay $50 or $150.
There are no clearly defined rules for value.
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01:33:38pm
re: Mint No Gum Value
@Brechinite
Well said, top drawer!
Thank you for some common sense, seems like common sense is rare here!
1898
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BuckaCover.com - 80,000 covers priced 60c to $1.50 - Easy browsing 500 categories
06 Jul 2023
01:43:11pm
re: Mint No Gum Value
"Collect the way YOU want to and never mind the rest."
You are absolutely correct.
However, these questions of value, whether the term is used explicitly or not, are about market value, and that is independent of what any one individual collector thinks of the condition vs. value for his own collection.
It's really a question of "what can I expect to get" for an item if offered in a reasonably trafficked public venue, such as Hipstamp, ebay, public auction, dealer table at a stamp show etc. Of course there are still variables, but if something is common enough to be offered relatively frequently, one can zero in on a reasonable expectation. After all, we have frequent conversations here about what percentage of catalog items sell for in the Stamporama auctions and approvals - and that's a "market value" for this venue.
Roy
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This is my diabetic cat OBI! I think, therefore I am - I think! Descartes, sort of!
06 Jul 2023
02:24:26pm
re: Mint No Gum Value
"Collect the way YOU want to and never mind the rest.
They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder so is value. What I would pay $100 for the next guy might pay $50 or $150.
There are no clearly defined rules for value."
Well said Ian! We don't always agree but I'm with you 100% on this one!! I sort of prefer mint for Canada and the USA if affordable but I would have no objection to mint no gum in a lot of circumstances. Thanks for saying what you said so well!!
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06:38:30pm
Approvals
re: Mint No Gum Value
You have to be careful what venue you sell on.
All the sales platforms are different. What will sell on Delcampe may not sell as well as Ebay. Stamporama may be less than say Hipstamp.
It all depends on what one offers, how long one is prepared to wait for the item to sell and whether the cows are jumping over the moon.
Even here on Stamporama all you have to do is pick half a dozen sellers here and you will see that the percentage of catalogue "price" varies within a sellers items never mind the variation between sellers.
We have a saying in Old Caledonia:- "You makes your choice, you pays your money and you hope for the best!"
Login to Like
this post
08:44:17pm
re: Mint No Gum Value
John, check the Scott US Spcialized, and Scott Classic for valuations for many unused no gum stamps from the 19th century. Also, remember some stamps were issued without gum. (I had to throw that in!)
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re: Mint No Gum Value
"Collect the way YOU want to and never mind the rest."
100% agree unless you are investing rather than collecting. If you are investing you will have to follow someone else's rules and I'm not at all sure stamps are the best investment going TBH.
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