Certificate Application

1. The Philatelic Foundation seeks to render a public service in expressing the opinions of staff, knowledgeable collectors and professional consultants who serve as members of its Expert Committee. (The fees charged for the service contribute to the maintenance of the Foundation). However, The Philatelic Foundation does not guarantee the accuracy of any opinion expressed by its Expert Committee regarding any item submitted for authentication and disclaims any liability whatsoever for any loss, damage or injuries allegedly suffered as a result of any opinion issued by the Expert Committee.
2. The Foundation reserves the right at all times to decline to examine or give an opinion or analysis on any item.
3. The Philatelic Foundation reserves the right to use all information acquired on items submitted for certification for research or other purposes in the furtherance of philatelic knowledge, including the right to publication of same without disclosing the name of the applicant or submitter.
4. If an applicant seeks an opinion regarding an item which the Foundation has previously declared to be genuine, the applicant must submit, along with the application, the original certificate of authenticity. In the event that any item, which was previously declared genuine by the Expert Committee is, upon re-submission, declared not genuine, then the applicant hereby grants to the Foundation the right to retain any such prior authentication and agrees to make no claim for the return thereof.
5. Submission of all stamps and other items to The Philatelic Foundation shall be entirely at the submitter’s risk. All items submitted are accepted by The Philatelic Foundation with the express agreement of the applicant that The Philatelic Foundation, its officers, trustees, agents, committees, professional consultants and employees shall in no way be liable or responsible for any loss, damage or other physical injury to the stamps and other items submitted arising from any reason whatsoever, except for acts or conduct constituting gross negligence of The Philatelic Foundation or its officers, trustees, agents, committees, professional consultants and employees. All items are passed through the Expert Committee anonymously and the names of the submitters are not divulged.
6. Items submitted will be returned as soon after examination as possible. However; The Philatelic Foundation shall in no way be liable for any delay in returning items or for any delay or failure of the U.S. Postal Service, FedEx or other private carrier in making delivery of same.
7. The Philatelic Foundation and its Expert Committee reserve the right to make such changes in the fees, rules and conditions as they deem necessary without notice, but such changes will be promptly announced on its website and thereafter in the philatelic press.
8. By the submission of an item to The Philatelic Foundation for certification, the applicant expressly agrees to all of the terms and conditions as set forth herein.

PLEASE RETAIN A COPY OF THE APPLICATION AND THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR YOUR RECORDS.