Stamp & Postal History Certification

Frequently asked

Philately questions, answered.

What scale do you use for stamps?

Centering is graded adjectivally: Average, Fine, Fine to Very Fine, Very Fine, Extremely Fine, and Superb. Each grade corresponds to a defined margin-ratio range, measured to 0.1 mm at all four sides. Gum is classified separately: MNH (never hinged), MLH (mounted lightly hinged), MH (mounted, heavier hinge), HR (hinge remainder), NG (no gum), RG (regummed — fully disclosed), and OG (original gum, hinge removed). Soundness is reported as Sound or Faulty, with any faults described in plain language on the certificate.

Will you certify regummed stamps?

Yes — disclosed as RG (regummed) on the certificate. Regumming is detected under UV illumination, which reveals the boundary between original and applied gum by differences in fluorescence. We do not destroy or alter the stamp; we describe its state honestly so the market can price it accordingly. A regummed stamp certified at a high centering grade remains a legitimate collectible — transparency is our sole obligation.

How is centering measured?

Margins are measured with a calibrated micrometer eyepiece at the top, bottom, left, and right sides and expressed as ratios (e.g., 60/40 top-to-bottom). The weakest ratio on either axis determines the centering grade. Jumbo margins exceeding the Superb threshold are noted on the certificate. Measurements are recorded numerically in the registry entry.

Do you certify covers and postal history?

Yes. Covers are examined for genuine usage, period-appropriate cancellations, and any added or removed adhesives. Routing marks, transit cancels, and endorsements are described. Postal-history covers receive a descriptive certificate rather than a stamp-grade designation, with the philatelic significance of the routing and frankings noted by our specialist.

What about repairs and reperforations?

Reperforations, perf replacements, thins, and paper repairs are detected via UV, raking light, watermark fluid, and stereo microscopy. All findings are disclosed on the certificate, which specifies the nature and extent of each repair. A repaired stamp is not excluded from certification, but the fault description and its impact on marketability are clearly stated.

Are watermark and perforation varieties attributed?

Yes. Stanley Gibbons, Scott, and specialist catalogue numbers are used as appropriate. Watermarks are read with a benzine-free detector; where the watermark is inconclusive, X-ray transmission imaging is employed. Perforation gauges are measured to half-point precision against published issue specifications. Colour varieties are assessed by comparison against published colour-key standards.

What provenance documentation do you accept?

We record and preserve auction catalogues, prior expertising certificates (RPSL, BPA, PF, APS), collection inventory lists, correspondence, and any published references naming the specific stamp or cover. Provenance is entered in the registry and, for Specialist-tier submissions, appended in full to the certificate. A documented collection history supports both insurance valuation and scholarly attribution.

What is your conservation policy?

Xene does not clean, wash, or treat stamps. We refer only to specialists approved by our Head of Department for Specialist-tier submissions where a conservation question arises before certification. Any treatment is fully disclosed on the certificate. We do not certify material dispatched directly from a treatment facility without a fresh independent examination by our own philatelist.

How is insurance handled during transit?

Transit insurance at the declared value is included in the service fee from Standard tier upwards. Economy submissions require the client to arrange their own cover. Xene provides packing instructions, archival interleaving materials, and contact details for our designated insured courier network upon confirmation of submission.

Do you publish registry and population reports?

Yes. The Xene registry is publicly searchable by reference number, description, and grade. Population reports — showing certified counts by grade point for a given issue — are updated in real time upon encapsulation. Population data is particularly significant in philately, where surviving NH examples of pre-1940 issues are genuinely scarce at the highest centering grades.

What is the difference between gum disturbance and a stamp that is Never Hinged?

Never Hinged (NH or MNH) means the original gum is wholly intact with no trace of a hinge, hinge remnant, or any mechanical contact. Gum disturbance describes a broader category including light adhesion marks, finger-pressure impressions, or tropical humidity effects that alter the gum surface without a hinge being present. Under UV, disturbed gum shows localised fluorescence differences from the surrounding area. Xene distinguishes these categories precisely on the certificate, as the premium for genuine NH over 'disturbed but unhinged' can be substantial for key issues.

How do you assess perforation tip wear?

Perforation tip wear — abbreviated PTW — refers to blunting, shortening, or separation of individual perforation teeth caused by handling or storage friction, without a full perf being missing. Xene counts and describes affected teeth, notes their position relative to the stamp face, and assesses the impact on the centering and soundness grades. Tip wear on one or two teeth of a well-centred NH stamp may have minimal grade impact; widespread PTW can preclude a sound designation entirely.

Recent case notes

From the philately bench.