Free tool · Grade
Stamp condition grader.
Condition can swing a stamp's value more than almost anything else. Score the things catalogs care about — centering, gum, perforations, cancellation and faults — and get an estimated grade and what it means.
Score the stamp
70
Fine — slightly off-center, four clear margins
What the grades mean
| Grade | What you're seeing |
|---|---|
| Superb | Essentially perfect centering, full sound margins/perfs, pristine gum or a light neat cancel, no faults. |
| Very Fine (VF) | Well centered with balanced margins, sound perforations, strong eye appeal, no faults. |
| Fine (F) | Design clearly off-center toward one side but not touching, intact perfs, no serious faults. |
| Very Good (VG) | Noticeably off-center, perhaps a perf touching the design; sound but not attractive. |
| Average / Poor | Design cut by the margin, short perfs, and/or faults such as thins, tears or heavy cancels. |
Why it matters: the same catalog number can be worth a few coins in Average condition and many times more in Superb. Faults — thins, tears, creases — typically reduce value sharply, which is why they're scored heavily here.
Grading tips
- Judge centering by the margins, the white space around the design, on all four sides.
- Check gum and thins by holding the stamp up to a light — thin spots glow brighter.
- For used stamps, a light, neatly placed cancel is usually better than a heavy smudge that hides the design.
- When grade decides real money, a professional opinion or certificate is worth it.
Want the identification and an estimated value to go with the grade? Get Stampy on the App Store ↗
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