Centering - First, PSE experts consider a stamp's appearance, or centering, and
indicate their opinion as follows: back to top

GEM Superb XF/S XF VF/XF VF F/VF F VG/F VG

- Perfectly-balanced jumbo margins Post Office fresh (POF) - Perfectly-balanced normal sized margins, POF - Not quite perfectly-centered, POF - Extremely well-centered margins, POF - Almost extremely well-centered, POF - Very well-centered, POF - Margins reasonably clear on all sides - Margins just clear on one or more sides - Perfs touch or cut stamp design slightly - Perfs cut into stamp design

Condition - Next, the stamp's condition is considered, and the opinion indicated as follows:
back to top

og nh lh pog ng ungai	- Original gum, hinged - Original gum, never hinged - Original gum, lightly hinged - Part original gum - No gum - Unused, no gum as issued (special printing)
mf	- Minor fault (tiny defect, e.g.; corner perf crease, thin spec, small toned spot, etc.)
f	- Faults, Creases (tears, thins, facial scuffs, fake grill, pen cancel removed, regummed, fake cancels, repairs, etc.)
RP RG	- Reperforated (R/L | T/B) - Regummed

Overall Numeric Grade - Finally, PSE's experts consider the appearance and soundness of the stamp and assign an overall numeric grade. The scale ranges from 10 to 100, 100 representing a stamp in flawless Gem condition. Twenty-five points are deducted straightaway for minor defects and 50 points for significant defects. An "M" preceding the numeric grade indicates that the stamp is "unused", a "U" indicates "used".

The basis for the PSE Standardized Philatelic Grading Scale is a follows. back to top

GEM Superb XF/S XF VF/XF VF F/VF F VG/F VG

M or U " " " " " " " " "

100 98 95 90 85 80 75 70 65 60

Examples of PSE Standardized Grading Scale back to top

Without defects (picture example here)

With defects