 Standard Authentication Service You receive a PSE Certificate of Authenticity, which includes the correct Scott catalogue number, year of issue, denomination, color, and description of the condition of the stamp. A full-color photographic representation of the stamp appears on the certificate. PSE's opinions are guaranteed. Graded Certificate of Authenticity The PSE Graded Certificate of Authenticity includes all of the information contained in our Standard Certificate of Authenticity, as well as a PSE Standardized Philatelic Grade. ™ (singles and coil pairs only) |
 Grading and Encapsulation Services The authenticated and graded stamp is sonically-sealed in a handsome, durable, tamper-evident display case. Information about the stamp, including the Scott catalogue number, color, year of issue, denomination, overall numeric grade, philatelic description, unique control number, and bar code PSE identification number, appears on an archival paper insert that is secure within the display case. All of the material used in the encapsulation of your stamp (plastic, ink and paper) is chemically-inert and completely safe for use with stamps (singles and coil pairs only). In addition, the grade of encapsulated stamps is guaranteed. |
Submission Details
- Submissions are accepted for five services. See the List of Services and Prices.
- ECONOMY: Generally for stamps made 1912 and later, with a 2006 Scott catalog value of $100 or less. There are several back-of-the-book exceptions to the 1912 date. The minimum quantity of stamps accepted on an ECONOMY submission is ten (10) items.
- REGULAR: All front-of-the-book U.S. stamps plus back-of-book issues as listed. Stamps with a 2006 Scott catalog value up to $600 may be submitted.
- PREMIUM: All front-of-the-book U.S. stamps plus back-of-book issues as listed. There is no value limit.
- SPECIALIZED: For Postal Stationary, Hawaii, Canal Zone, Privte Perforations and Covers. There is no value limit.
- Only one service may be submitted per submission form. You cannot mix Economy, Regular, Express, Rarity or Specialized stamps on one form. If you do, your order will be delayed.
- For the Economy, Regular, Express and Rarity Services, you may also choose what you would like to receive from us.
- Ungraded Certificate: Our ungraded certificate identifies the Scott Number of the stamp, whether it is used or unused, the gum condition and any significant faults.
- Graded Certificate: Our graded certificate includes a numeric grade as outlined in our booklet A Guide to the Grading of United States Postage Stamps in addition to the information shown on the Ungraded Certificate above. At this time, PSE grades only undamaged and unaltered genuine singles and coil pairs.
- Encapsulated: Your stamp will be returned in our exclusive tamper-proof plastic holder, which protects the stamp and makes it eligible for our Grading Guarantee in addition to the Authenticity Guarantee carried by all PSE-certified products. See our Guarantee for details.
- PSE will strive to reduce the expertizing fee to reflect the amount due based on our final opinion of the item. However, we reserve the right to cover our direct processing costs (up to $100 per item) involved with its expertization. In no event will the fee ever exceed that which would have applied had the item proven to be "as submitted."
- The turnaround times listed are approximate, but PSE expects to achieve the stated times.
- We are no longer expertizing stamps from the following categories: Philippines, Locals and Carriers, Essays and Proofs, and Confederate States.
List of Services and Prices
| Service Type | Fee | What Can Be Submitted | Maximum Value Accepted | Approximate Turnaround Time |
| ECONOMY | $20.00 per item Maximum submission: 10 items |
Scott No. 551 - to date, Airmails, Special Delivery, Postage Due J61 - J104, Shanghai, Newspapers PR114 - PR125, Parcel Post, Parcel Post Due, Special Handling, Federal Hunting Permit (Ducks), excluding Errors and Varieties. | $100 | 35 business days |
| REGULAR | $30 per item | Scott No. 1 - to date, Airmails, Booklet Panes, Special Delivery, Registration, Postage Due, Shanghai, Officials, Newspapers, Parcel Post, Parcel Post Due, Special Handling, Federal Hunting Permit (Ducks), Postmaster Provisionals, Revenues, Errors and Varieties. | $600 | 35 business days |
| PREMIUM | 5% of SCV $35 minimum $600 maximum |
Scott No. 1 to date, Airmails, Booklet Panes, Special Delivery, Registration, Postage Due, Shanghai, Officials, Newspapers, Parcel Post, Parcel Post Due, Special Handling, Federal Hunting Permit (Ducks). | None | 30 business days |
| SPECIALIZED | 5% of SCV $45 minimum $600 maximum |
Postal Stationery, Hawaii, Private Perforations, Revenues, Covers, Postmaster Provisionals, Errors and Varities. | None | 45 business days |
| BULK | $10.00 per item NET, $3.00 reject Minimum 50% pass rate required Available to ASDA Dealers Only Minimum Submission: 200 items ** Encapsulated Only ** |
Scott No. 704 and up, C25-up, RW46-up. Same Scott No. or same series - e.g. Famous Americans, National Parks, etc... |
$50 | 40 business Days |
| Additional Services | Convert from graded certificate to slab | $ 15.00 | |
| Convert from slab to graded / ungraded certificate | $ 15.00 | ||
| Remove grade from certificate | $ 15.00 | ||
| Duplicate cert at time of submission | $ 5.00 | ||
| Duplicate cert at a later date | $ 15.00 | ||
| Reconsideration (no charge if opinion changes) | $ 30.00 | ||
| Plating charge | $ 35.00 | ||
In the event the final opinion indicates an item to have a lesser value than as submitted, PSE's fees will be reduced to the greater of either the fee pertaining to what the final opinion would indicate for that service ($25.00 minimum) or PSE's processing cost (up to $100). Should the final opinion indicate an item to have a fee greater than that shown at submission, then the larger fee shall pertain.
All PSE items are guaranteed. See guarantee for details.
Ready To Start? Request a Submission Kit via Mail or use our Printable Online Submission Form.
