New Edition of Free PSE Stamp Grading Guide Available The value of a collectible postage stamp often depends on its grade -- its condition, state of preservation. An expanded guide to stamp grading and authentication is available free from PSE.
News-Antique.com - Nov 30,-0001 - (Newport Beach, CA) -- The fifth edition of the popular Professional Stamp Experts (PSE) grading guide is available free to collectors and dealers. The expanded booklet, now titled, "A Guide to Grading and Expertizing United States Postage Stamps," made its formal debut at the recent Washington 2006 World Philatelic Exhibition.
"The guide has grown from its first edition of 12 pages in 2002 to 68 pages this year. In addition to expanding the detailed information and descriptions about grading, we've added a new section on expertizing and an additional 100, full-color illustrations," said Michael Sherman, President of PSE of Newport Beach, California (www.PSEstamp.com).
The straight-forward booklet examines the crucial importance of soundness (the presence or absence of faults); centering (the balance among the four margins); eye appeal (color, impression and if present, cancellation); gum condition and other factors in determining the grade of used or unused stamps.
"Response to the booklet at the recent Washington philatelic show was overwhelmingly positive. We handed out over 2,000 copies during the show," said Sherman. "It's been a tremendous source of gratification to see the widespread acceptance of PSE's numerical grading system over the past twelve months by other expertizing services as well as Scott Publishing Company."
PSE offers three types of independent, third-party authentication and grading services: a tamper-evident Certificate of Authenticity (without a grade) with full-color photographic representation of the expertised stamp; the expertizing certificate with the stamp's grade; and protective encapsulation of authenticated and graded stamps.
Founded in 1987, PSE is a division of publicly-held Collectors Universe, Inc. (NASDAQ: CLCT).
For a free copy of "A Guide to the Grading and Expertizing of United States Postage Stamps," contact PSE at P.O. Box 6170, Newport Beach, CA 92658. Phone: (949) 567-1346. Fax: (949) 567-1173. E-mail: pse@collectors.com. Web: www.PSEstamp.com.
