Professional Stamp Experts

Grading Guide - Combining Soundness and Centering

After having evaluated the two major components of a stamp, (soundness and centering) the preliminary grade of the stamp may then be established. These two factors interact with each other to yield the following grades. Soundness grades are located on the left side, where centering grades are located at the top.

	G	VG	F	F-VF	VF	VF-XF	XF	XF-S	Sup	Gem
Damaged	10	10	10	20	20	30	30	40	50	60
Major Fault	10	10	20	30	30	40	50	60	70	70
Fault	10	20	30	40	50	50	60	70	75	75
Minor Fault	20	30	40	50	60	70	75	80	85	85
Very Minor Fault	30	40	60	70	75	80	85	90	95	95
Faultless	30	50	70	75	80	85	90	95	98	100

Grades in the shaded area may be increased one level if the faults are all non visual.

10	Fair (FR)	75	Fine-Very Fine (F-VF)
20	Fair-Good (FR-G)	80	Very Fine (VF)
30	Good (G)	85	Very Fine-Extremely Fine (VF-XF)
40	Good-Very Good (G-VG)	90	Extremely Fine (XF)
50	Very Good (VG)	95	Extremely Fine-Superb (XF-Sup)
60	Very Good-Fine (VG-F)	98	Superb (Sup)
70	Fine (F)	100	Gem

After the preliminary grade has been determined, we can now take up the issue of Eye Appeal, which can affect both mint and used stamps, though in slightly different ways.