Which would you rather have?

For this stamp I’m thinking of Scott #666 kans. overprint. Not sure it actually costs $50.00 usd I just had a rough figure in mind. I have both examples the off centered one I got many years ago don’t remember where or how much I paid for it. The hinged one I got in an auction lot with hundreds of other stamps, so I couldn’t tell anyone an actual purchase price. I just wanted to see what other collectors might keep.

For areas I collect mint, I am mostly concerned with the eye appeal of the design. Centering is what I see. Off-centered stamps are distracting. I do not see the back of the stamp once it is on a page.

On modern stamps, I will wait for a better copy of a MNH. On Classic, specially on the higher values, I will consider a VF-H copy if I can't afford the NH. We can find some pretty good deals from time to time for hinged copies. It's all about on how bad you want to fill that empty spot!

Let's turn the question.
Should you make a choice between a centered stamp and another not or less centered, which one would you choose?
I believe the answer cannot not to consider the price requested for the stamp. Same price => centered. Higher price => how high the price is?
By my side, between a sound 200$ stamp and a defective 20-50$ one, i will consider the second too... If the defect is not that defective...

Thanks for an interesting thread, Carolee (carabop).

It was only after joining TSF that I learned from collectors in Europe that it is apparently US philatelists who are considered to be "obsessed" with centering over and above other qualities that a stamp may or may not possess.  I have always disliked the idea of being thought of as stereotypically anything (American stamp collector, in this case), but perhaps there is indeed some real truth to this assertion.

Call me shallow in placing overall appearance ahead of other qualities, but I would definitely prefer a beautifully centered copy of a stamp that was MH (mint hinged) or even MNG (mint no gum) over a MNH (mint never hinged) stamp that is off-center.  As Peter (@peadarruadh) mentioned, my lack of focus on the condition of the back has made it possible for me to buy some very nice-looking stamps at a fraction of the cost of a MNH copy, regardless of the centering.

That said, also like Peter, I generally stop short of buying faulty material, meaning with tears or thins or other types of damage.  I do have a few high catalogue value items in my collection that are faulty, but I really try to avoid those whenever I can.

I was watching a movie on the flight home yesterday in which one of the characters said, "Comparison is the death of joy."  I just looked it up, and this quote is attributed to Mark Twain.  In many areas of life, I could imagine this statement to be true, but in stamp collecting, I think it is an inevitable, even essential ingredient in the buying and collecting processes.  When it comes to choosing stamps for my collection, I am generally much more inclined to make a purchase if I have multiple copies to choose from, because I can get an idea of the range of quality available by looking through a dealer's inventory before deciding on one for my collection.

What an interesting thread and I have enjoyed reading the different perspectives of my fellow collectors.

Myself, I want a visually appealing stamp; is that not why we collect? For my own collecting interests, the stamp should have good colour, all its teeth/perforations, be well-centred and have its gum intact. The older the stamp or for a desired cancellation/postmark, the more flexibility exists with the self-ascribed criteria.



Have fun and happy collecting!

P.S. I like the Samuel Clemens’ quote Chris :-)