hundred examples—of the $5 Columbian were NH! We discovered that 5.4 percent of the $1 Columbian were NH—ten times as many as the $5 Columbian!—information worth its weight in gold when deciding how much of a premium is justified by a stamp's relative difficulty never hinged.

Premium Characteristics. Stamp-by-stamp specifics about what constitutes a premium copy. Enormous variations in characteristics exist from issue to issue. Some are notoriously tight margined; others are almost impossible to find nicely centered; still others are impossible to find with good color. And what about irregular or ragged perfs? When are they acceptable? Which issues are easy to find NH, but almost impossible to find nicely centered or with intact perfs? Which usually have original gum, and which almost never do? Which issues are so uniformly poor that it is futile to expect a premium copy? Which are so typically excellent that you wouldn't want to settle for anything less or pay a premium price? What about inclusions, gum creases, perf dimples, gum skips, toned paper, and the like? These are just a few of the questions answered for each stamp, so that you'll know what to expect when hunting for the best, and the degree of difficulty you'll encounter locating it.

The Buyer's Guide is profusely illustrated so you can see for yourself what typical copies look like and what premium copies look like. The book was two years in the making, including computerizing more than a hundred thousands auction lots. Knowledgeable dealers and experts reviewed preliminary drafts and generously shared their knowledge about the fine points of each issue. The result is a powerhouse of knowledge—the kind pros carry around inside their heads and use every day—at your fingertips in a convenient, easy-to-use handbook.