"STAMP GRADES"
SCOTT'S CENTERING GUIDE
(Published in The 2006 United States Specialized "Valuing Supplement")

SUPERB:

The stamp is perfectly centered within margins of a normal size or margins slightly larger than normal. Color, impression and freshness will be excellent. Essentially , this will be a perfect stamp.

EXTREMELY FINE:

The stamp is extremely well centered, though close examination by unaided normal eyesight will reveal that the stamp is not perfectly centered. Margins will be of a normal size or perhaps slightly larger than normal. The stamp will exhibit very nice color, impression and freshness. All in all , an extremely, choice, premium example of the stamp.

VERY FINE:

The stamp is just slightly off-center on one or two sides. All frame lines will be well clear of the perforations (except for the 1857-61 first perforated issue (Scott 18-39) and most of the 1875 Reprints of the 1857-61 issue (Scott 41-46). A Very Fine stamp is, in all cases, a very desirable example of the issue.

FINE-VERY FINE:

The stamp is noticeably off-center, with the perforations close to the design on one or two sides, resulting in margins that are narrow but with some white space between the perforations and the design. In this and lower grades, the color, impression and freshness may be somewhat below the levels of the higher grades.

FINE:

The stamp is quite off-cnter, with the perforations on one or two sides very close to the design but not quite touching it. There is white space between the perforations and the design that is minimal but eveident to the unaided eye.

VERY GOOD:

The perforations just slightly cut into the design on one or two sides. This grade also is commonly referred to as AVERAGE.