We do not offer a worldwide catalog. The Scott Catalogue is an excellent resource for worldwide stamps. You may also be able to borrow them from your local library or you can purchase the catalog(s) you need on Amazon.com.
In addition to stamps in very good and premium condition, Mystic sells stamps with small flaws. We do this so you can own old stamps that would otherwise be quite expensive to collect. These stamps are referred to as “unused with small flaws” and “used with small flaws” stamps. Typical flaws can include a small tear, no gum, thinning (due to a hinge being removed), straight edge, or small stain. Click here for more information. Mint and used stamps do not have any flaws.
Definitive stamps are also known as regular-issue stamps. They pay postage on everyday mail and are issued in a lot of denominations. Often a particular definitive stamp design is used for long periods of time, and sometimes reprinted to replenish supplies. A Commemorative is a stamp issued to honor an important person, event, or anniversary. It’s printed in smaller quantities than definitives, and is sold for a limited time, usually a few months. Unsold stamps are generally destroyed. Click here to read more about these types of stamps and see some examples.
In the past, we only encapsulated stamps with retails of $250 or more. Recently, we lowered that number to $100 or more. That means if you buy a stamp from Mystic that’s $100 or more, it will come in archival-quality encapsulation – applied by the same model of machine used by the Smithsonian National Postal Museum.
A Few Exceptions to the $100+ Encapsulation Rule
Some modern stamps with retails over $100 are not encapsulated because the risk of them being damaged is lower due to how the stamps were printed. The following list are the only stamps not encapsulated under our new $100+ guidelines:
Yes! Click the tab at the top of Mystic’s homepage that says “US Stamps.” On the left side of the screen, you will see several different categories of US stamps. Toward the bottom, you will see “Rare Stamps.” Click this and you will see a list of the rarest stamps we currently have in stock. Looking for a stamp you don’t see on the list? Contact one of our personal stamp advisors at 1-877-631-2221. They’re experts at helping collectors get hard-to-find stamps and will be happy to help you.
A coil stamp has perforations on either the top and bottom OR left and right sides. A booklet stamp has perforations on 3 or 4 sides.
Self-adhesive stamps issued prior to 2008 should be soaked in room-temperature water for 20-25 minutes. Then gently slide the stamp off the backing paper.
*Stamps issued from 2008 onward should NOT be soaked. The stamp will likely never come off and you may damage it in the process. Instead, simply cut around the stamp to remove it from the envelope, taking care not to cut into the stamp while trimming.
Yes! Mystic’s strict grading standards take all of these into consideration when assessing a stamp.