How to Grade a Stamp on Color

Use a color guide. Color guides are printed sets of color swatches used to judge the stamp's color when it was issued compared with its current coloration. Color guides are found at most hobby stores who carry tools for stamp collectors.

Judge the stamp by how vivid or pronounced the color is within the range of shades known to exist for a given stamp. The older a stamp is, the more important the intensity of the color is in determining its value. The less faded the color, the more valuable the stamp.

Judge stamps against others of its kind. not against different issues which may have brighter coloration. The individual stamp you are judging may look dull compared to another issue, but your stamp may be as vivid as it was ever intended to be.