MY CERTIFICATES
Essential elements that define the value of an item and protect your purchases.
My expertising method
The certificates I issue are not simple statements of authenticity, but the final result of a structured expertisation process, based on experience, on an extensive specialised philatelic library, on a philatelic reference collection and a comparative photographic archive built and updated over more than thirty years of study and professional activity, as well as on the use of professional equipment dedicated to the analysis of paper, inks, cancellations and printing methods, without ever resorting to simplifications or convenient assessments.
Criteria for preparing certificates
Each certificate is drafted according to consistent technical criteria, applied uniformly regardless of the value or type of the examined item.
Direct and comprehensive examination, without relying on third-party descriptions or indirect assessments
Absolute rigour in identifying forgeries, repairs, retouching and manipulations
Systematic comparison with reference collections, photographic archives and relevant reference material
Technical description of the item’s condition, covering both directly visible elements and those detectable through instrumental examination
When necessary, the examination is supplemented by instrumental analysis using a microscope and by photographic documentation techniques, including infrared, ultraviolet and photomechanical techniques, applied to the study of stamps, pigments, inks and documents of historical, collecting and, where relevant, legal interest.
Maximum security and traceability
To reduce the risk of subsequent substitutions or alterations, the image of the examined item is printed directly on the certificate. Each issued certificate is numbered and archived in my digital database and can be traced and reproduced in colour upon request, as documentation of the examination carried out.
Types of certificates
Each certificate is a complete photographic document, drafted after a direct examination of the material. The type of certificate depends on the nature of the analysed item: stamp, postal history document, or non-authentic material.
Stamp certificate
Intended for single stamps or multiples, this certificate assesses the authenticity and condition of the item. The analysis includes printing characteristics, paper, colours and any varieties relevant for collecting purposes.
Postal history certificate
Designed for covers and postal history documents, this certificate examines frankings, cancellations, routes and applied postal rates. The document is placed within its correct chronological and postal context, based on the conventions in force at the time.
Negative certificate
Required when the examined item proves to be non-authentic, this certificate analytically describes the inconsistencies identified. It represents an essential technical reference in cases of disputes, refunds or returns.
Do you have questions or need an expert opinion?
Contact me for any information about my philatelic certification and consultancy services