In philately, a mint stamp is one which is in its original state of issue, is unused, has never been mounted and has full gum, if issued with gum.[1][2] The term applies equally to postage stamps and revenue stamps.
This mint stamp of the 1918 Russian revolution era is much less commonly found used.A mint high value 100 Rupee key type stamp of Ceylon valid for postage or revenue use and vulnerable to tampering to remove a fiscal cancel to make it appear to be a more valuable unused stamp.
In practice[inconsistent], the term is used within philately to refer to any stamp that appears to be unused, including those without gum, or previously hinged.
Unlike other collectibles, a mint stamp may be in poor condition but still be regarded as being in mint state as long as it is apparently unused.
Variations of the term mint include:[inconsistent]
Mint hinged (MH) – the stamp is unused but has been previously hinged. Remains of the hinge or gum disturbance are visible.
Mounted mint (MM) – the same as Mint hinged.
Mint no gum (MNG) – the stamp appears to be unused but has no gum. It might have been used but not cancelled, or have been issued without gum.
Unmounted mint (UM) – the stamp is unused and appears never to have been mounted.
Mint never hinged (MNH) – the same as unmounted mint but with an assertion that the stamp is not a formerly mounted stamp that has been tampered with to remove traces of mounting.
The hinging referred to in these terms is mounting of the stamp in a stamp album by the application of a stamp hinge to the back of the stamp. The highest grade is unmounted mint or mint never hinged. The term mint never hinged has developed to provide reassurance to buyers that the stamp has not been tampered with to remove traces of mounting, as the term unmounted mint was thought to be ambiguous.
Valueedit
Mint stamps are often more valuable than used stamps as in many cases fewer mint stamps survive. A mint stamp may also be in better condition than a used stamp which has passed through the mail. Sometimes, however, used stamps may be more valuable than mint ones where higher numbers of mint stamps have survived, perhaps because large numbers of mint stamps were bought by collectors but few used on letters.[3]
Tamperingedit
Differences between mint and used values for the same stamp have led to a small industry in removing, or adding, postal cancellations to stamps. Another common practice is to attempt to remove fiscal cancellations, which are often pen cancels, in order to change a stamp used fiscally (for tax purposes) to one apparently unused. Stamps available for both postage and revenue (fiscal) purposes are usually worth more unused or with a postal cancellation. Madame Joseph specialised in the addition of forged cancels to stamps that were worth more used than unused.
^Youngblood, Wayne L. All about Stamps. Iola WI: Krause Publications, 2000, p.109. ISBN0-87341-963-4
^Robert Murray, "Are Used or Unused Stamps Worth More?".
April 16, 2024
mint, stamp, philately, mint, stamp, which, original, state, issue, unused, never, been, mounted, full, issued, with, term, applies, equally, postage, stamps, revenue, stamps, this, mint, stamp, 1918, russian, revolution, much, less, commonly, found, used, min. In philately a mint stamp is one which is in its original state of issue is unused has never been mounted and has full gum if issued with gum 1 2 The term applies equally to postage stamps and revenue stamps This mint stamp of the 1918 Russian revolution era is much less commonly found used A mint high value 100 Rupee key type stamp of Ceylon valid for postage or revenue use and vulnerable to tampering to remove a fiscal cancel to make it appear to be a more valuable unused stamp In practice inconsistent the term is used within philately to refer to any stamp that appears to be unused including those without gum or previously hinged Unlike other collectibles a mint stamp may be in poor condition but still be regarded as being in mint state as long as it is apparently unused Contents 1 Variations 2 Value 3 Tampering 4 See also 5 ReferencesVariations editVariations of the term mint include inconsistent Mint hinged MH the stamp is unused but has been previously hinged Remains of the hinge or gum disturbance are visible Mounted mint MM the same as Mint hinged Mint no gum MNG the stamp appears to be unused but has no gum It might have been used but not cancelled or have been issued without gum Unmounted mint UM the stamp is unused and appears never to have been mounted Mint never hinged MNH the same as unmounted mint but with an assertion that the stamp is not a formerly mounted stamp that has been tampered with to remove traces of mounting The hinging referred to in these terms is mounting of the stamp in a stamp album by the application of a stamp hinge to the back of the stamp The highest grade is unmounted mint or mint never hinged The term mint never hinged has developed to provide reassurance to buyers that the stamp has not been tampered with to remove traces of mounting as the term unmounted mint was thought to be ambiguous Value editMint stamps are often more valuable than used stamps as in many cases fewer mint stamps survive A mint stamp may also be in better condition than a used stamp which has passed through the mail Sometimes however used stamps may be more valuable than mint ones where higher numbers of mint stamps have survived perhaps because large numbers of mint stamps were bought by collectors but few used on letters 3 Tampering editDifferences between mint and used values for the same stamp have led to a small industry in removing or adding postal cancellations to stamps Another common practice is to attempt to remove fiscal cancellations which are often pen cancels in order to change a stamp used fiscally for tax purposes to one apparently unused Stamps available for both postage and revenue fiscal purposes are usually worth more unused or with a postal cancellation Madame Joseph specialised in the addition of forged cancels to stamps that were worth more used than unused See also editMint condition Pen cancel Postage stamp gum Regummed stamp Stamp conditionReferences edit Mackay James Stamp Collecting Philatelic Terms Illustrated 4th edition London Stanley Gibbons 2003 p 88 ISBN 0 85259 557 3 Youngblood Wayne L All about Stamps Iola WI Krause Publications 2000 p 109 ISBN 0 87341 963 4 Robert Murray Are Used or Unused Stamps Worth More Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mint stamp amp oldid 1187265060, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
