Why Expertize and Submission
Application
Expertizing Process
Identification: Some stamps may look identical to one another – a common variety with a value of 5c and a rare variety with a value of many thousands. The difference may lie in the watermark, perforation or subtle design difference which is not instantly visible or noticeable.
Condition: This is a crucial aspect to collecting and a key indicator of value. Stamps can be plagued with a number of condition issues which effect the value to a collector. For instance, thins in the paper can occur over time – most often from collector error. The difference in value for the same stamp – one with condition issues and one completely sound – can be astronomical.
Genuineness: Over the years since production, stamps have been faked, forged and counterfeited. At times, this may be noticeable to a seasoned philatelist but may not be to trained eyes. The Philatelic Foundation can detect problems from outright fakes all the way to stamps that are genuine but have been altered.
Further in depth explanations and examples can be found on this page.
– Priority Service: Approximate turnaround 20 business days for US. Fee is 5.5% of submitted value + $10.00 per item with a minimum fee of $37.00 (maximum $1,000.00).
– Express Service: Approximate turnaround 15 business days for US. Fee is 5.5% of submitted value + $20.00 per item with a minimum fee of $47.00 (maximum $1,000.00).
– Covers (Envelopes): Approximate turnaround 30-35 days. Fee is 5.5% of submitted value with a minimum fee of $40.00 (maximum $1,000.00). Only US covers can be submitted for Priority or Express Service.
Foreign Stamps and Covers
– Standard Service: Approximate turnaround 30-35 business days. This may increase to 90-150 business for exceptionally difficult items. Fee is 5.5% of submitted value with a minimum fee of $35.00 (maximum of $1,000.00). This is with the exception of a) overprints (including those not found genuine) and b) used examples in which the value is in the cancellation in which the minimum fee will be $50.00. Unfortunately, there is no Priority or Express service with foreign stamps and covers.
– Priority Service: Offered for only United States. Approximate turnaround time is 20 business days. The fee is 5.5% of the submitted value, plus $10.00 per item, with the minimum being $37.00 and maximum of $1,000.00.
– Express Service: Offered for only United States. Approximate turnaround time is 15 business days. The fee is 5.5% of the submitted value, plus $20.00 per item, with the minimum being $47.00 and maximum of $1,000.00.
– Covers: Offered for both United States and Worldwide items. Approximate turnaround time is 30-35 business days. The fee is 5.5% of the submitted value with the minimum being $40.00 and maximum of $1,000.00. Only United States covers can be submitted for Priority or Express Service (with additional fee).
Foreign Stamps and Covers
– Standard Service: Approximate turnaround 30-35 business days. This may increase to 90-150 business for exceptionally difficult items. Fee is 5.5% of submitted value with a minimum fee of $35.00 (maximum of $1,000.00). This is with the exception of a) overprints (including those not found genuine) and b) used examples in which the value is in the cancellation in which the minimum fee will be $50.00. Unfortunately, there is no Priority or Express service with foreign stamps and covers.
Other Services:
– Plating: When possible, requests for plating will incur an extra fee of $25.00.
– High Volume Discount Program: Discounts of up to 20% are available for high volume. Please contact the office directly for more information.
– Duplicate certificates: Offered at $6.00 each if they are requested at the same time as submission.
For online printed applications, please download the application, enter the relevant details and print out two copies to send to the Philatelic Foundation.
On a traditional note, the reference library contains a vast storehouse of information including notes, publications, and past certificates. This includes plenty of unique sources of information and even a repository of notes and research documents donated over the years by some of the leading philatelists of the past. Moreover, the reference collections contain many thousands of volumes of stamps and important auction catalogs – much of which is not limited to the United States but also to worldwide stamps.
This coupled by consulting the leading individuals in their fields of study, allow the Philatelic Foundation to provide the best possible opinion for your certificate.