The Condition of Gold Horizon

It’s all about condition:

Like all collecting (and of course stamps in particular) condition is everything. I thought when I started collecting labels, that well, they’re just labels, and one’s the same as another isn’t it? Errrr… Noo! So I thought I would jot down aspects I personally look for and attempt to marry them to those ubiquitous terms ‘fine’, ‘very fine’, ‘superb’ etc.

Firstly I think it very important to distinguish between collecting ‘on-piece’ and ‘on cover’. ‘On cover’ is of course much trickier as kiloware is not an option but is, ultimately, more interesting as the variety of operational use is quite surprising! For another day I think!

In addition I think it’s also valid to question why to collect ‘on-piece’ rather than ‘off-paper’. Well, it just seems to be a matter of general preference. Self adhesives have for some time been collected like this; visually, I think, it balances the mint example that is still on its backing paper.

Also the cost and fiddle of removing paper may outweigh the actual value of the stamp! So I think for Horizon ‘used on-piece’ is simple and convenient as well as lessening the chance of damage; after all the security slits are there for a reason!

So…

With all that aside I keep in mind 4 areas of condition that need consideration:

1: The label itself
2: The overprint (service indicator)
3: The paper or card it is adhered to
4: Other marks of any other kind

I will consider each in future blogs with some examples too.

Many thanks…

A