Funny listing dept: mint postage stamps now come with rust stains?

[ypdc_dennis]

Was checking out Canadian stamps and this one caught my attention:

Canada: Lot mint stamps, rust stain face value 23,92$

Seller seems to have Spanish as a first language, I wonder what they really meant by "rust stain"

[reallynicestamps]

Well, they could have staining and still have full unhinged gum and be unused. Fine for postage of course, though not collectible.

I would worry that the staining was actually mould or worse, mildew.

DH has gently steered out of the store and onto the street, people who came in with collections that reeked of mildew. Not worth infecting the stock with those spores.

[pjcdn2005]

"Mint" and rust stains just don't seem to go together!

I notice that the seller also mentions that their responsibility ends as soon as the item is sent out.

With 3500 feedback they should know better than that.

[femmefan1946]

It's philatelic jargon.

'Mint' usually describes the gum- which must be original - as well as the stamp being unused postally.

After that you get into questions of stains, centering of the image, missing perforations, and a whole bunch of other details .

[pjcdn2005]

I never knew that..interesting.

[femmefan1946]

Not very-- unless you are a philatelist.

[pjcdn2005]

I'm not but it is interesting. I like learning new things....as long as I don't have to remember too many details because my memory is so bad at times!

edit - I guess my husband already knew that...one of the few times he knows more than me.