PLEASE NOTE: Our submission process has changed!

1. Download the new fillable PDF Submission Form here.

2. Complete a Submission Form for each item you are having expertized.

3. Print a copy of each completed Submission Form and pair it with the corresponding item for submission.

4. For each item you are submitting please prepay online by visiting our Order Experization webpage and select the correct service based on the Scott/Unitrade catalogue value, then ‘Add Service to Cart.’ Note: Our fees are based on the value of the item being expertized.

5. Once you have added a service for each item being submitted to your online cart, follow the checkout process. Select a prepaid return shipping service (or free pickup) and complete online payment.

6. You will receive a confirmation of payment by email. Please print a copy of this payment receipt to include with your submission.

7. Place all documents in a waterproof envelope, and mail your complete submission to the foundation at P.O. Box 69100, St. Clair Post Office, Toronto, Ontario M4T 3A1, Canada, or deliver it directly to the Foundation in person at 10 Summerhill Ave. Toronto, ON, M4T 1A8, Canada.

   **Note: You will need to prepay online for services, before submitting items to the foundation. If you would still like to pay by cheque please contact us directly. Postage for shipping to the foundation will be covered separately at your own expense.

8. You will receive an email notification when your submission package has been received by the foundation. You will also receive a notification when your item is being return shipped or is ready for pick up. Note: Time frame for completion of expertization, issue of certificate and return of item is approx. 8 weeks.

The Vincent Graves Greene Philatelic Research Foundation is internationally recognized as the leading authority for the expertization of BNA stamps and postal history. The Foundation is a long-standing member of the A.I.E.P. and the Institute for Analytic Philately.

At the Greene Foundation we certify only philatelic material that originated in Canada or British North America. The range of material can include essays, proofs, stamps or postal history.

No. We only consider ‘genuine in all respects’ or ‘not genuine in all respects’. Grading is a purely subjective marketing tool.

Expertizing resources include (but are not limited to):

• The world’s largest BNA philatelic reference library

• A core committee of expert philatelists (named elsewhere on this website) plus several others who are available for consultation as needed.

• A substantial reference collection.

• A Foster+Freeman VSC 8000 (video spectral comparator) that provides a wide range of forensic analytic tools.

Whether one is an owner, buyer or seller, there is value in having stamps certified. As an owner or buyer, the certificate can be used to ensure a wise purchase or to authenticate it for either exhibition or insurance purposes. As a vendor, a third-party examination can allow your clients to buy with confidence. Click here to order Expertization Services.

There is a wide range of material and circumstances that create a need for certification including (but not limited to):

• Expensive items purchased on the internet or without prior examination.

• Items with published warnings of fakes and forgeries.

• Items representing a significant financial commitment.

When an item is received for certification, it is scanned for our records, a tracking number is assigned, and a receipt is emailed to the submitter. The item is then photographed (for the certificate) before being viewed by the committee. At the committee examination every item is examined by three or more committee members, each expressing an independent opinion. If there are no dissenting opinions, the item is returned to the committee chairman who writes the final opinion for the certificate.

No. A certificate is an opinion expressed by a knowledgeable panel using the best information and technology available at the time.

There have been instances where submissions coming from outside Canada were charged GST(Goods and Services Tax) by courier firms or the Post Office. The Canada Border Services Agency has confirmed that this is incorrect. They have indicated to us that for shipping purposes submissions should be described as: "Items sent for expertization only, and to be exported back to USA (U.K., Australia, Germany,etc). No commercial value until expertized." Otherwise, please follow our new submission process described above.

If the item is not genuine in the opinion of the Foundation the same fee applies as for genuine items. However, fees, but not postage charges, are returned if the Foundation elects to express no opinion.

If a submitter disagrees with the opinion of the Expert Committee, the opinion will be reviewed upon the request of the submitter at no extra charge.

Opinions are occasionally changeable. With the introduction of new technology and new research, things that were previously hidden or simply not known can now be seen.

Items submitted for expertization are reviewed by members of an Expert Committee which meets monthly, an opinion is rendered and a certificate is issued to the submitter. Time frame for completion of expertization, issue of certificate and return of item is approx. 8 weeks.

The preferred method of payment is electronically, through our online store. We accept all major credit cards as well as Interac. Any customers looking to pay by cheque should contact the Foundation directly.

Federal regulations now require the Foundation to collect GST/HST on all Canadian purchases. Provincial tax rates apply. International customers do not need to pay taxes on orders.