Unused, hinged, uncanceled varieties will be easier to find than pristine mint stamps, but their prices will be far higher than used stamps. If a collector is content with the clean, unmarked face of a stamp, even though the gum on the back is partial, missing or hinged, these unused types will cost less than mint copies - sometimes far less. Many stamp addicts seek nothing but the post office fresh mint copies. Still, many stamp addicts seek nothing but the post office fresh mint copies. Beauty is one reason, but resale value may be another.
Many collectors are also investors at heart.
They feel that the extra cost of a mint stamp with full original gum will be more than returned when the collection is finally sold, by them or their heirs. The choice again is yours. A collector can save what he wants, but should go into collecting with his eyes open as to price differences and the resultant effect on his pocketbook. But the total condition of a stamp embraces far more than these mint, unused or used factors. Those letters stand for Superb, Extra Fine, Very Fine, Fine to Very Fine, Fine and Average all basically referring to a stamp's centering, but taking other conditions into account as well.