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The best valuation on your stamp collection Getting a stamp valuation and selling your stamp collection is usually something done only once in a life-time, and as our excellent reputation is based on trust, reliability and quality of service, you can be confident that your valuation will be of the highest accuracy and second to none.

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Philatelic expertisation This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: “Philatelic expertisation” – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (June 2012) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) Expertization certificate issued …

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Is the stamp's design identical to those of genuine ones? Forged stamps almost invariably differ to a greater or lesser degree from genuine ones.
Is the size of the stamp correct?
Was the stamp printed using the same printing method, e.g., lithography, engraving, etc.?
Is the paper identical to the paper used for genuine stamps? Is the thickness, color, and type of paper (laid or wove) correct?
Does the stamp contain the correct watermark as do genuine ones?
Are the perforations correct, e.g., is the spacing of the perforations correct; are they of the same size, type, and shape as those on the genuine stamp?
Is the color of the stamp correct? Is it printed with the right inks? Some inks may react to ultraviolet light, for example.
Does the stamp have the correct tagging?
Does the stamp have the correct gum?
Even if the stamp was printed from the original plates or stone, is it a reprint made later, either officially or unofficially? There may be subtle differences in color, paper or design.

Has the color of the stamp been changed? This sometimes can be done chemically.
Have perforations been added or removed to make it appear imperforate or coil?
Has the design been changed in any fashion? Sometimes, the denomination on a common stamp from a series has been changed to a rare denomination.
Has an overprint been added or removed?
Has a cancellation been added or removed? If the stamp is cancelled, is the cancellation genuine and of the proper period for the stamp?
Has a grill been pressed out? Used grills of the US 1869 Pictorial Issue can be pressed out to appear to be 1875 re-issues.^[2]
Have other changes been made? The common 4 annas bicolor stamp of India has been altered by cutting out the image of Queen Victoria and remounting it upside down, or by chemically erasing the image and reprinting it upside down, to make the stamp appear to be the rare invert.

The cover itself:
1. Are there any repairs to the cover
  1. Sealed tears
  2. Stains removed by bleaching
  3. Cutting down one side of the envelope to remove a torn edge where the envelope was opened
  4. Erased pencil marks written by earlier stamp collectors
2. Is the cover faked:
  1. Is the paper from the time period when the cover went through the mail?
The stamps on the cover:
1. Are the stamps genuine or forged?
2. Are the stamps correctly used? For example, using a stamp years after it is no longer valid for postage
3. Have the stamps been repaired (cleaned, bleached, reperforated)?
4. Have the stamps been removed from the cover and reglued to it? Usually done to identify rare varieties of the stamps
5. Have stamps been removed from the cover?
6. Have stamps been added to the cover which were not present when the cover passed through the mail? For example, adding a rarely used stamp to an existing cover to make an ordinary cover extremely valuable
7. Have the stamps been removed and replaced with different stamps? For example, removing a stamp in excellent condition and replacing it with one having damage to the back, giving that the damaged backside of the stamp will not be visible.
The postal markings on the cover
1. Are the postal markings genuine?
2. Are the postal markings appropriate from the time period used?
3. Have extra faked postal markings been added to the cover to make it more valuable?
4. Is the ink genuine and from the time period used?

Once an item has been examined, the expert(s) will issue a certificate giving their findings which will include identification, genuineness or otherwise and comments about any alterations or unusual features. The certificate will normally feature a photograph of the item and be signed. It may also be embossed or have other security features. In the past it was common for experts to sign or add their mark to the back of stamps, however, this is nowadays uncommon as it is by some regarded as an undesired alteration. In Germany (BPP) it is still common practise to sign many items, but generally not the most valuable.