Philatelic Expertisation - A new service from the Philatelic Traders’ Society

In response to sustained demand, the PTS can now offer full expertisation services for nearly all GB stamps, Queen Victoria to the present day, with the exception of some very specialised material. Following a successful 3-month trial, our services are now open to everyone, at home and abroad, trade and retail alike.

A flat fee* per item of £60.00 is payable (reduced to £50.00 for members of the PTS). No opinion = no fee.

The PTS settled on a flat fee structure, since the work involved in checking the status of a cheap stamp is fundamentally the same as for an expensive stamp. The PTS’ flat fee is slightly higher than the minimum rates charged by other committees, but should be considerably lower when opinion is sought on higher priced items, where a percentage of catalogue value – can be £100’s - is usually requested.

The aim is to provide an opinion within 30 days of receipt of the item. Opinion givers do not know the identity of opinion seekers. This way every item is judged strictly on its merits without influence from other criteria. PTS Expertising Limited has at its disposal the services of dozens of acknowledged experts in their fields, both dealers and collectors, plus free access to extensive reference collections.

Work which can be best done via scans and the internet (such as plating 1d blacks) will be done that way, whilst the more commercial aspects, such as repairing and regumming, will be adjudicated by professionals, usually PTS members, each expert in their own fields. Only when all those who have inspected the item can agree on the wording to go on the certificate, will the item be signed off and the certificate issued. High resolution scans of all items adjudicated will be kept on file for future reference.

We are confident that the PTS’s long-established international reputation for honesty and integrity, together with the high quality of the work we offer, will rapidly establish PTS Expertising Ltd’s certificates as having equal status with very best.

In closing, the PTS wishes to make it clear that, in common with all other philatelic expertisation services, it is charging for and providing a written statement of its opinion (only) and that it accepts no responsibility for any error or omission in that opinion. (Would-be submitters who find this condition unacceptable should seek alternative arrangements.)

Items for expertisation may now be sent to:

PTS Expertising Ltd

PO Box 204

Morpeth

Northumberland

NE61 9AA

However before doing so, we recommend you log onto our website http://www.philatelic-traders-society.co.uk/the-p.t.s.-expertising-ltd

for further details and full terms and conditions.

* exceptions may apply – see website