MINT?

jeffrey fouts

I'm a new collector and I have limited myself to US stamps for the time being. I am confused by the use of "mint" when describing stamps. How can a stamp be mint if it has been hinged? How about mint with no glue? Doesn't that mean it was removed from paper without a cancellation mark? Please clarify this term. I've been looking at MNH OG, but many of these stamps are far out of my price range, (before scott 300). I would like to by some older stamps but what is mint?

FREDRICK A. MATHIS

BEING YOU ARE A NEW COLLECTOR A REALLY GOOD IDEA WOULD BE TO GET AHOLD OF A SCOTT CATALOG AND READ THE BEGINNING OF THE CATALOG. IT IS A WEALTH OF INFORMATION AND WILL ANSWER ALL OF YOUR QUESTIONS.

jeffrey fouts

Thanks, I'll hunt for one. I've been watching utube, and reading articles on the internet. I recon a lot of research is required to collect stamps. I see over 80 views and only your comment. I apologize for my ignorances.

George DeKornfeld

You're dealing with the clash between a 'textbook' definition versus what amounts to every day jargon. Textbook-wise,
'mint ' refers to a stamp in the same condition as one bought from postal authorities which includes unblemished gum. The problem is, how to describe stamps that were never affixed to an envelope but, for one reason or another, have a gum disturbance. This led to, if you will, sub-divisions in nomenclature:

MNH - this took over for the textbook definition of mint and refers to a PO fresh stamp.
MH - Mint hinged; an unused stamp with full gum except for where a hinge was once applied. This has subsets, albeit somewhat subjective ones (MLH, MVLH, MHH)
Unused - generally speaking, an uncancelled stamp without gum, either soaked off of an envelope where it skipped the cancel, or a stamp that was soaked to remove the gum on purpose, common years ago in tropical climates where humidity was an issue.

There are more, and you'll eventually pick them up. Getting the Scott catalogue is a good idea to learn the basics, but in the real world, experience will be your best guide.

Rene Bravo

Jeffrey Fouts, please don't apologize, because a stamp collector learns new things all of their life. After 50 plus years, the joy of the hobby are the new things, thoughts, descriptions, etc. Just make it uniquely your hobby and collect the things you like. That's the key. Have fun!

Phil Merrill_

The early stamps of Switzerland had gum which actuslly damaged or destroyed the stamp over time. Collectors would soak the stamps when they bought them from the post office. By the 1870s they were using safe gum, but Swiss collectors kept soaking thier stamps often until about 1900. Unused, no gum stamps from the period are often found.