Can Condition be carried too far ?sx By E.F. PAYNE .sx The following paper was read before the Liverpool Junior Philatelic Society , when the hope was expressed that it would have wider publicity .sx We therefore have pleasure in publishing it , and invite our readers to express their views upon it .sx - EDITOR , " P.M. " .sx This is a subject that has been a good deal to the fore of late , both in the philatelic press and elsewhere .sx First of all , we must define what we mean by the word " condition .sx " A well known dealer has recently stated that what the stamp collector means by " condition " is perfection - something superb and without the slightest blemish .sx Now I am not going to use the word in this limited sense , but in its everyday meaning .sx " Condition " is a subject in which , in theory at least , every stamp collector can please him or herself , and form their own standard , but still , I think a little discussion on this vexed question may be useful , and even if it does not affect the person of fixed or extreme ideas , it may possibly be of value to some of the younger or more recent converts to our Royal hobby .sx In the early days of stamp collecting very little was thought about condition .sx A stamp was a stamp , even if it wasn't all there .sx If it had no margins one side or a slight thinning , what did it matter ?sx Gradually , however , the hobby evolved until by 1880-90 such indifference to condition was , with most collectors , a thing of the past .sx The improvement and rising standard had been continuous .sx Of course , we still had the simple lifers , who never bothered about perforations or watermarks , but still most adult collectors were cognizant of these factors , and as a rule , noticed them , even if they did not collect them as different varieties themselves .sx MARGINS ON " IMPERFS .sx " There was a general demand for fine stamps , whilst the importance of good margins was recognised , especially in such stamps as imperf .sx Pence Ceylons , where the same stamp exists perforated and an apparently imperf .sx Copy might be the later stamp cut down , either accidentally or mischievously .sx During the last twenty years , and especially since the war , there has been a still further development , and a type has grown up which regards anything but absolute perfection as anathema .sx Copies are scientifically examined for the slightest suspicion of thinning .sx The margins must be large and even , the centering of perforated stamps quite symetrical , and the perforations even and entire .sx Now this is all very well , but hasn't the process been carried too far ?sx It is true that if examined with a micrometer screw , a large proportion of used stamps could be shown to be thinned more or less .sx The gumming down can so easily remove traces of the stamp itself .sx Very few stamps are perfectly centred , or have even margins or perforations , and I should not advise the young collector or new recruit to become obsessed with this aspect of extreme condition , even if he can afford it .sx This brings me to another point .sx If he can afford ?sx It is obvious that those who collect thus will have to pay more for their stamps and will be more restricted .sx Much of the joy of collecting will have gone , as the obsession will be condition , and this will be studied rather than the stamps themselves .sx I believe in moderation in most things , and I certainly advocate it in stamp collecting .sx Get fine copies certainly whenever possible , and always with common stamps , but with rarer stamps , and particularly with old stamps , this cannot always be done , without seriously limiting the collection of the average man .sx We read in the catalogue that prices are for good average copies , such as most collectors would be glad to possess .sx Cannot the average collector , to whom my words are addressed , be content with this ?sx Remember it is always easy to replace with a better copy when opportunity arises , but it is possible to get a lot of fun and instruction out of a collection that does not consist only of superb copies .sx CONDITION AND COST .sx An argument often used for the collection of absolute perfection only is that they sell for more , but it must not be forgotten that they cost more , and also that whilst most stamps tend to advance steadily as the years go by , if the market has fallen for any reason , the perfect copy , as well as the second-rate copy , will fetch less .sx The somewhat startling suggesting was recently made that a second quality stamp was steadily depreciating , whilst the fines quality is steadily appreciating .sx I cannot accept this .sx As mentioned above , it all depends on whether the market value of the stamp is rising or not ; most do go up , and then I maintain that the value of the second-rate copy also goes up .sx Such copies of penny blacks ( worth perhaps 1d .sx each at the beginning of the 20 th century ) , slightly defective pence Canadas , and many others , second-rate in the sense of not being absolutely the finest , all fetch more to-day than they did a few years ago .sx Turning to modern stam0ps , it is stated that at auction to-day , whilst trade is depressed and money scarce , a 1 Gibraltar Edward sells for about 8 if in perfect condition , and only 5 for a second grade copy ( off centre) .sx But what about the 8 Script ?sx It is obvious that even the poor copy of the 1 Gibraltar has appreciated greatly from when it was current a few years ago , and probably difficult to sell then even at face value .sx It must not be forgotten also that where a stamp does depreciate markedly in value , it is possible to lose more on the fine copy than on the poor one .sx Take the 10 Malta Script .sx A perfect centred copy would have sold for 10 four or five years ago , whilst a second grader , badly off centre , only 7 .sx To-day at auction the perfect copy would sell for about 6 and the off-centred copy probably 4 - the finest copy thus showing a bigger loss .sx It would be possible to pick out stamps showing even a greater depreciation than this , like the Falkland Island provisional , which sold for 25 two years ago , and where a bigger loss might have been made by anyone paying the top price for an immaculate copy , and having to sell last year when the market was at its lowest .sx AVERAGE FOR EACH COUNTRY COUNTS .sx In considering what is good condition for many used stamps , and early stamps especially , it is necessary to consider the average for that country .sx What would be a fine copy for one country might be only a moderate copy in another .sx With imperfs .sx the amount of margin possible is very varied .sx Few imperf .sx Stamps have on the average larger margins than the early lithographed stamps of Batum .sx But who wants these to-day ?sx Many of the superb copies were bought at a superb ( or was it absurd ?sx ) price ten years ago , but they are worth only a fraction to-day .sx The Yvert & Tellier Catalogue renders valuable service in showing , for many imperforate issues , the distance apart the stamps were printed , from which can be easily guaged what should be ample or large margins .sx Some stamps were printed much closer together than others .sx MARK REPAIRED STAMPS .sx Then we come to the question of repaired stamps .sx Should these be admitted at all ?sx I think that they may , but they should , if possible , be clearly marked at the back .sx Many have already been so marked by private collectors .sx Forgeries and cleaned stamps might also be marked when discovered , although the latter are of little interest to anyone , and are really better destroyed .sx This is where a pen or other cancellation has been removed and a forged postmark added , or the stamp may be apparently unused .sx The demand for perfectly centred stamps in modern issues is a phase of collecting that has become much more noticeable during the last 15 years .sx I am inclined to think it unreasonable to demand this , and I regard it as the least important factor in condition , provided that the design is not actually cut into by the perforations .sx But to reject otherwise perfect stamps because the design is not absolutely central appears to me to savour of the ridiculous .sx It seems to me likely that some of the most ultra fastidious collectors to-day were not so inclined until , when selling some stamps , they met the type of dealer always on the look out for some trifling fault , and who perhaps said " Oh , that's no good to me , it's off centre , and there's quarter of a perforation tooth missing .sx I wouldn't have it in my shop !sx " I have a shrewd suspicion that much of the fashion in this extreme attitude towards " condition " may be traced originally to the professional operators , dealers , or speculators , interested in stamps merely for what they are worth .sx Let us , therefore , whether amateurs or professionals , adopt a more tolerant attitude , and do not summarily reject stamps for microscope imperfections .sx Seek for fine copies by all means , but be reasonable and remember that many fine displays can be given and much interest aroused without having everything superfine .sx Do not let our hobby become a byeword to the world at large as composed of faddists , or those who are condition cranks for the sake of merely mercenary motives .sx ANOTHER STRAND ROBBERY .sx On the night of Tuesday , May 19 ( just after the last issue of the " P.M. " had gone to press ) burglars broke into Mr. Sydney Homsy's office at 139 , Strand .sx The safes resisted the attacks of the thieves , who were therefore only able to remove loose stock .sx STOP PRESS - LOST .sx Oxford and Cambridge College stamps , mounted in one red album , containing many used copies on entire fully written up , and containing numerous drawings of the coats of arms ( in colour ) of the various Colleges .sx Anyone having this offered to them please communicate immediately with Sefi , Pemberton & Co. Ltd. , 12 , South Molton Street , London .sx The Market in Modern Colonials .sx By " PHILATELIA .sx " CANCELLED TO ORDER STAMPS .sx I was recently asked the market prospects of cancelled to order stamps .sx Generally speaking I cannot regard their prospects favourably ; there is a tendency for collectors to become more sophisticated and to know what's what , and to reject this class of material , which is considered all very well for the cheap packet trade .sx There are , however , very few , if any , British Colonies which to-day have cancelled to order stamps .sx North Borneo is probably the best known example , but the cancelling to order of these ceased in this country some time ago .sx There are still one or two Colonial issues which are not sold unused to the public , but which are postmarked and then sold at face value , as for example the Dues of New Hebrides and the Officials of Papua , and unless the ban is lifted there is bound to be a continued demand for these .sx There are thus , at least two main categories of cancelled to order stamps :sx those obligingly postmarked and sold at face value and those postmarked and sold at much less than face value , such as Liberia .sx These , however , are not to-day issued in the British Colonies , and a good example of which was the Rhodesian remainders sold a few years ago .sx As far as I can judge , the value of these has decreased appreciably since they first came on the market , and few serious collectors to-day will have them .sx The washing off of the original gum will deceive but few into thinking they are genuinely postally used !sx I have noticed , however , that some of these Rhodesians have had their price increased in Gibbons , e.g. , the 10 of 1898 , but assume this refers to genuinely postally used copies , as the cancelled to order are obtainable at about one-tenth of these prices .sx It is to be hoped that in some future edition the prices of the cancelled to order stamps will also be included , as is done with other countries .sx