Draft:Professional Stamp Experts
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|  |
| Industry | Philately |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1986 |
| Founder | J. Randall "Randy" Shoemaker |
| Headquarters | 5965 Harrison Drive, Unit 6, Las Vegas, NV 89120 |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people |
|
| Products | Graded stamp certificates, SMQ pricing guide |
| Services |
|
Number of employees | 5 |
| Website | https://psestamp.com/ |
Professional Stamp Experts (abbreviated PSE) is an American company specializing in postage stamp authentication and grading. It was founded in 1986 by stamp dealer J. Randall "Randy" Shoemaker to provide expertization services for rare stamps.[1] PSE issues certificates attesting to a stamp’s authenticity and condition, and since 2001 it has offered numeric grades on a 10–100 scale to describe stamp quality.[2] The company became a subsidiary of Collectors Universe, a collectibles certification firm, in late 1999.[3] PSE’s certificates are widely accepted in the philatelic trade; it is often cited as one of the United States' "big four" expertizing authorities alongside the APS, the Philatelic Foundation, and others.[4]
History
[edit]Professional Stamp Experts was established in 1986 by J. Randall Shoemaker, who served as its president and senior expert until 2009.[1] Initially, PSE focused on expertizing U.S. classic stamps, providing opinions on authenticity and identifying alterations or fakes. In late 1999, PSE joined Collectors Universe, Inc., the parent company of coin-grading firm PCGS and sports card grader PSA. This acquisition brought PSE into a family of third-party certification services and led to an expanded online presence beginning in 2000.[3]
In late 2001, Professional Stamp Experts introduced a new standardized grading system for U.S. postage stamps.[2] This innovation was the first time centering, physical condition ("soundness"), and overall eye appeal were codified into a single numerical grade. PSE’s grading scale, modeled loosely on coin grading scales but extended to 100 points, allowed stamps to be categorized as Fine (70), Very Fine (80), Extremely Fine (90), Superb (98), Gem (100), etc., based on defined criteria. The advent of third-party grading in philately was initially met with some skepticism in the hobby, but it gained acceptance over time, and other expertizing bodies (such as The Philatelic Foundation) later began offering numerical grades as well.[5]
PSE has been involved in notable philatelic research. In 2007, experts at PSE discovered a faint single-line "ghost" watermark on a 30¢ 1917 U.S. Franklin stamp that was supposed to be unwatermarked (Scott #476A).[6] This finding called into question the true status of that stamp variety and caused the market value of Scott 476A to decline, since it suggested the "unwatermarked" issue may not exist without traces of watermark. PSE reported examining multiple examples of the stamp with advanced optical equipment to detect such subtle watermarks. The controversy that ensued in the philatelic press highlighted the role of expertizing services in clarifying long-standing stamp puzzles.
By the 2010s, Professional Stamp Experts had certified and graded hundreds of thousands of stamps. Shoemaker departed PSE in 2009 and later founded a separate firm, but PSE continued under new leadership. The company is currently based in Henderson, Nevada[4], and remains one of the leading services for U.S. and international stamp expertization. In January 2021, PSE discontinued its stamp encapsulation ("slabbing") service due to low collector demand for permanently sealed holders[7], although it continues to provide grading and printed certificates.
Services
[edit]PSE offers a range of expertizing and grading services for postage stamps and related philatelic material. For any submitted stamp, a team of expertizers examines its authenticity, verifying that the stamp is genuine and not altered or counterfeit, and determines its condition. If the item is found to be authentic, PSE issues a Certificate of Authenticity describing the stamp (including its Scott catalogue number and any varieties) and stating an opinion on whether it is genuine. The certificate will also note characteristics like alterations, repairs, or regumming if present. In cases where a stamp is not as claimed (for example, a fake or misidentified item), the certificate will report it as "not genuine" or "no opinion", depending on the findings.
One of PSE’s core offerings is numerical grading of stamp condition. Using the PSE Standardized Philatelic Grading Scale from 10 up to 100, expertizers assign a grade that reflects the stamp’s centering, soundness (faults or lack thereof), and eye appeal.[8] Higher grades indicate stamps closer to perfect condition, for example, a grade of 98 ("Superb") or 100 ("Gem") signifies a fault-free stamp with exceptional centering and margins.[8] Both unused and used stamps can be graded; unused stamps are expected to have original gum and no hinge marks to attain top grades. PSE’s graded certificates provide an objective standard that helps collectors and dealers communicate about condition-sensitive value differences among stamps of the same issue.
In addition to grading, PSE formerly offered encapsulation: encasing a graded stamp in a sonically sealed, transparent plastic holder (similar to coin or card "slabs"). The encapsulation included a label with the stamp’s identification and grade. This was intended to provide long-term protection and tamper-evidence for high-value items. However, collecting preferences in philately differ from numismatics; many stamp collectors prefer to handle stamps or mount them in albums. PSE's encapsulation service saw limited uptake and was discontinued in 2021, as the company acknowledged the low demand and logistical challenges for slabbed stamps.[7] Today, PSE typically returns stamps with a paper certificate and (if requested) in a protective mylar sleeve, rather than in a hard plastic case.
PSE charges fees for authentication and grading based on a sliding scale tied to the stamp's market value or Scott catalogue value. For example, fees might be around 5% of catalogue value with a set minimum amount.[4] The service also offers expedited turnaround options (for an extra charge) and an online order tracking system so customers can follow the progress of their submissions. If a stamp is found not genuine, PSE may refund part of the fee (common practice among expertizing services).
Among its specialized services, PSE has a program for faulty or poorly centered high-value stamps, known as the "PC/F" service (Poorly Centered/Faulty).[4] This service recognizes that certain rare stamps, even in subpar condition, have significant market value but can be hard to sell without certification. PSE will authenticate these stamps and issue a certificate (without a numerical grade) at a reduced fee, to facilitate their sale while disclosing the condition issues.[4] This helps collectors of rare stamps that are seldom found in perfect condition to obtain expert certificates for them at a reasonable cost.
As part of its grading service, PSE maintains a Population Report (census) of all stamps it has graded. The Pop Report is accessible on PSE's website and lists how many examples of each stamp have been graded and at what grades. For instance, a collector can see how many copies of a given 19th-century stamp have been graded 90, 95, 98, etc., by PSE. This data provides transparency and allows insight into the relative scarcity of high-grade examples. Similarly, PSE runs a Set Registry program that allows collectors to register their PSE-certified stamps in competitive categories (such as complete sets or topical collections). Collectors can compare their set "scores" (based on grades and completeness) with others, fostering a friendly competitive community akin to the set registries in coin and sports card collecting.
PSE also publishes pricing information to complement its grading service. It produces the Stamp Market Quarterly (SMQ) price guide, which lists market-based values for U.S. stamps in various grades. First introduced in the 2000s as a quarterly print publication, SMQ has since moved online and is updated on an ongoing basis.[8] The SMQ listings, organized by Scott number and grade, are derived from auction results and dealer transactions. They provide an independent benchmark for valuing graded stamps; for example, the price premium for a stamp graded 98 versus the same issue graded 85 can be looked up in SMQ. This guide is unique to PSE-certified stamps and is widely referenced by sellers and buyers in the graded stamp market.[8] Major auction firms integrate PSE's SMQ and population data in their lot descriptions to inform bidders.[9]
Like other major expertizing bodies, Professional Stamp Experts offers a guarantee on its opinions. For stamps that PSE encapsulated with a grade (when that service was active), the company guaranteed the accuracy of the authenticity and grade; if a material error was later proven, PSE would compensate the owner up to certain limits.[10] Currently, for non-encapsulated items, PSE’s guarantee is limited to correct identification of the stamp (the Scott number and basic variety) as stated on the certificate. In practice, this means if PSE certifies a stamp as a genuine Scott # of a certain issue and it is later shown to be misidentified, PSE will refund the certification fee and related costs. The guarantee does not cover grade for non-slabbed stamps and does not extend beyond the original submitter. This policy, introduced in 2010, is similar to the market guarantees offered by coin and card grading services under the same corporate umbrella.
Overall, PSE's services are aimed at bringing greater confidence and transparency to stamp collecting. By providing expert authentication, standardized grading, population data, and pricing guides, PSE has influenced how U.S. stamp collectors assess quality and value, especially for classic stamps where slight differences in condition can mean large differences in price.
Innovations
[edit]Professional Stamp Experts is noted for several innovations in the field of philatelic expertizing:
- Introduction of Numerical Grading: PSE was the first stamp expertizing service to implement a 100-point numerical grading scale for stamp condition on a wide scale (introduced in 2001).[2] Before this, stamp conditions were usually described with qualitative terms (Fine, Very Fine, Extremely Fine, etc.) without a consensus numeric standard. PSE's grading system adapted concepts from coin grading (which uses a 70-point scale) and expanded them to 100 points for finer distinction. This move toward standardized grading was controversial initially, with some collectors arguing that numeric grades might encourage price speculation. However, over time the system became "universally accepted" for U.S. stamps[1], and even nonprofit expertizing organizations began acknowledging numeric grades upon request. PSE's role in popularizing grading has been compared to the impact Professional Coin Grading Service had on the coin market in the 1980s.
- Stamp Encapsulation: Following the lead of coin and trading-card graders, PSE introduced tamper-evident plastic holders for stamps in the early 2000s. It was an innovative attempt to physically protect certified stamps and create a trusted holder that could circulate in the marketplace. PSE's capsules included UV-resistant plastic and labels with QR codes/serial numbers linked to an online certification lookup. While technically successful, this innovation met resistance from many philatelists who prefer stamps in their natural state. Stamp mounting in albums and close inspection of gum/watermarks were impeded by encapsulation, and the practice never became mainstream. PSE ultimately ceased offering encapsulation in 2021 due to lack of demand.[7] The experiment, however, demonstrated PSE's willingness to try new approaches to adding security and confidence for high-value items.
- Population Reporting and Registry: PSE was an early adopter of publishing a census of certified items in the stamp field. Its online Population Report, updated in real time, was an innovation that brought transparency similar to coin grading census data. This allows collectors to see exactly how scarce a top-grade example of a stamp is (for instance, if only two examples of a stamp have been graded 98, etc.). Building on this, PSE’s Set Registry (launched mid-2000s) was the first of its kind for stamp collecting. This innovation borrowed from the collector communities in coins and sports cards, introducing a competitive aspect to stamp collecting based on assembling high-grade sets. The registry concept has since engaged a segment of collectors who pursue the "best" (highest-graded) sets of classic U.S. stamps and enjoy awards or recognition from PSE for top rankings.
- SMQ Price Guide: The Stamp Market Quarterly (SMQ), first published by PSE in 2004, was an innovative response to the emerging graded-stamp marketplace. Traditional catalog values did not account for the dramatic premiums paid for superbly graded stamps versus average ones. PSE’s SMQ was the only pricing guide dedicated to graded U.S. stamps.[11] Updated initially as a quarterly booklet and later as an online resource, SMQ provides a market-driven reference for buyers and sellers to gauge the value of a stamp at each grade level. This innovation helped standardize pricing terminology; for example, auctioneers now commonly cite SMQ values when describing high-grade stamps, much as coin auctions reference price guides for certain grades. By compiling sales data and publishing it, PSE added more analytical rigor to stamp pricing in the top tiers of quality.[8]
- Advanced Technology in Expertizing: PSE has also been innovative in adopting forensic tools for stamp analysis. It was one of the first services to use a Video Spectral Comparator (VSC) extensively to examine stamps for alterations, watermarks, and hidden defects. The VSC and other optical scanners allow detection of repairs, re-perforation, or cleaned cancels under various wavelengths of light. PSE’s use of such technology was highlighted during the investigation of the 476A "ghost watermark" issue, where digital imaging helped reveal faint paper anomalies.[12] While not unique to PSE, the embrace of technology in expertizing represents an innovative trend that PSE has been part of, moving expertizing beyond just the magnifying glass to include digital forensics and shared databases of known fakes.
These innovations by Professional Stamp Experts have had a lasting impact on the hobby. Numerical grading and population data introduced a new level of objectivity and competition in stamp collecting, influencing how collectors approach condition. The concept of encapsulating stamps, though ultimately not widely adopted, sparked discussions about balancing preservation with tradition. PSE’s price guide and technological tools have likewise pushed other expertizing services to modernize. Together, these contributions mark PSE as a driver of change in philatelic services, analogous to the role of third-party grading in other collectible fields.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c "OUR EXPERTS". PSAG. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
- ^ a b c "Fine (70) Very Fine (80) Superb | PDF". Scribd. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
- ^ a b "Collectors Universe, Inc. | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e "The big four expertizing groups in the United States". Linns Stamp News. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
- ^ "Virtual Stamp Club - Dissenting Expert Opinion on Graded Certificates". www.virtualstampclub.com. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
- ^ "Scotts #476A US stamps". The Swedish Tiger. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
- ^ a b c Tyszka, Ted (March 31, 2025). "Graded Stamps". Ted Talks Stamps. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e "Understanding Stamps Graded 98 or 100 by PSE | Mystic Stamp Discovery Center". July 18, 2025. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
- ^ "Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, INC". siegelauctions.com. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
- ^ "Guarantee". gradingmatters.com. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
- ^ "SMQ". gradingmatters.com. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
- ^ "'The stamp of controversy': the 1917 unwatermarked 30¢ orange Franklin stamp, perforated 10". Linns Stamp News. Retrieved October 21, 2025.