Dutch Cottage Museum - Canvey Island - Essex

STAMP GRADING 

I grade stamps as accurately as possible using the system below. You may email if you require any further information about a particular item. In the rare event that you are not satisfied with your purchase our generous Returns Policy applies.

Mint Never Hinged (MNH) :
As issued. Original gum and complete perforations. Also known as 'Unmounted Mint' (UM).

Mint Light Hinged (MLH) : 
Mint but with light hinge marks or slight hinge remains. Also known as 'Mounted Mint' (MM).

Average Mint (AVM): 
Mint stamps with small defects such as gum creases or disturbed gum, perforation faults, heavy hinge marks or remains of hinge, or other storage damage.

Superb Used (SU) : 
Light circular postmarks on undamaged and visually appealing and highly collectable used stamps. Sometimes termed 'Very Fine Used' (VFU). Some sets / singles in this condition listed in this store are from First Day Covers and will be decribed as such in descriptions.

Good Used (GU):
Medium or less defined circular postmarks or other cancellations not as fine as SU. Includes light commercially used wavy line or light clean parcel cancellations. Also referred to as 'Fine Used' (FU).

Average Used (AVU):
Stamps with heavy, broken or smeared circular or parcel postmarks. May partially detract or obscure stamp design but still collectable.

First Day Cover (FDC):
FDCs will normally have a full set of stamps postmarked / Cancelled to Order (CTO) with cds or special cachet on the day of issue, unless stated otherwise in the item description.

UNAUTHORISED & BOGUS ISSUES

As a general stamp collector-dealer I cannot guarantee the authenticity of some modern issues. Most stamps are produced by authorised agencies but some are produced without the relevant government or issuing authority authorisation, and as such are deemed to be illegal or bogus. I may list these items along with Local or Cinderella issues as some thematic collectors include them in their collections. 

Alpha Thematics

September 2008