PCGS slabbing stamps

[Dry]

Is this something new? The ad in CW I read led me to believe it was. Is PCGS the only one doing this? Im not into stamps, but thought it was interesting how PCGS is branching out into other areas.

[EVillageProwler]

I've seen some division of CU (not PCGS) slabbing stamps. The slabs were interesting, but I was told by a high-end stamp dealer (who collects coins) what the "PCGS" of stamp certification companies is (I forget the name), and I believe it wasn't that unit of CU.

 

My memory is fuzzy here...

 

EVP

[XpipedreamR]

What exactly did the ad say?

 

I collect stamps, but not as avidly as coins. I don't think I'd really be interested in slabbed stamps.

 

Maybe people said the same thing about coins 20 years ago

[Dry]

I just checked out the two page ad again (pages 30-31 of June 28 issue). It says PSE (Professional Stamp Experts), an affiliate of PCGS. The top headline of the ad says "PAPER GOLD". The ad starts out by saying that stamps are the sister hobby to numismatics and then gives some history and why slabbing is needed. The slab looks very different.

[Hoot]

My memory is fuzzy here...

 

EVP

 

Oh Please! Here?

 

Hoot

 

 

 

 

 

 

[gmarguli]

PSE is a division of CU and is a loser. It is a money loser for CU. From the little I have heard, the slabbing of stamps has been met with little enthusiasm and pretty much a laugh.

[goose3]

My son has a sample stamp slab that I believe he bartered for off of Kiefer. If you guys want a photo, let me know.

[0john0-migration]

I'd like to see what the slab looks like, goose.

[MikeKing]

Stamp collecting belongs to a realm quite different from collecting coins, and fortunately, untainted by third party grading. You won't find slabbed stamps in great collections, nor at auction of such. Expertization of stamps however is absolutely essential to 'guarantee' their authenticity. The Philatelic Foundation (PF) being the most often used, from my observation. APS (American Philatelic Society or APEX) is another, and PSE yet another (this is the one you are commenting about). In general, the stamp is examined, photographed and a certificate created designating authenticity and perhaps commenting on a scissor cut or some such thing as an identifying feature.

 

PSE is one of the commonly used (though not the most commonly used) certification firms. They are the ones that slab stamps, though, the stamp does not have to be slabbed in order to be certified by them. This is their web site:

 

PSE

 

It appears like they are trying to do for stamps what PCGS has done for coins, but in rare stamp collecting circles, I've never found any credence paid to this particular industry.

[James_OldeTowne]

I was standing in line at the Post Office when I saw the ad, and literally busted out laughing right on the spot. You see, I don't deal in stamps, but have on occasion purchased them incidentally as part of larger collections (see for example the German and Nazi stamps I just sold on eBay). Try to imagine for just a moment how humongous an album of slabbed stamps would be! You'd need a four-car garage to store any substantial collection!

 

It's bad enough that a collection of, say Roosevelt Dimes, in slabs takes up two backpacks to carry around (as opposed to a simple Dansco Album), but stamps? It's an idea that just won't fly.

 

(I hope)

 

James