If I were you, I would keep it the way it is now and look for the missing stamp, even though the chance of finding the stamp is quite slim. Once the stamps are cut off, the cover only exists in picture even the missing stamp is found.

Normally, I would not offer more than a fair price for used stamps for such a cover. Some cases addressing significant postal historical meaning might be rare exceptions.

That raises a question which I was going to ask - Is it unethical to glue the ORIGINAL stamp back onto the cover if one finds it? One time during handling a cover, one stamp fell off (not sure if it was glued properly) and I decided to remove the remaining stamps.

This is a very interesting question. I can only offer my own view point. Other collectors may see this matter differently.

Firstly, lifting a stamp (or stamps) off a cover has been a very old practice. This is supposed to be done with extreme care by skillful persons under only necessary occasions, such as to determine watermarks of a stamp on cover. All precautions are taken to prove that the stamp was originally on the cover before been lifted. For this reason, I do think that if a stamp fell off a cover, it should be OK to glue it back, given that no additional make-up work were added.

It sounds logical for the purpose you described. I do have a small reservation on this though. If a Qing Dynasty cover has glue that belongs to 21st century provided that someone needs to lift the stamp(s) then put it(them) back in order to verify something, would it hurt the value of the cover a little bit?

I guess if we follow the process of a typical antique restoration then this is not an issue. Is this considered as a process of restoration even if the cover is not damaged to begin with?

請問為何不裁在線上? 這是由不同機器裁出來的嗎?

引用

引用第173樓ming8686于2013-11-21 00:54發表的 回 172樓(swift) 的帖子 :
It sounds logical for the purpose you described. I do have a small reservation on this though. If a Qing Dynasty cover has glue that belongs to 21st century provided that someone needs to lift the stamp(s) then put it(them) back in order to verify something, would it hurt the value of the cover a little bit?

I guess if we follow the process of a typical antique restoration then this is not an issue. Is this considered as a process of restoration even if the cover is not damaged to begin with?

You brought up some very serious issue. I may not be able to comment on this in an objective way because I do not consider myself a typical collector. Anyway, here is my two cents worth opinion.

“Value” and “price” are two different concepts without clear boundary in the philatelic world. The “value” of it can be very subjective. The “price” of a cover is some kind of consensus among collectors and dealers. We do not expect that everyone agrees upon the same price for an individual item, however, a deal takes at least two parties. The price of a cover is defined when a transaction is made. Given that all the details about the cover are clearly and honestly stated, there should not be any ethical concern. The case that you mentioned about modern glue instead of adhesive from Chin dynasty might bother a few extremely fastidious collectors. However, I would think that most collectors would accept if the appearance does not show any trace of alternation after the retrieved stamp has been put back. (Of course, the stamp must be the correct one.)

I do not compete in any stamp exhibition. I am not sure what will happen if a cover under the condition that we have discussed is put into an exhibition. This will need someone who is familiar with exhibition rules to explain.

引用

引用第174樓ming8686于2013-11-21 08:57發表的  :
請問為何不裁在線上? 這是由不同機器裁出來的嗎?

印刷全張通常有好幾個版張，印製完成後再裁切成出售的版張。有定位線的（您的最左上圖）應該是右邊版張，沒有定位線的來自左邊版張。

感謝您的解說.

Agreed with the concept of "value and "price". My instinct tells me that most people would not attempt to perform such task. In some cases, certain value may overwrite the importance of finding whether the stamp carries watermark or something else.
On the price side, there are cases that one can increase the "price" of an antique if it is properly restored. Other cases are completely opposite when not done properly - polishing an antique made of brass for instance. In the case above, one must accurately reposition the stamp that was lifted earlier. Now how accurate is considered accurate could be very subjective.

I'm glad that we have this discussion. Collecting stamps is very subjective while selling stamps needs to be somewhat objective.

此封為帶版號捲筒票集郵實寄封(明顯是故意貼的). 每張郵票皆是帶版號票.此封沒什麼價值因是作封且郵票都是單枚. 噴碼擋住三枚郵票加上收件人住址可能寫錯用貼紙貼上再重寫.
目前帶版號捲筒舊票價碼約一元台幣一枚初集者可從此開始.
請問一件自然封的客觀品相如何打分數?除了郵票品相,郵票位子;戳品相,位子;封品相;住址是否清析;郵資是否符合(假設以上個項都沒什麼特別) 還要注意那些?